UMass Boston

Elder Index

www.ElderIndex.org

instructional graphic of step 1: choose your location and and step 2: choose your filters on the elderindex.org landing page

 

“The Elder Index allows researchers to tailor the adequacy measure to the elderly while still providing a relatively simple way to evaluate retirement security.”
- Congressional Budget Office (2017), Measuring the Adequacy of Retirement Income: A Primer

 

The Elder IndexTM, a tool developed by the Gerontology Institute, is a measure of the income that older adults need to meet their basic needs and age in place with dignity. The Index is specific to household size, location, housing tenure, and health status. It includes the cost of housing, health care, transportation, food, and miscellaneous essentials.  

Visit www.ElderIndex.org to:

  • Look up and compare county, state, and national Elder Index values.
  • View monthly and annual Elder Index values by housing type, household size, and health status.
  • View breakdown of cost components.
  • Download charts and tables for specific locations.

Turning Gray and Into the Red: The True Cost of Growing Old in America: A Q&A with Jan Mutchler