As in any other playoff, candidate rhetoric let loose during the U.S. presidential race can be tough. We’ve held a front row seat to the 2012 showdown for over a year, with tensions still rising as the general election looms nearer. Some of the barbs launched along the campaign trail have been laughable: Newt Gingrich’s television ad incriminating Mitt Romney for his ability to speak French comes to mind. Others are not. The dialogue surrounding U.S. poverty and inequality, two issues that are hotter than ever during a deep recession that the nation has shown incapable of simply shaking off [...]
Elderly
Suicidal Behavior in a National Sample of Older Homeless Veterans
This study examines self-reported suicidal behavior of older homeless veterans to establish frequencies and predictors of recent suicidal behaviors, and their impact on transitional housing interventions. They found that approximately 12 percent of homeless veterans reported suicidal ideation before program admission, and 3 percent reported attempting suicide in the 30 days before admission. The... »
North Carolina seniors struggle with expenses
Seniors across North Carolina are living in economic insecurity—particularly those whose housing and medical expenses take up a large portion of their costs, a new study finds. Many would not survive with federal aid programs such as food stamps, subsidized housing, and Medicare. »
Many Americans face retirement insecurity
Recent surveys reveal that a record number of workers have lost faith in their ability to afford retirement. More than a quarter of workers said that they were not confident about having enough money to live comfortably once they retire, while half said that they did not think that it was possible that a... »
Older unemployed workers face unpromising futures
A growing number of unemployed people in their 50s and 60s are struggling with finances in light of the economic downturn and its slow recovery. These laid-off workers have a hard time finding employment, and are not yet qualified for Social Security. Many have run out of savings and jobless benefits, living on the... »
Elderly poverty jumps with new Census Bureau analysis
The Census Bureau’s new measurement of poverty finds that the percentage of elderly considered poor is more than 60 percent higher than previous statistics indicated. According to older methods of measurement, less than 10 percent of people 65 and older were living in poverty, but taking into account medical care costs and other costs... »