An AARP survey of Hawai‘i residents age 50 years old and over shows a gap between the importance they place on health and financial security and their confidence in meeting those needs. More than 9 out of 10 older residents in Hawai‘i say staying healthy, mentally sharp and having adequate health insurance coverage are extremely or very important to them. Yet only 3 out of 10 say they have everything they need relative to these concerns.
“It’s not surprising that almost every Hawai‘i resident age 50-plus says staying healthy and spending time with loved ones is important,” says AARP Hawai‘i State Director Barbara Kim Stanton. “But it is alarming that most of us don’t think we have what we need to meet those goals. We all have a role to play in bridging that gap.”
Key findings from the survey, which also examined issues like aging at home, financial security and state budget concerns, include:
- 96 percent say staying healthy is important, but only 31 percent of these residents think they have what they need to do so.
- 87 percent say that spending time with family and friends is important, but only 35 percent think they have what they need to stay connected to their loved ones.
- 83 percent say that protecting themselves against fraud is important, but only 19 percent think they have what they need to stay safe as consumers.
The survey is the latest in AARP’s ongoing efforts to match the changing needs of its members and all older residents with resources that help them manage new opportunities and challenges. AARP offers a variety of easy-to-use online tools and information to help you and your family with your own unique needs. For example:
Strengthen your financial security and protect yourself against fraud Find out if your plans are still on track to retire when and how you want: www.aarp.org/retirementcalculator.
Stay healthier Get the facts on the prevention screenings and vaccinations you may need: www.aarp.org/healthscreenings.
To see the complete survey, Voices of 50+ Hawai‘i: Dreams and Challenges, go to http://aarp.us/gWe2Mw. Residents age 50+ represent roughly 35 percent of the state’s population. There are nearly 150,000 AARP members in Hawai‘i.
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