Aging: One-third of US adults plan to care for themselves

WASHINGTON, June 14 (UPI) -- One-third of U.S. adults plan to take care of themselves as they age but 90 percent expect the Internet and social networking to help, a survey indicates.

The online national survey of 1,020 U.S. adults -- 7 percent ages 18-29, 19 percent ages 30-40, 63 percent ages 41-64 and 9 percent age 65 and older -- was conducted by CommonHealth Action with the support of Betah Associates, Inc.

Sixteen percent say they are unprepared to provide for personal needs as they age, 47 percent say they are somewhat prepared, 27 percent say they are prepared to provide for their personal needs and 6 percent say they very prepared.

Outside of the 32 percent who anticipate taking care of themselves, 18 percent say they anticipate relying on spouse/partner for care; 21 percent say they plan to rely on children, friends or other relatives; 11 percent say they anticipate paying for professionals; and 4 percent say they don't think they will be able to afford any care.

Fifty-four percent say they are not confident at all that the federal government will support their needs, while 39 percent say they are somewhat confident.

Seventy-nine percent of those surveyed were women and 21 percent were male; 59 percent are married, 14 percent are divorced and 18 percent single. No further survey details were provided.

The full report is scheduled to be posted to the CHA Web site in August.