141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

284775
Hidden poor among older adults: Health outcomes and barriers to care

Wednesday, November 6, 2013 : 10:54 AM - 11:06 AM

D. Imelda Padilla-Frausto, MPH , UCLA Fielding School of Public Health & UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, Los Angeles, CA
Steven P. Wallace, PhD , UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, Los Angeles, CA
Background: The Federal Poverty Guideline Level (FPL) is a single national level based on 1950s standard of living and is used widely in planning and program eligibility. However, in California, the FPL grossly underestimates those who are economically insecure. The Elder Index is an alternative measure of economic security that better reflects California's higher cost of living and sheds light on the hidden poor among the elderly. Objectives: To analyze and compare the health characteristics and barriers to care for older adults with incomes below the Elder Index. Methods: Using data from the California Health Interview Survey and the 2011 Elder Index, we identify older adults with incomes below the Elder Index, those with incomes above the FPL but below the Index, and those below the FPL. We assess and compare overall health status, disability, prevalence of psychological distress, chronic health conditions, and access to care. Results: The health and access to care among the hidden poor, as identified by the Elder Index, is more similar to those identified as poor by the official FPL (<100% FPL) than to those above the Index, who they are usually combined with. Conclusions: The hidden poor have health care needs similar to older adults identified as poor by the FPL, yet, due to program eligibility criteria based on the FPL, the hidden poor are overlooked and have less overall access to care than better-off seniors. Public policy therefore needs to include the hidden poor in program planning and eligibility to address this population.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe the history and limitations of the FPL Identify the characteristics of those who are economically insecure according to the Elder Index Explain how using the Elder Index better targets those in poor health than the FPL for planning and eligibility purposes

Keywords: Aging, Economic Analysis

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have conducted research and published on the aging population and their financial and long-term care needs for the past 6 years. Specifically, I have collaborated on the development, publication and advocacy of the California Elder Economic Security Standard Index since the first release in 2007.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.