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OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 7, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- A multigenerational quality of life poll shows that Americans retain a positive outlook despite economic hardships and 76 percent believe "the best is yet to come," and when they think about the quality of their life in the future, many are optimistic.
These results are part of a new GOLD Indicator (Gauging Overall Life Dimensions), the first of an annual survey to assess how Americans view their lives based on the ten indicators of satisfaction – family, neighborhood safety, housing situation, spiritual life, health, friends, work or how days are spent, free time, finances and community involvement. On average, Americans rate their overall quality of life as a 72 on a scale from zero to 100.
Some groups are more satisfied with their lives than others, including America's oldest generation, which gives higher marks than their younger counterparts in 6 out of the 10 GOLD Indicator dimensions, according to the study titled, "Generation to Generation: Gauging the Golden Years," which was conducted for Home Instead Senior Care by the Marist Poll.
Despite their personal optimism, an overwhelming majority of Americans (74%) think the country is headed the wrong direction, including 76% of Baby Boomers, 79% of the Greatest Generation, 77% of Gen X, and 65% of Millennials.
Americans said that what's good about their lives includes: Family, neighborhood safety, housing, their health and spiritual life. But weighing on optimism are the lack of community involvementand free time as well as challenges with personal finance.
"We also found that life after 65 doesn't always match expectations," said Paul Hogan, Chairman and Founder of Home Instead Senior Care.
"The data in our GOLD Indicator allows us to understand the expectations of younger generations for what retirement will be like," Hogan said. "We find that it is not always reflected in what older generations say their reality is. So, do younger generations have unrealistic expectations OR are these, in fact, a window into the future of retirement?"
The results also showed that Americans, particularly those under 65, are woefully unprepared in the event that they can no longer make their own medical decisions or live independently. Roughly half of those who have already reached retirement age, over 20 million seniors, acknowledge they have not completely prepared for a time when they may not be able to live independently.
"There is clearly a need among younger generations of adults for education about what to expect as they age – and more importantly how to prepare for it," said Hogan.
For many, there's one more piece of good news: While 29% of those under age 65 worry about enjoying an active sex life after age 65, that simple pleasure of life is a reality for 57% of those over 65 years of age.
"Home Instead is in the business of caring for people in the later stages of life," said Hogan, "so it's important for us to understand how they view life. It's also important for us to understand the perceptions of aging that younger generations possess."
For the complete survey results and research methodology, see:http://www.homeinstead.com/News/Pages/Article.aspx?Filter1Field=ID&Filter1Value=85.
For more information on Home Instead Senior Care, visit www.homeinstead.com.
Contact: Dan Wieberg, Home Instead Senior Care402.575.5970dwieberg@homeinsteadinc.com
SOURCE Home Instead Senior Care
