The Complexities of Elder Poverty with Tracey Gronniger

In this episode of Risking Old Age in America, host Harry Margolis discusses the increasing rates of elder poverty with Tracey Gronniger, a managing director at Justice in Aging. They explore the prevalence and underlying causes of elder poverty, especially among women and people of color, and examine the effectiveness of current support programs like Social Security and SSI. The discussion also highlights systemic issues such as the complexities in accessing benefits, inadequate asset limits, and the critical need for legislative action to better support older adults. Topics 00:28 Meet Tracey Gronniger: Advocate for Economic Security 00:58 Understanding Elder Poverty Rates 04:10 Impact of Cost of Living on Elder Poverty 07:15 Gender and Racial Disparities in Elder Poverty 10:31 The Role of Caregiving in Elder Poverty 14:38 Programs to Alleviate Elder Poverty 16:55 Challenges in Accessing Benefits 23:45 Policy Recommendations for Reducing Elder Poverty 25:23 Final Thoughts and Call to Action Risking Old Age in America