According to the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) guidelines in 2019, a single elder is considered in poverty if their income is less than $12,490. According to the California Elder Economic Security Standard™ Index (CA Elder Index), older adults in California, on average, need two times the FPL amount — single elders who rent have an economic need of $27,816 for a basic and decent standard of living. The CA Elder Index was developed to provide an evidence-based indicator of the actual basic costs faced by older adults ages 65 and over.
D. Imelda Padilla-Frausto, PhD, MPH, UCLA CHPR research scientist, and Steven P. Wallace, PhD, UCLA CHPR Associate Center Director, discuss the release the 2019 California Elder Index and trends in the basic cost of living for older adults from 2013 to 2019; uncover the hidden poor — older adults with income above the FPL but not enough income to meet their basic needs; and discuss the implications for older adults during COVID-19. View a recording of the seminar.
