We Stand With Seniors June Survey Results
From Friday, June 8 through Monday, June 11, 2018, J. Wallin Opinion Research conducted a telephone survey of voters throughout the State of California. Our research revealed an electorate deeply supportive of a candidate for governor who has a vision and a long-term master investment plan to address the increasing need for senior services for California’s aging population and support enabling independent living by covering increased access to medical, mental and dental care; affordable housing; nutritious food and transportation specifically for seniors.
83.7% of California Voters Support a Candidate for Governor Who Has a Vision and
Long-Term Master Investment Plan for California’s Seniors
Question: “Would you support or oppose a candidate for governor who has a vision and a long-term master investment plan to address the increasing need for senior services for California’s aging population and support enabling independent living? This plan would cover increased access to medical, mental and dental care; affordable housing; nutritious food and transportation specifically for seniors. And would you say that you strongly (support / oppose) or somewhat (support / oppose)?”
Moreover, this support is deep-rooted and is shared across ethnicity, age group, gender, political party affiliation and throughout California’s diverse geographic communities.
This unusually high level of support may be unsurprising given nearly three-quarters of California voters are concerned about their ability to pay for long-term senior care in the future:
Nearly Three-Quarters (73.4%) Are Concerned About Their Ability
to Pay for Long-Term Senior Care in the Future
Question: “How concerned are you personally about your ability to pay for long-term senior care in the future? And would you say that you are (very concerned / not at all concerned) or (somewhat concerned / not very concerned)”
Our research indicates that support for greater investment in seniors by a candidate for California Governor in 2018 can help to definitively establish an important component of a campaign’s foundation, generating deep and enthusiastic support.
It is important to note how highly voters prioritize greater investment in senior services relative to other policy prescriptions that have been proven (through ongoing opinion research) to appeal to the appetites of California’s voting population, including public safety, grade schools and college education and infrastructure, while scoring well above immigration alternatives and repealing the gas tax.
Prioritizing Greater Investment in Senior Services Ranks Nearly Identically as
Investment in Infrastructure, Grade Schools and College Education
Question: “I am going to read a list of issues facing the state of California. Please listen to each and then tell me if that issue should be a top priority, high priority, medium priority, or low priority for more public investment?”
Where Seniors Grow Older Matters: There are specific policy prescriptions that are especially important to California’s voters. AARP has found that 82% of seniors would prefer to stay in their homes as they age, and our research revealed that nearly nine out of ten (87.6%) voters in California feel it is important for California to have a master plan that would invest in services that allow seniors to age in the place that they prefer (58.3% feel it is very important.)
87.6% Feel it is Important for California to Have a Master Plan That Would
Invest in Services That Allow Seniors to Age in the Place That They Prefer
Question: “AARP has found that 82% of seniors would prefer to stay in their homes as they age. But today there are limited affordable, in-home supportive service options in California that allow seniors to stay safely in their homes as they age. Despite their wishes, many simply end up in nursing facilities. How important do you feel it is for California to have a master plan that would invest in services that allow seniors to age in the place that they prefer? Would you say that it is very important, somewhat important, not very important or not at all important?”
Supporting Caregiving Matters: Our research revealed that nearly nine out of ten (86.4%) voters in California support California investing more in caregiver programs that assist those who care for aging family members (55.7% strongly support.)
86.4% Support California Investing More In Caregiver Programs that
Assist Those Who Care for Aging Family Members
Question: “A caregiver provides care such as helping take someone who is 65 and older to appointments or assisting them with shopping, taking medications or doing household chores. By age 40, a third of Americans are already caregivers for a loved one, and another thirty percent of the population is expected to become caregivers in the next five years. Younger adults are just as likely as those aged 40 and older to be a caregiver soon. Do you support or oppose California investing more in caregiver programs that assist those who care for aging family members? And would you say that you strongly (support / oppose) or somewhat (support / oppose)?”
Our research also revealed several messages about our state’s seniors that were especially resonant with the state’s voters and aligned with specific gubernatorial platforms.
Most Compelling Messages About Greater Investment in Seniors
Question: “Now I am going to read you some more information about a candidate with the vision and a long-term investment plan to address the increasing demand for senior services for California’s aging population that support independent living, mental or behavioral healthcare, dental care, affordable housing, healthy food and nutrition and transportation specifically for seniors. Please listen, and then let me know if it makes you more likely or less likely to support a candidate for governor who wants greater investment in senior services. If it makes no difference to you, just say so.”
Finally, it is important to underline that voters are willing to open their own wallets and support greater investment in senior services through some kind of tax that applies to most residents in California.
A Majority (56.7%) Supports an Increase in Taxes To Fund
a Long-Term Care System for Senior Services
Question: “Would you support an increase in the state payroll, sales or income tax in order to fund a long-term care system available to all Californians who need senior services? And would you say that you strongly (support/oppose) or somewhat (support/oppose)?”
We interviewed 1,000 respondents using live, professional interviewers, speaking Spanish and English languages and calling both mobile and landlines (59.9% of this survey was completed on mobile phones). A survey of this size yields a margin of error of +/-3.1% (95% confidence interval). Our sample is stratified, meaning that the demographic composition of our results matches the demographic composition of the state’s voting population.
