Is America Failing Its Seniors?
When you picture retirement, you might imagine peace of mind, stability, and enjoying the fruits of a lifetime of work. But for many older Americans, that vision feels further and further from reality. From rising costs to broken systems, seniors today are facing challenges that make you stop and wonder: is America failing its seniors?
Let’s break it down.
The Financial Squeeze
Seniors are supposed to be enjoying their golden years—but inflation is eating into fixed incomes. Groceries, rent, healthcare, and utilities have all gone up in price, while Social Security checks often don’t keep pace.
The 2024 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) was 3.2%, but inflation in some categories—like food and housing—outpaced that. This means seniors are often forced to dip into savings (if they have them) or cut back on essentials. And nearly 1 in 4 seniors has no retirement savings at all.
The takeaway: Retirement income that was once enough is no longer stretching the same way, leaving too many seniors financially vulnerable.
