Illinois Voters Age 50+ and the 2014 Election – AARP · Attitudes among Likely Illinois Voters...

Illinois Voters Age 50+ and the 2014 Election

Key Findings from a Survey among Likely Voters Age 50/over Conducted June 2014

for

Attitudes among Likely Illinois Voters Age 50+ – July 2014 – Hart/North Star Opinion Research for AARP

Methodology

Statewide telephone survey among 802 likely 2014 voters age 50/over (margin of error ±3.5 percentage points), conducted July 3-10, 2014, including:

• 432 retirees (margin of error ±4.7 percentage points)

• 370 non-retirees (margin of error ±5.1 percentage points)

Respondents were selected at random from a list of registered voters and were reached either on a landline or mobile phone.

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Overview

Likely voters 50+ are worried and concerned about their financial futures. Those who are not yet retired are feeling especially anxious.

Voters worry that their incomes are not keeping up with the cost of living, especially health costs and taxes.

Many of those not yet retired worry that a secure retirement will be out of reach. • Half say they have postponed or will postpone

retirement.

Voters 50+ are looking to elect candidates who will focus on improving their financial security.

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Overview

Challenger Bruce Rauner holds a nine-point lead in the gubernatorial race, with an additional 13% of 50+ voters still undecided.

Voters say it is hard to get good information about the candidates, and they want candidates to tell them more about their plans for key issues like independent living and financial security.

Voters want more support for caregiving so that the elderly and people with disabilities can live independently. The majority of 50+ voters say they either are providing, or have provided, unpaid care, representing an important emerging constituency.

The majority of voters also believe it is important for the next governor to preserve access to affordable landline telephone service.

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Profile of Likely Voters Age 50/over

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Men Women

Age 50 to 64 Age 65 to 74 Age 75/over

High school grad/less education Some college College graduate

Whites African Americans

Household income under $30K Household income $30 to $50K Household income over $50K

Democrats Independents Republicans

Receive Social Security benefits Health insurance through Medicare Employed (part time or full time)

Non-retirees

47% 53%

88% 9% 2%

23% 32% 45%

81% 12%

15% 11% 57%

38% 21% 41%

17% 16% 82%

Retirees

46% 54%

25% 42% 32%

40% 30% 30%

81% 12%

27% 22% 33%

46% 21% 34%

78% 73% 14%

Gender

Age

Education

Household Income

Party Identification

Other

Race


ECONOMIC SECURITY

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Voters 50+ see the economy as more bad than good overall, especially non-retirees and those living outside of Chicago.

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How would you rate the condition of the economy here in Illinois these days?

IL economy is good

IL economy is bad

Very good 1%

22% Very bad 46%

76%

All voters IL economy is good

26% 18%

21% 24%

23% 20% 23%

37% 20% 7%

46% 20% 15%

IL economy is bad

72% 81%

78% 74%

74% 77% 76%

60% 78% 92%

53% 79% 83%

Retirees Non-retirees

Men Women

High school grad/less Some college College graduate


Chicago media market Cook County media market Out-state media market


30% 21%

10% 15%

Strongly satisfied Somewhat satisfiedStrongly dissatisfied Somewhat dissatisfied

A third of non-retired voters are dissatisfied with their financial situation.

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Satisfaction with Own Financial Situation Today

64%

35%

Dissatisfied (non-retirees)

33% 36%

34% 35%

52% 20%

Men Women

Age 50 to 59 Age 60/over

Income under $75K Income over $75K


78%

20%


28%

5%

A large majority say that their income is falling behind the cost of living.

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Assessment of Income vs. Cost of Living

All voters

My income is staying about even with cost

of living

My income is going up faster

than cost of living

MY INCOME IS FALLING

BEHIND THE COST OF

LIVING 65%

65% 65%

73% 70% 54%

80% 76% 52%


High school grad/less Some college College graduates

Income under $30K Income $30K to $50K Income over $50K

Income Is Falling Behind


35% 35% 34%

58% 55% 62%

More hopeful and confident More worried and concerned

Voters 50+ are more worried than hopeful about achieving their economic and financial goals, especially those not yet retired.

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Looking ahead to the next five years or so, do you feel more hopeful and confident, or more

worried and concerned about being able to achieve your economic and financial goals?

All voters Retirees Non-retirees

Non-retirees

62% 61%

66% 60%

49% 62% 73%

Men Women



More Worried and Concerned


The Economic Anxiety Index

Voters are assigned 20 points for each of five economic concerns about which they say they worry very or somewhat often. A minimum score of 0 reflects no economic anxiety, while a maximum score of 100 indicates a great deal of economic anxiety.

The five component concerns of the anxiety index are:

• Having to pay too much in taxes

• Income not keeping up with the cost of living

• Having health expenses they cannot afford

• Not having financial security in retirement

• Not having enough to pay for home care or a nursing home when they or their spouse get older

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Components of the Economic Anxiety Index

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46%

47%

50%

56%

64%

Proportions Who Say They Worry Very or Somewhat Often

about Each Economic Concern

Having to pay too much in taxes

Income not keeping up with cost of living

Not having financial security in retirement

Not having enough to pay for home care or

nursing home for myself or my spouse

Having health expenses I cannot

afford

Retirees

59%

51%

44%

45%

44%

Non- retirees

70%

60%

57%

49%

49%


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

49

57

Economic Anxiety Index Scores

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Maximum score

Minimum score

ANXI

ETY

IND

EX


55 59

59 57

61 53

63 51

52 58 62

63 49

Men Women

Unmarried Married

Non-college grads College graduates



Caregiver/past caregiver Non-caregivers

Key Subgroups of Non-retirees

Mean scores


While most retirees are satisfied with their retirement savings, almost half of non-retirees are dissatisfied.

22% 25% 17% 22% 18%

27%

Strongly satisfied Somewhat satisfiedStrongly dissatisfied Somewhat dissatisfied

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Satisfaction with Amount of Money Saving/Saved for Retirement

All voters

60%

36%

Retirees

64%

31%

Non-retirees

55%

42%

Dissatisfied (non-retirees)

39% 45%

61% 27%

Men Women



A majority of non-retirees say they have or will delay their retirement for financial reasons.

61% 59% 64% 62% 60% 63% 59%

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Proportions Saying They Have Delayed or Expect to Delay Retirement in Order to

Save More Money to Live Comfortably in Retirement

Married Unmarried Age 50 to 59

Age 60/over

Income under $75K

All non- retirees

Income over $75K


Other Financial Concerns of Non-Retirees

49%

49%

49%

57%

60%

70%

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Proportions Who Say They Worry Very or Somewhat Often about Each

Having to pay too much in taxes

My income not keeping up with the cost of living

Not having financial security in retirement

Not making enough money at my job

Not having enough to pay for home care or nursing

home for myself or my spouse

Having health expenses I cannot afford

* Asked only of voters who are employed

All non-retirees


THE 2014 ELECTION

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Voters 50+ are disappointed with Washington, giving President Obama low approval scores.

42% 50%

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Job Approval of President Obama

Approve

Disapprove

All voters


In the gubernatorial election, Bruce Rauner holds the lead with voters 50+, but a large minority remain unsure about their vote.

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Trial Heat for Illinois Governor

Undecided Pat Quinn

13%

Bruce Rauner

Definitely vote for

21%

Definitely vote for

30%

Pat Quinn

35% 42%

55% 35%

39% 37% 45%

33% 74%

77% 27% 3%

48%

39%

All voters Men Women

Unmarried women Married women




Bruce Rauner

54% 42%

30% 49%

49% 50% 42%

55% 13%

12% 50% 87%


Nearly half of voters say it is hard to find objective and reliable information about the record and positions of candidates running for office this November.

19% 12%

22% 28%

Very easy Somewhat easyVery hard Somewhat hard

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Is it easy or hard to find objective and reliable information about the record and

positions of candidates running for office this November?

All voters

46% 46%

Undecided in Gubernatorial Race

34%

56%


The candidates need to do more to explain their positions on key voting issues for voters 50+.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

72%

79%

80%

81%

86%

14%

10%

9%

9%

6%

14%

11%

11%

10%

8%

Need to do more Not sure Have done enough

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Gubernatorial Candidates’ Efforts to Explain their Positions on Selected Issues

Jobs and the economy

Helping older people and the disabled live

independently

Affordable utilities

Supporting family caregivers

Helping people save for retirement


Voters are looking for candidates who will address their economic anxiety.

8%

22

How important is this issue in helping you make your voting decisions this year?

Very/fairly important

Less/not important

Very important

85%

91%

Jobs and the economy

Very Important Issue in my Vote Decisions

Retirees Non-retirees Men Women

Unmarried women Married women

High school/less Some college College grads

82% 87%

81% 88%

84% 90%

86% 86% 82%



Undecided voters

84% 88%

86% 87% 85%

78%


The majority of 50+ voters use landline phone service nearly always or most of the time, and two in three believe the next governor should preserve this access.

33%

23

64% All voters

Men Women



Proportions who use landline nearly always or most of the time

48%

42% 54%

38% 53% 71%

59% 57% 36%

How important is it that the next governor preserve access to reliable, affordable landline

service in Illinois?

Very important

50%


Less/not important

All voters


CAREGIVING

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72%

20%

8%

Nearly three in four voters 50+ prefer at-home care over other options for themselves/family.

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If a family member or I need help when basic tasks of life become difficult due to aging or illness, I would prefer to receive that help:

Other*

AT HOME WITH

CAREGIVER ASSISTANCE

*18% assisted living facility, 2% nursing home

Not sure


Many voters 50+ have at some point been a caregiver* to family member or expect to do so in the future.

19%

36% 18%

25%

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Current caregivers

Likely to be caregiver in

future

Not likely to be caregiver in future

All voters

* Caregiver is defined as “someone who provides unpaid care for an adult loved one who is ill, frail, elderly, or has a physical, mental, or emotional disability. This unpaid care may include assisting with personal needs such as bathing and dressing, household chores, meals, shopping, transportation, or managing finances or medical care.”

Past caregivers

13% of voters age 50+ report that they or their spouse have received care from a family caregiver.


Caregiver Households*

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All non-retirees

Men Women

Unmarried Married


Non-college grads College grads


Non-retirees

61%

53% 67%

68% 58%

59% 65%

61% 59%

66% 60%

All retirees

Men Women

Unmarried Married



Retirees

59%

51% 66%

56% 60%

62% 56%

64% 56%

* Those households where unpaid care is currently being provided, or has been provided in the past


Voters 50+ want their elected officials to make availability of at-home care a priority.

28

How important a priority for elected officials should it be to make services that help older adults live independently (home healthcare, personal care, day programs) more available in the community?

37% 43%

8% 5%

Extremely important priority Very important priorityNot important priority Somewhat important priority

69%

All voters

30%

Caregiver Households

76%

23%


Helping people live independently is a powerful poten-tial issue for candidates, especially among women and lower-income voters.

21%

29

How important is this issue in helping you make your voting decisions this year?


Less/not important

Very important

65%

79%

Helping older people and the disabled live independently

Very Important Issue in my Vote Decisions

Men Women


High school/less Some college College grads


55% 73%

61% 70%

76% 70% 52%

77% 63% 60%


Undecided voters

Caregiver HH

60% 86%

69%

68%


There is near universal support to shift additional federal funding from nursing home to home-based care.

8%

30

* Information before question: “Currently, states receive federal funds to help low income seniors and people with disabilities when the basic tasks of life become difficult due to aging or illness. At present, states are required to spend the majority of these funds on nursing home care. Illinois has asked the federal government for the flexibility to shift existing funding from nursing homes to care provided at a person’s home.” Support Oppose

Support strongly

70%

80%

Do you support or oppose the federal government giving states like Illinois more

flexibility with this funding so that seniors can receive services in their homes if that

is their preference?*

Men Women


69% 81%

78% 73% 70%

Strongly support shifting funding All voters

Illinois Voters Age 50+ and the 2014 Election

Key Findings from a Survey among Likely Voters age 50/over Conducted June 2014

for

Illinois Voters Age 50+ and the 2014 Election – AARP · Attitudes among Likely Illinois Voters...

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Transcript of Illinois Voters Age 50+ and the 2014 Election – AARP · Attitudes among Likely Illinois Voters...