According to recent studies by Child Trends, the national number of children living in a grandparent’s household rose from 4.6 million in 2005-2007, to 5.2 million in 2008-2010.  Among all grandparent caregivers, the rate of poverty in 2008-2010 was twice that for all adults 35 and older.  In California, between 2008 and 2010, 1,057,000 grandparents lived with grandchildren and 303,000 were primarily responsible for the care of these grandchildren.  During this time period, grandparents served as the primary caregiver for 301,000 California children (3.2% of children in California).  This is an increase from the 274,000 children cared for by grandparents between 2005-2007 (2.9%).  Between 2008 and 2010, California grandparents with primary responsibility for their grandchildren were 49% more likely to live in poverty than adults age 35 and older (15.5% vs. 10.4%).  1 in 8 of these primary caregivers spoke English less than “very well.”   The studies can be found here and here.

According to a study released by the John A. Hartford Foundation, “Silver and Blue – The Unfinished Business of Mental Health Care for Older Adults,” most older adults receive ineffective depression care and are not aware of the health risks associated with depression.  The December 2012 study, which surveyed 1,138 Americans age 65 and older, found that only 1 in 5 seniors knew that depression could double an individual’s risk of developing dementia and only 1 in 3 knew it could double the risk of heart disease.  27% of the seniors surveyed believed depression was a natural part of the aging process.  Mental health problems affect nearly one in five older adults.  Click here for more information.

According to a recent report, Older Americans 2012: Key Indicators of Well-Being, cited by NPR, the number of seniors living below the poverty level has decreased from 35% in 1959 to 9% in 2010.

In 2010, senior women (11%) are more likely to live in poverty than senior men (7%).  Black, Hispanic and Asian senior men (14%) are more likely to live in poverty than White senior men (5%).  Black and Hispanic senior women (21%) are more likely to live in poverty than Asian senior women (15%) and White senior women (8%).

In 1959, seniors had the highest rate of poverty (35%) followed by children (27%).  In 2010, senior poverty levels had decreased to 9%, children poverty levels had decreased to 22%.

Read the story here.  Read the report here.

According to a recent Health Affairs report, only 5.2% of beneficiaries choose the cheapest plan that meets their medication needs.  Using 2009 Part D data, the report found that beneficiaries spend on average $368 more a year than they would spend had they purchased a cheaper plan.  More than 20% of beneficiaries overspend by $500 a year.

See the report here.  Read more about Part D here.

A new bill expands existing laws that protect domestic violence survivors to survivors of elder abuse.  Existing law prohibits a landlord from evicting a tenant based upon an act of domestic violence.  The bill expands that protection to survivors of elder abuse and dependent adult abuse.

The bill also allows survivors of elder abuse to terminate a tenancy prematurely, a protection already available to survivors of domestic violence.  Existing law requires survivors to provide evidence by means of a restraining order or police report but the bill adds protective orders to the list of documents that may be used as evidence of the underlying abuse.

Read more here.