There is a sharp contrast between people’s positive attitudes toward growing older and their preparedness, according to the results of a new survey. The survey reveals that almost three-quarters (72%) of people over the age of 65 do not feel old and 67% still feel healthy.
As perceptions of growing older are overwhelmingly upbeat, people are failing to plan for the potential challenges associated with growing older. More than one-third of those aged 65+ have made no preparations and only 6% have nominated a family member or caregiver to look after them in their later years. From a financial perspective, less than one-quarter (22%) of seniors have put aside savings for retirement.
Despite this lack of preparation, people do have worries about the effects of aging. When respondents over age 65 were asked which disease was most worrisome to them as they got older, dementia was the number one response (37%), ahead of cancer (27%). Across all 12,000 individuals surveyed, losing memory and independence were top concerns.
Alongside these findings, another report reveals that the “informal care network” (families looking after dependent older relatives) is disintegrating while the number of older people in need of care is growing.
The results of the surveys referenced above were just released; this information validates data from other surveys that reported similar results. With nearly 90 million Americans expected to be over the age of 65 by 2050, the time is now to think about advanced planning, before seniors can no longer do so on their own.
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