Older voters are focused on the economy this election

Jane Cocking, 77, juggles expensive pharmacy bills while caring for her 80-year-old husband, who has Alzheimer’s disease. Add inflation, and they are concerned about paying bills and staying

in their Atlanta-area home in coming years. “I worry about Social Security and Medicare being reduced or cut or done away,” she says. “The programs we have paid into are in danger. That

really scares me.” With control of the U.S. House and Senate hanging on the election, issues that affect ­aging Americans will be at stake. A June poll by AARP in the 44 most competitive

congressional districts looked at the most important issues for voters 50 and older. Those voters are highly motivated; 84 percent say they plan to vote this year, compared with 74 percent

of all likely voters. Economic concerns drive that engagement. About 62 percent of voters 50 and older say they are worried about their personal financial situation. When asked about

particular issues, 80 percent say Social Security is important or very important, 73 percent say that about Medicare, and 67 percent say that of helping older people live independently at

home. For the cost of prescription drugs, the number is 66 percent. With all those issues in play, “every vote is going to count,” says Khelan Bhatia, AARP’s director of voter engagement.

That includes Cocking’s, and — along with inflation — health care is on her mind. She has seen her husband, John, go from an athletic soccer player in their native England to a man with

prostate cancer, blood clot disorder, sleep apnea and dementia. “Is it possible to thrive when you live with someone with dementia? It depends on the day,” Cocking says. She’s not sure she

can afford to send John to memory care and keep their home for her to live in. “That will keep me up at night. It’s so expensive — $7,000 to $10,000 a month. You can go through your

retirement money pretty quickly,” she says. For now, she manages with family support, home care aides and antidepressants. In the last two years, Deanna Brandt has had two major surgeries

and spent over $8,000 on prescriptions. Jamie Kelter Davis PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS CAUSE CONCERNS For Deanna Brandt, 87, a major concern is the cost of prescription drugs. With surgeries

each of the past two years, she spent nearly $8,000 per year out of pocket on medical expenses. “I’m lucky at least I can pay it without going without food,” says Brandt, a retired executive

assistant from the Chicago suburbs. She watched another woman walk out of a pharmacy without her medicine because it was too expensive. “It’s on everyone’s mind. I think about all the

people having a hard time paying for prescriptions.” Recent legislation allows Medicare to use its massive buying power to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices. Negotiations on

prescription drugs are expected to lead to lower prices, meaning both the government and the Medicare patients who pay a portion of the cost will see their costs go down starting in 2026.

Changes in government could alter that forecast. “It’s on everyone’s mind. I think about all the people having a hard time paying for prescriptions.” — Deanna Brandt, 87