AARP Vital Voices: Priority Issues for U.S. Women Ages 45+

More than one-quarter (27%) of American women ages 45-plus feel finances are the single most important problem facing mid-life and older adults as they age. From retirement to Social Security to cost of living, everything is affected when financial futures are unstable or uncertain. Since every woman's situation is unique, concerns and fears regarding their financial future manifest in different ways and intensities based on their age, income, and even their political views.

Key Findings

• Since 2019, the number of U.S. women ages 45-plus who think their financial situation will worsen has doubled (15% in 2019 vs. 30% in 2022).
• Three in five American women 45-plus (60%) believe they have been personally and negatively impacted by inflation.
• The well-being of roughly one in three (35%) women 45-plus has been negatively impacted by not being able to afford health care essentials, like co-pays and prescriptions.
• Nearly two-thirds of women 45-plus are counting on Social Security being a major (36%) or minor (28%) source of income in retirement.

Methodology

In October 2022, AARP conducted a quantitative research study among American adults 45 and older. The Vital Voices study has been conducted each year since 2019, and topics covered include: health care, the economy, financial issues, independent living, long-term care, caregiving, retirement, and mental health issues. In total, there were 845 interviews conducted with women in 2022, 420 in 2021, 424 in 2020, and 428 in 2019.

For more information, please contact Aisha Bonner Cozad at abonner@aarp.org. For media inquiries, contact External Relations at media@aarp.org.