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AARP
Foundation tackles needs of women over 45
A landmark report was released, during the
launch of the AARP Foundation Women's
Leadership Circle, (WLC) that uncovers
hidden realities, debunks myths, and
identifies the need for programs that
improve the quality of life for women 45 and
older.
The survey, Looking at Act II of Women's
Lives: Thriving and Striving from 45 On, was
conducted by Roper Public Affairs and
features results from interviews with women
across the country.
Much of the research revealed a sense of
false confidence among many women 45+ as it
explored perceptions alongside day-to-day
realities of financial issues such as
savings, retirement planning and emergency
funds. For example, while 61% of women are
confident they will have enough money to
enjoy life in their later years, the
majority (62%) don't have a long-term
spending plan for when they retire.
Nearly all respondents (90%) said they would
rely on Social Security to some degree as
retirement income, making this the most
common single source of income for women in
their later years. In case of a financial
emergency, three quarters of women (73%)
said they always or sometimes have a few
thousand dollars available, but when asked
about obtaining funds, more than one fifth
(22%) said they didn't know where they would
get the money, 35% would use their savings
and 6% said they have "no way of paying the
unexpected bill.
"The findings provided us with significant
insight into the mindset of the
multi-generational, multicultural society of
women" said Robin Talbert, executive
director, AARP Foundation. "We will use this
knowledge to develop targeted programs to
address these factors. In launching the WLC,
we are using the collective power and
experience of an amazing community of women
leaders to raise national awareness of
issues affecting women as they age."
When it came to health, nine in ten women
45+ (91%) say they are confident they are
doing all they can to stay as healthy as
possible, although one in three (32%) feel
the cost of health care or prescriptions
drugs sometimes prevents them from seeing a
doctor or getting treatment when they need
it. Nearly three in ten replied that caring
for other people leaves them with too little
time for taking care of their own health
(28%). In addition, 58% said that they would
be more likely to exercise if they had a
buddy or friend to do so with them.
Women, who are often catalysts of social
change, have begun to challenge and change
the perception, image, and language of aging
among themselves. Eighty four percent said
they know of at least one woman older than
themselves who they consider to be a
personal inspiration. The majority of women
45+ consider themselves happier now than
they have ever been (65%), thus strongly
deflating the myth that the older women
become, the less happy they are.
Seventy-seven percent of women 45+ consider
their older years a time for pursuing dreams
and doing things they have always wanted to
do.
In response to the research, the WLC plans
to develop two programs this year.
"Since our research clearly indicates that
women are more inclined to exercise with a
buddy, than alone, we will develop a
socialization and exercise program to give
women the added incentive of partnering with
a friend to improve not only her health but
her friend's as well," said Talbert. "We
also plan to launch a program that will
encourage women to sign up for 401(k) plans
through automatic enrollment. This will give
women the opportunity to pay themselves
first and begin to save," added Talbert.
The AARP Foundation WLC is a diverse group
of women from across the country whose
varied backgrounds, insights and experiences
have created a network of trust to help
women navigate their lives as they age. The
group seeks to leverage the philanthropic
power and passion of women to improve and
enhance women's lives as they grow older.
These resources (both private and corporate)
will support initiatives that result in
empowerment, protection and security for all
women.
Sponsors of the WLC launch event are New
York Life Insurance Company and United
Health Care. The research, sponsored by The
Hartford, was conducted in two parts
beginning with 81 individual interviews and
later with a nationally random sampling of
1,200 telephone interviews and over samples
with African-American, Hispanic and
Asian/Pacific Islanders women (500 each).
The interviews took place August 17 through
November, 14, 2005 with a sampling error of
+/-3%.
In addition, Bank of America is making a
charitable contribution of $1 million over
the next four years to be used for the
program initiatives of the AARP Foundation
Women's Leadership Circle.
The AARP Foundation is AARP's affiliated
charity. Foundation programs provide
security, protection and empowerment for
older persons in need. Low-income older
workers receive the job training and placement
they need to re-join the workforce. Free tax
preparation is provided for low- and
moderate-income individuals, with special
attention to those 60 and older. The
Foundation's litigation staff protects the
legal rights of older Americans in critical
health, long-term care, and consumer and
employment situations. Additional programs
provide information, education and services
to ensure that people over 50 lead lives of
independence, dignity and purpose.
Foundation programs are funded by grants,
tax-deductible contributions and AARP.
For more information on the AARP Foundation
Women's Leadership Circle or to access the
full research report visit
www.aarp.org/foundation/wlc
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