Discover how poverty is impacting aging adults today.

Poverty is a disturbing word. No one wants to live in poverty, yet nearly 700 million people—8.5 percent of the global population—live in “extreme” poverty, defined as surviving on less than $2.15 per day. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 11.6% of Americans—roughly 38 million people—live at or below the poverty level. What responsibility do we have to help meet the needs of those in poverty? On this edition of The Exploring Aging Podcast, hosts Ray Sanders, Dr. Bill Pierce, and Greg McNeece take a hard look at the state of poverty in the United States, especially among aging adults.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and overview of poverty among aging adults.

03:00 Discussion on global poverty statistics and their implications.

06:45 Exploring the definition and types of poverty.

11:30 Causes of poverty, focusing on economic and social factors.

16:15 Impact of poverty on seniors, including health and food insecurity.

21:00 Overview of assistance programs for seniors in Oklahoma.

26:30 Community and church roles in addressing poverty.

31:45 Personal stories highlighting resilience and support.

36:30 Encouragement for community involvement and personal action.

41:00 Closing thoughts and call to action for listeners.