The SCAN Foundation

Older adults with middle to low incomes are challenged to meet the rising costs of everyday living. Basic needs such as health care, transportation, food and housing are increasing in price much faster than their incomes. Providing a benchmark of costs of living for elder households is the Elder Economic Security Standard Index (Elder Index).  The index illustrates how costs of living vary geographically and are based on the characteristics of elder households: household size, homeownership or renter, mode of transportation, and health status. The costs are for basic needs of elder households such as health care, transportation, food and housing; they are based on market costs and do not assume any subsidies.

Wider Opportunities for Women, dedicated to providing independence for America's families, women and girls, has created a fact sheet of California women in retirement using the Elder Economic Security Standard Index .  Titled, "At a Glance: California's Women in Retirement," the report states, "Single women with the average women's retirement income find themselves more than $3,000 below the economic security threshold in low-cost counties, and more than $10,000 below the Elder Economic Security Standard Index (Elder Index) in high-cost counties."