About Elder Economic Security Initiative™

Wider Opportunities for Women has launched an exciting new effort, the Elder Economic Security Initiative™ (Initiative). The Initiative seeks to build economic security for elders through a multi-pronged approach that includes organizing, advocacy and research. In its first year, WOW launched the project with California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. A key tool, which under girds the Initiative, is the development of an Elder Economic Security Standard™ Index (Elder Index). The Elder Index has been developed in conjunction with our national research partner, the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

The Elder Economic Security Initiative™ seeks to build economic security for older adults through a multi-pronged approach that includes organizing, advocacy and research. The Initiative is an initiative to enable policy makers, aging advocates and others to develop policies and programs to help seniors age with dignity while promoting their economic security. A key component of the Initiative is the Elder Economic Security Standard™ Index, a measure of well-being that determines the income and supports needed for older adults to live modestly depending on their health and life circumstances.

The Elder Index is calibrated to household size, geographic area, and life circumstances. For instance, costs will be broken down on a county-by-county level in each of the states where the Initiative is launched. The Elder Index is a tool that will provide important information to policy makers, aging advocates and others as they develop policies and programs to promote the economic independence of elders while helping them age with dignity.

The Elder Economic Security Initiative™ is modeled after WOW’s successful Family Economic Self-Sufficiency Project, launched in 1996 which put a number of tools in the hands of local, state and national policymakers and advocates to increase economic opportunities for low-income working families.

For more information:

• Press Release – AP Support for the Initiative
• National Advisory Board
• Fact Sheet: National Elder Economic Security Initiative™
• Fact Sheet: Single Elder Women's Retirement Income Falls Short
• Frequently Asked Questions About the Elder Economic Securty Initiative™
• Frequently Asked Questions About the Elder Economic Security Standard™ Index