AARP Vital Voices Survey Highlights Concerns of Older Marylanders

AARP Maryland is releasing new research that examines how likely Maryland voters age 45 and older feel about issues such as health care, financial security, caregiving, livable communities and more.

This is part of an ongoing effort by AARP in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to better understand the needs and attitudes of older Americans and assist in the development of programs, policies and resources to support them.

“This latest AARP research offers valuable insights into the issues that matter most to older Marylanders. We are going to use these findings to inform our advocacy efforts and outreach activities in 2025 and beyond, so that we can better serve our residents,” said AARP Maryland State Director Hank Greenberg

In Maryland, AARP surveyed more than 700 Marylanders and found that, among likely voters 45-plus:

Caregiving

• 64% of respondents have provided unpaid help to a relative or friend aged 18 or older, with 24% currently providing care and 40% having done so in the past.
• Key caregiving tasks performed daily or weekly include helping with meals (60%), providing social activities or companionship (64%), aiding with household chores (62%), and overseeing medication management (47%).

Financial Security

• 53% of respondents are extremely concerned about being able to afford to remain in their homes as they age.
• 72% of non-retired respondents consider having enough income or savings to retire as extremely important.
• 63% of respondents believe having adequate Social Security benefits available in the future is extremely important.

Social Security

• 53% of respondents would be greatly impacted if their Social Security benefits were reduced by 20%.
• 53% of respondents prefer a bipartisan solution to fixing Social Security, compared to 18% who prefer a solution that reflects the views of their preferred political party.

Health

• 68% of respondents consider having adequate health insurance coverage to be extremely important.
• 67% of respondents are concerned about being able to afford healthcare expenses, including premiums and co-pays.

Livable Communities

• 54% of respondents believe it is "extremely important" to stay in their own home as they age, while 50% are "extremely concerned" about being able to afford to remain in their home.

Brain Health and Mental Well-Being

• 62% of respondents reported feeling depressed at least some of the time in the past week, and 57% experienced sadness, signaling concerns about mental health and social isolation.

AARP, which counts more than 800,000 Marylanders among its members, is focused on bipartisan solutions that improve the quality of life for all as they age. Interviews were conducted with 702 Maryland residents aged 45 and older between June 17, 2024 and July 7, 2024. All data have been weighted by age, gender, and race/ethnicity according to 2022 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates. Survey results have a 3.7% margin of error.

AARP Vital Voices Research enables AARP state offices to gauge local opinions on a range of topics through regular surveys. Offered every three years, the surveys are a collaborative effort between AARP researchers and state office staff. The timing of the online phone surveys, along with the content, is customized to reflect the needs of each state. Learn more at www.aarp.org/vitalvoices.

 

###