Women more likely than men to face poverty during retirement

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Women are at a high risk for falling within or below the poverty income bracket during retirement. While the elderly are considered to be a highly vulnerable and at risk population, elderly women are especially likely to be impoverished.In an economic article titled "Women more likely than men to face poverty during retirement" PBS News Hour informs us that "The National Institute on Retirement Security... reports that women are 80 percent more likely than men to be impoverished at age 65 and older. Women age 75 to 79 are three times more likely".What does it mean to face impoverishment in old age? For "Jennifer Brown, manager of research at the National Institute on Retirement Security it means not having the "amount of money needed to actually exist". It means not having enough income to pay for the essentials of food, housing and transportation onto of rising medical costs. Jennifer Brown explains that women now outlive men and due to a longer life span they are more likely to required long term medical care for illnesses such as Alzheimer's and various disabilities. As a community, what can we do to help the vulnerable population of women over 65? One way that we can give back is through organizations such as the Meals on Wheels People. The Meals on Wheels People stand by their mission to "enrich the lives of seniors, and assist them in maintaining independence, by providing nutritious food, human connections and social support." Their meals are available to anyone over the age of 60 and they encourage, but do not require, seniors to donate towards food costs what they can afford. On top of providing services to nutritionally at risk populations(such as elderly women) they also hold regular events and stress the importance of building a community. By volunteering your talents to an organization such as the Meals on Wheels People you can help improve the lives of elderly women who are facing impoverishment. 

Resources
Our Story . (n.d.). Retrieved November 29, 2017, from https://www.mealsonwheelspeople.org/our-story
Press, A. A. (2016, July 10). Women more likely than men to face poverty during retirement. Retrieved November 29, 2017, from https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/women-more-likely-than-men-to-face-poverty-during-retirement
- Rachel Hill

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