Although many older people are financially secure, and sociologists predict his number will continue to increase, there are proverty issues in the elderly population.
In 1985, over 12% of the 65+ population of the United States was below the proverty level, a slight decrease from 1983. Looking at proverty from an ethnic standpoint, there are twice as many poor, elderly Hispanics and almost three times as many poor, older blacks as there are poor, elderly whites.
Proverty-stricken older females greatly outnumber poor males, and older black women have the highest incidence of proverty. Financial difficulties are a problem in low-paying jobs where retirement plans are inadequate. Obviously, the higher incidence of proverty among minorities affects the kind of health care they are able to obtain, and the poor patient may have a history of minimum or no care.
The nurse must be aware of this fact when assessing needs, as this patient may need more education and greater attention to basic health care needs.
Farrell J : Nursing Care of the Older Person, J.B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, 1990.
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