Miller David B, Brown Khalil M, Adams Kathryn Betts
Jack Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
UConn School of Social Work, Independent Gerontology Consultant, West Hartford, CT, USA.
J Aging Soc Policy. 2024 Aug 27:1-17. doi: 10.1080/08959420.2024.2384190.
With rapid population aging in the U.S. a greater number of older adults now experience economic insecurity, a situation disproportionately affecting older people of color. The COVID pandemic, rising inflation, and increasing economic inequality have reduced the purchasing power of both wages and fixed incomes. Compared with prior cohorts, the current cohort of adults at or nearing retirement age faces higher levels of secured and unsecured debt burden from mortgages, home equity loans, student loans, credit cards, and out-of-pocket medical costs. Long-standing disparities in opportunities and generational wealth have resulted in more outstanding debt for Black older adults than their white counterparts. This "financial fragility" may result in older people foregoing proper nutrition, doctor's visits, needed medications, or home or car repairs, while stress about finances may contribute to chronic health and mental health conditions. Along with programs to educate and advise older adults on their pressing financial concerns, practitioners who interact with older people in many settings should incorporate needed financial assessment and referrals into their work with this population. Professional and continuing education should ensure financial literacy and awareness of financial fragility for those working with older adults.
随着美国人口迅速老龄化，越来越多的老年人面临经济不安全问题，这种情况对有色人种老年人的影响尤为严重。新冠疫情、不断上涨的通货膨胀以及日益加剧的经济不平等，降低了工资和固定收入的购买力。与前几代人相比，目前处于或接近退休年龄的成年人面临着更高水平的有担保和无担保债务负担，这些债务来自抵押贷款、房屋净值贷款、学生贷款、信用卡以及自付医疗费用。机会和代际财富方面长期存在的差距导致黑人老年人比白人老年人背负更多未偿还债务。这种“财务脆弱性”可能导致老年人放弃适当的营养、看医生、所需药物或房屋或汽车维修，而对财务状况的担忧可能会导致慢性健康和心理健康问题。除了开展项目，就老年人紧迫的财务问题对他们进行教育和提供建议外，在许多环境中与老年人互动的从业者应将所需的财务评估和转介纳入与这一人群的工作中。专业和继续教育应确保与老年人打交道的人具备金融知识并了解财务脆弱性。
