Poll: Only 12% of older Ohioans 'strongly confident' they have enough savings
Holly Holtzen is the state director for AARP Ohio, where she leads the advocacy and community outreach work of AARP staff, volunteers and its 1.5 million members in Ohio. She has a doctorate in Health Services Research and has been in nonprofit policy and research for more than decade.
Ohio’s 50+ voters will decide this next election. Making up over 78% of voters who cast ballots in the last four Ohio general elections, without fail, they consistently and purposefully make their voices heard in each election.
With the polling for the state’s open U.S. Senate race reporting in the margin error, Ohio’s 50+ population could tip the scales for the candidate offering viable solutions to address their most pressing challenges.
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Like many Ohioans, the rising prices of food, gas and healthcare are top concerns. But there are also other issues that impact older adults, uniquely. Retirement savings, the supports to age at home and the ability to care for a loved one hit differently as we age.
AARP Ohio launched the Deciding Voices Listening Tour with stops in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Lima, Portsmouth and an online survey. We asked thousands of Ohioans what they want the candidates to know about their lives, the challenges they face, and their hopes for the future of Ohio.
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This is what they told us:
Retirement security a major concern
Only 12% of respondents felt strongly confident that they have saved enough to sustain themselves throughout their lifetime. Instability in the stock market and rising inflation have created financial uncertainty for many of those who diligently saved for the future. Living on fixed incomes is increasingly challenging when external conditions are uncontrollable.
More:Retirement savings lacking for many
Costs a barrier to good health
More than half told us that they did not seek some form of healthcare services, including vision, dental, medical or mental health services in the last year, because of costs. Putting aside healthcare needs to save money could lead to dire consequences and more serious, more expensive and chronic illnesses.
Housing expenses overwhelming
More than two of three shared they were having difficulty paying their housing costs. They identified challenges paying for home repairs, property taxes, and rent. There were also concerns raised about finding trusted and reliable professionals to make home repairs. With over 80% Ohioans, sharing they want to age in their own home, it is important that we provide support to help them do so.
Supports for aging and caregiving critical
Ohioans would prefer to be cared for at home, where it is often less expensive and offers better quality of life than care provided by long-term care facilities. They want to see improvements in the state to support that goal and the millions of Ohioans providing unpaid care for their loved ones.
Eventually, we will all be a caregiver or need one. Policies to help us prepare for our caregiving roles will ensure we’re able to consider looking after a loved one as an opportunity and not an overwhelming challenge.
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With over 1.5 million members in Ohio, AARP will continue to engage candidates on the issues that matter to older adults and advance policies with elected officials that address the needs of our state’s aging population. We’re working to ensure that voices of Ohio’s 50+ population are heard in voting booths and all the way to the Statehouse.
Ohio’s deciding voices are speaking. Are our candidates listening?
Holly Holtzen is the state director for AARP Ohio, where she leads the advocacy and community outreach work of AARP staff, volunteers and its 1.5 million members in Ohio. She has a doctorate in Health Services Research and has been in nonprofit policy and research for more than decade.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Opinion: Voters over 50 could be deciding factor in midterm elections
