The Effects of Poverty on the Care of the Elderly

In some countries, the elderly are revered, respected and cared for by family members. This is not always the case in the United States. Those seniors who are fending for themselves without assistance from family members are facing a financial crisis, as are most Americans. Fuel prices are up, as are food prices. This impacts the elderly just as it affects everyone else. Many elderly people do not have savings or had to spend their savings in order to survive.

Poverty Level

• A lot of seniors are finding themselves in impoverished conditions. When medical care and cost of living expenses are factored in, the poverty level among elderly people in the United States jumps to 16.1 percent, according to the 2010 census. Social Security benefits are not enough to keep many seniors out of poverty. According to the Huffington Post, less than 10 percent of the 38 million elderly people in the United States appear on paper to be living in poverty; however, once you factor in other costs that are unavoidable, the percentage jumps to 16.1 percent.

Medications

• Millions of seniors live below the poverty line and have grave difficulty meeting their basic needs, let alone paying for drugs and medical fees. Some go without their medication because they can't afford it. This can prove to be fatal.

Women and People of Color

• Women generally live longer than men. Women age 75 and older are much more likely to end up living in poverty than men. When a woman is widowed, she may not have ample income.

  People of color are also more likely than white Americans to fall into poverty as they get older. These individuals aren't as likely to have retirement benefits or savings of any kind.

Food

• Elderly people do not take advantage of food stamps as do younger people. As a result, they may experience food insecurity, which means they don't have enough to eat.

Utilities

• When a senior can't afford to pay utility bills he may live in a home that is too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer, which is not beneficial to his health, not to mention extremely uncomfortable and possibly even fatal.

Dental Care

• Elderly people who are poor, particularly minorities, do not receive adequate dental care. Periodontal (gum) disease that is left untreated can lead to serious health problems.