Research Overview
Differences in health, wealth, income, and socioeconomic status are on the rise and accumulate over the life course. Cumulative experiences that shape work quality, retirement income security, health, and longevity in older ages. The NYRDRC seeks to help social insurance programs adapt to and ultimately reduce and eliminate large and growing barriers by better understanding the role of the larger economy; the geographical divides between urban, suburban, and rural places of aging; the workplace; the impacts of extreme weather; and employers' needs and strategies.
Meeting the needs of the older population in the United States requires a multifaceted approach. Public programs such as Social Security OASDI, SSI, SSDI, Medicare, and Medicaid are critical for supporting the well-being of older adults, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. These programs provide income support, access to healthcare, and social safety net services that help reduce poverty and inequality in old age. However, each of these programs is challenged by the increase in numbers of older adults, combined with the socioeconomic diversification of people over the age of 65, as well as the changing age structure of the population.
As income and wealth gaps expand in the U.S., differences in financial and employment outcomes are also increasing among older Americans. Variations in job stability and work conditions, along with health, earnings, assets, and socioeconomic standing, shape the well-being of older adults. These differences are especially noticeable among older adults from various demographic backgrounds, lower-income households, and those born outside the U.S. Social Security also plays a vital role in supporting employers, and this project focuses on employer well-being as well.
As people age, persistent bias in the labor market widens gaps in employment and earnings. These gaps have long-lasting negative and cumulative impacts on economic security, health, disability, and well-being, leaving disproportionate shares of affected groups in poverty, poor health, and disability.
Many groups face labor market bias. Similarly, a lifetime of work that is more dangerous, lower paying, and/or that reinforces subordination exacerbates long-term health divides and affects health and well-being in old age.
As both research and people’s health conditions change over time, care must be continually reevaluated and updated. Substantial social science, medical, and gerontological research show that social and economic shocks accumulate over people’s lifetimes. Limited access to healthcare and social services reinforce and exacerbate these issues. Despite progress in closing gaps in educational status, household income, and healthcare coverage. and mortality inequalities persist. Evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated aging and early retirement, requiring further study. Barriers and opportunities in elder care also require attention, as do the caregivers and families who provide care for elders.
Projects
Co-resident Grandparents’ Mortality Risk and Racial-Ethnic Variations
Who Pays for Elder Care? An Analysis of the Financial Burden on Caregivers and Families
Home Care Needs and Sources of Care Among Social Security Disability Beneficiaries
Do spousal caregivers claim Social Security early to replace or supplement their income?
The Social Security system, including disability insurance, is America’s biggest and most effective social support and antipoverty program. Without Social Security, 22.5 million more people would be in poverty, including 16.1 million aged 65 or older. But not everyone gets the benefits they need and have earned. Researchers have shown that lower-income earners, particularly those without retirement plans or pensions, lose significant Social Security benefits by collecting early due to financial pressures. Other hurdles to Social Security include lengthy and complicated forms, digital divide issues, and discouraging or discriminatory experiences for some recipients.
Disabilities exacerbate socioeconomic and health disparities. People with disabilities experience discrimination in the labor market and in the healthcare system, putting them at a disadvantage in lifetime earnings, retirement security, and long-term health. Likewise, inequalities in health and disability based on socioeconomic status increase the risk of low earners requiring long-term care, which is generally not covered by Medicare. Adults aged 65 and older who require expensive nursing home care are particularly at risk of exhausting their resources. Disability can happen to anyone, but the risk of a disability and the severity of its consequences can vary by many factors: health history, occupation, and access to healthcare for an illness or after an injury— factors that vary by demographic characteristics and region of the country.
Researchers
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Janet Gornick
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Sarah Bruch
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Jess Hardie
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Frank Heiland
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Na Yin
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Duygu Basaran Sahin
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Sanders Korenman
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Rosemary Hyson
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Ruth Finkelstein
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Jennie Kaufman
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Christian González-Rivera
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Jessica Forden
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Siavash Radpour
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Teresa Ghilarducci
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Hongwei Xu
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Mark Brennan-Ing
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Joseph van der Naald
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Jasmine Manalel
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Yiyi Wu
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Mara Sheftel
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Deborah Balk
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Tony Webb