The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University

National Program on Women & Aging
 

The Women & Aging Letter
Our newsletter is no longer in print, however excerpts with valuable information are available as well as a few complete back-issues.

Reports:

Download our on-line reports with Adobe Reader (free)

If I Can Just Make It To 65...Measuring the Impact on Women of Increasing the Eligibility Age for Medicare,Funded by a grant from the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation -- In the debate over maintaining the solvency of the Medicare program, many plans are being considered.  While proposed adjustments to the funding mechanism or to benefits are vigorously supported by some and criticized by others, raising the eligibility age for the program is one cost-saving measure that is frequently put forth.  Accepted as a painless “quick-fix” for Social Security in 1983, the gradual increase in the eligibility age for Medicare now is offered as a logical and fair response to rising life expectancy.  However, this solution ignores the serious cost such a change may have for particular sub-groups of the population.  Hardest hit would be those reaching 65 (and Medicare eligibility) who would not have access to any other form of health care coverage.  To inform the policy debate over the wisdom and fairness to women of raising the age of eligibility for Medicare, the National Center on Women & Aging used the comprehensive data available in the Mature Women Cohort of the National Longitudinal Surveys of Labor Market Experience 1967-1997 to analyze how midlife and older women -- primarily those between the ages of 55 and 64 -- gain access to health insurance.  We then estimated the effect of raising the eligibility age for Medicare on such women.

Full Report -- 75 pages
Executive Summary
Press Release
 
 

Taking Steps and Making Choices: A Look at Research on Women's Health After 50 -- In June 2000, The National Center on Women & Aging presented a day long conference to examine developments in women's health research and practice that are altering the way women view and manage health in the later years.  As more holistic approaches to women's health care emerge, a trend toward self management is making women responsible for taking the "right" steps and making the "right" choices to protect their health.  Women are looking for ways to digest and interpret massive amounts of health information and advice available to them.  This lively and stimulating day brought together health professionals, leaders of aging and women's organizations, and consumers.  The conference highlighted topics that actively engaged participants in discussions that covered a broad range of interrelated health subjects affecting women now and in the future. ($5)

Pension Privatization Monographs -- Will future generations of older American women be better or worse off if there is a major shift toward privatizing Social Security and other ways of providing income in retirement?  The National Center on Women and Aging (NCWA) has completed a series of monographs to help answer this question.  The NCWA monographs present a cross-national comparison of women's experiences in financial preparation for retirement in Australia, Great Britain, and the United States;  all three countries now have histories of privatization activities that are assessed with regard to the impact on women.  Serious economic problems still confront most women in old age – we need to know more about how recommendations to shift additional savings and retirement planning responsibilities onto individuals will affect them.  Available as a series ($35) or individually ($15 each):

• Older Women and Private Pensions in the United Kingdom
• Older Women and Private Pensions in Australia
• Older Women and Private Pensions in the United States

 

The Women & Money Series -- for the POWERCenter

Women & Money, Issue #3
Hiring a Financial Planner:  Where to Go to Check Credentials and Professional Standing

Women & Money, Issue #4
Resources for Women Planning for Their Financial Security

 

STATE BAR ASSOCIATION FAMILY LAW CHAIRS ASSESS THE USE AND USEFULNESS OF
QUALIFIED DOMESTIC RELATIONS ORDERS (QDROS) --a POWERCenter report

The National Center on Women and Aging (NCWA) and the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER), as part of their efforts to examine issues related to aging women’s economic security, conducted a study on the experience and opinions of Family Law practitioners, the lawyers thought to be the most familiar with and competent to address the division of private pension benefits in divorce.

    Report
    Executive Summary

 
I Fall Upward: Images of Women and Aging in Contemporary Women's Poetry -- An artful paper examining the work of contemporary women poets to find that they address aging in similar themes.  Works of poets Adrienne Rich, Virginia Hamilton Adair, Ruth Fainlight, Eve Merriam, and Marilyn Hacker (among others) are discussed.

Your Memory: What Changes and What You Can Do About It -- This popular booklet examines the importance of memory in daily life, different types of memory functions, and ideas and exercises we can all use to help keep our memory sharp as we age.

Speaking Out on Health: Reflections of Midlife and Older Members of the National Black Women's Health Project -- Early in 1996, the National Black Women's Health Project collaborated with the Center on a research project conducted to learn more about the experience of NBWHP members in finding and using health care. This booklet presents the findings of the research.

Facts on Midlife and Older Women and Crime
 
 

Out of Print

An Introduction to the Financial Planning Industry -- This report presents a comprehensive overview of the way in which financial planning assistance is provided in today's complex financial services marketplace.  Specific issues relevant to midlife and older women as consumers are discussed.

The MetLife Juggling Act Study -- This 11-page report is available for free through MetLife's Mature Market Institute (email MetLife for a copy).  It presents the findings from a groundbreaking study conducted by the National Center on Women & Aging and the National Alliance for Caregiving which looks how employed caregivers of elderly friends and relatives balance their work and caregiving obligations, and the costs involved in reduced wages and benefits.

Financial Challenges for Mature Women:  Creating Financial Plans and Evaluating Financial Planners -- This 54-page report presents the initial findings from our 1998 study on midlife and older women's attitudes and experiences with financial planning for retirement.  In-depth telephone interviews were conducted with 500 women.  Important information was gathered about these women's knowledge of financial products and services, their attitudes about seeking advice from a professional financial advisor, and their experiences working with such a professional. [Study Highlights]

Proceedings of the National Conference on Women's Financial Planning for Retirement -- In May 1998, the National Center on Women and Aging held a national conference, "Sitting Pretty or Sitting Ducks?" with keynote speaker Jane Bryant Quinn.  Ms. Quinn's speech, as well as comments of the distinguished panelists, provide an educational and provocative resource on women and financial planning.  Also included are the two Q&A sessions that captured the concerns of professionals and consumers who attended the conference.

Women of Labor Speak Out on Retirement Finances, Health Care, and Caregiving -- In October of 1995, the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) invited Center on Women and Aging staff to survey CLUW members and leaders about three critical areas: financial planning and money management; health care and health status, and caregiving. This booklet presents the information gathered.

Housing and Living Conditions of Older Women -- This chartbook discusses the demographic trends and figures in the residential status of older women, as well as housing concerns such as safety, accessibility, transportation, and strategies for improving housing for older women.

Access to Mammography for Older Women of Color -- Elevated breast cancer mortality faced by older women of color primarily results from late diagnosis. This report presents a 1996 study which evaluates factors influencing mammography utilization rates. The study results lead to ten specific policy recommendations to help decrease barriers to regular interval screening mammography.

Women and Aging: An Agenda for Action -- This publication presents the proceedings of the October 1995 Invitational Conference on women's income security, health, caregiving, housing, and safety. The conference was an official post-White House Conference on Aging event.