What do low-income seniors need? 

The first year of our joint AAFC/Frederick Health Service Coordination Project gathered this data:

Tracking of 96 program participants receiving 2,952 unduplicated services falling into 25 service categories over year 1 shows seniors having strong need for support in the following areas:

• information and help with benefits/insurance management 
• health care and services
• transportation 
• home management/meeting requirements for annual voucher inspections
• monitoring for safety, health care compliance, general needs 
• isolation prevention 
• outreach to service providers
• need for assistive devices to avoid falls and maintain mobility

Economic Needs of Seniors in Frederick County:

• Income in the past 12 months among 24,042 households (2022 ACS)
  • 47.2% with earnings
    • Mean dollars:  $88,382
  • 85.2% with Social Security income
    • Mean dollars:  $26,627
  • 3.6% with Supplemental Security income
    • Mean dollars:  $12,460
  • 1.1% with Cash Public Assistance income
    • Mean dollars:  $3,532
  • 63,2% with retirement income
    • Mean dollars:  $42,419

Poverty Status in the past 12 months among senior population of 39,693 for whom poverty status is determined: (2022 poverty level for a single adult in Maryland: $13,590) (Data: 2022 Federal Poverty Guidelines & 2022 Lower Living Standard Income Level │ May 19, 2022, MD Dept of Labor)

2022 ACS:

• 5.8% were below 100% of the poverty level 
• 4.7% were 100-149% of the poverty level 

• 2021 ALICE Report for Frederick County* using 2020 Census data:
  • The ALICE threshold survival budget for a senior in 2021: $51,384 and $70,380 for 2 seniors in the same home (The ALICE Report assumes rent costs as part of monthly costs.)
  • 51% of senior households (65 years of age and older) fell beneath the ALICE threshold.
  • Increases in senior households falling beneath the ALICE threshold look like this:
• Total 65+ HHs ALICE threshold and poverty:       
  • 2010:     7,356
  • 2018:    10,757  (9.300 ALICE and 1,457 Poverty)
  • 2021:    13,002  (11.202 ALICE and 1,800 Poverty)

*Many older adults are on fixed incomes and are part of the population called ALICE – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. ALICE households have incomes above the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) but struggle to afford basic household necessities.

Food Security

• 1,202 households with at least 1 person 65 years of age or older received Food Stamps/SNAP benefits in the past 12 months (2022 ACS)
• 2021 Feeding America Food Insecurity Data for Frederick County*:
  • 30,360 food insecure people in the county (all ages)
  • 11.1% food insecurity rate
    *Hunger & Poverty in the United States | Map the Meal Gap (feedingamerica.org)
  • In FY2023 (Oct 2022 – Oct 2023), Frederick County delivered 110,408 meals to qualifying seniors and disabled adults