Well-Being of Marital Groups in Later Life: Are Divorced Elders Disadvantaged?

Data from a community assessment of health survey were used to examine economic and health indicators of elderly marital groups (N = 208) residing in North Carolina. The author found divorced elders (1) owned few assets, (2) were likely to be diagnosed with two of the major risk factors for contracting diabetes, (3) had a "fair'' to "poor'' self-assessed health, and (4) were likely to have sought financial support from family and/or friends to help pay for prescription drugs during the past year. It was concluded that family policy advocates and policymakers should be aware that many divorced elders in poorer health are unable to financially provide for prescription drugs that are needed to manage their chronic health problems. Implications for the 2003 Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act (Medicare Part D) are discussed.