2005 Survey of AARP Members in Louisiana

AARP Member Opinion Research: This mail survey was conducted to explore and measure the opinions of AARP members in Louisiana on long-term care, Social Security, and electric utility issues. Among the top concerns of respondents are—

• Shortage of long-term care services that help people stay in their own homes and communities.
• Enforcement of standards in long-term care facilities and for long-term care providers.
• The possible impact of changes in the Social Security system that have been proposed, such as private accounts.
• The need to reduce the use of electricity and to make it more affordable, especially for low-income consumers.

Survey highlights include:

• Louisiana members would prefer to receive long-term care in their own homes (49%) or in assisted living facilities (31%). Few members (4%) prefer to receive care in a nursing home.
• Nearly nine in ten Louisiana members support strengthening state enforcement of quality standards in nursing homes, in assisted living facilities, and for providers of home and community-based long-term care services.
• Eight in ten members favor keeping Social Security close to the present system.
• About six in ten members believe private accounts will weaken the Social Security system.
• When asked to consider seven possible effects of private accounts individually, about six in ten Louisiana members strongly oppose private accounts if they: create new federal debt, lower guaranteed benefits, cut benefits for everyone, or create new government agencies.
• Approximately six in ten Louisiana members strongly or somewhat support a state program that uses a small portion of their utility payments to fund a state utility conservation program.
• Seven in ten Louisiana members strongly or somewhat support a program that helps make electricity affordable to households with low-incomes.
• AARP conducted the 2005 Louisiana Member Survey of AARP Members from May 4 through June 1, 2005. A random sample of 2,000 AARP members in Louisiana, proportionally stratified by three age segments, 50 to 59, 60 to 74, and 75+, was selected from AARP's database. A total of 914 surveys (46%) were completed and returned. The survey has a sampling error of plus or minus 3.3 percent. The survey responses were weighted to reflect the distribution of the age segments in the member population of Louisiana.

Joanne Binette managed all aspects of the project. The reports were written by Joanne Binette, Cassandra Burton, and Brittne Nelson, all of AARP Knowledge Management. For more information, contact Joanne Binette at 202-434-6303.