Document Type
Research Report
Publication Date
3-2017
Keywords
Elder Economic Security Standard Index, Elder Index, income, older adults, affordable housing, health care, Boston, Massachusetts
Disciplines
Demography, Population, and Ecology | Gerontology | Public Policy | Social Welfare
Abstract
The Elder Economic Security StandardTM Index (Elder Index) is a measure of the cost of living for older adults age 65 or older living independently in today's economy. The Elder Index defines economic security as the income level at which elders are able to cover basic and necessary living expenses and age in their homes, without relying on benefit programs, loans or gifts. The Elder Index defines an “economic security gap” as having incomes between the Federal Poverty Line and the Elder Index. Older adults living “in the gap” have incomes too high to qualify for many means-tested public benefits programs, yet too low to achieve intermediate- or long-term economic stability.
Community Engaged/Serving
Part of the UMass Boston Community-Engaged Teaching, Research, and Service Series. http://scholarworks.umb.edu/engage
Recommended Citation
Li, Yang; Xu, Ping; Mutchler, Jan; and Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging, University of Massachusetts Boston, "2016 Elder Economic Security Standard Index™ for Boston" (2017). Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications. 17.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/demographyofaging/17
Included in
Demography, Population, and Ecology Commons, Gerontology Commons, Public Policy Commons, Social Welfare Commons