LIVING CONDITIONS OF RURAL AGED

Here, then, we have 41 percent of our aging population either living in their own home without a marriage partner or living in a home not their own; both of these are factors that easily lead to a sense of alienation. Our West Virginia research has indicated that the geographical distribution of the aged is not significantly different. Although older people have as far to travel as do the younger age groups, they do not have the means available. Table 3 shows that only 44 percent of households of older people have automobiles, while 72 percent of households of younger families have automobiles.

Hence, while there is little geographic isolation, as defined, there seems reason to believe that there is social and psychological isolation which may explain, in part, the greater sense of social alienation of the aged.

Another factor which may contribute to this despair of our older citizens is their lower "level of living," which is evidenced by the data shown in table 4. This level of living is measuring by the presence or absence of certain household items commonly thought to be desirable. As shown by table 2, the older age group has significantly lower incomes. While low income does not necessarily mean an unsatisfactory level of living, the fact that 30 percent of these older age families indicated that they would use additional income for food, clothing, dental care, and medical service is taken as evidence of a sense of deprivation. This sense of deprivation is to be associated with a sense of social alienation.

As has been indicated earlier, employment opportunity for the aged is limited; this is particularly true in this area of high unemployment. It would seem to be of limited use to look for nonfarm work to raise the incomes of the older age group. Opportunity for income improvement on the farm is likewise limited, for farming opportunities in West Virginia are restricted by the exceedingly rough topography. The difficulty of securing a satisfactory living from the farm is indicated by the fact that 90 percent of the farms of West Virginia furnish a gross income of less than $2,500.

The alternative source of income for the older age group is in the form of public assistance. While there is a generally held belief that in these hills we have the last stronghold of a people who value highly the concept of economic selfdetermination (a concept which precludes the acceptance of public aid) table 5 shows that over 80 percent of this age group favor Federal aid for low-income families.

These then, are the point facets of the situation of the aged which our studies support:

1. The aged, as a group, have a greater level of feeling of social alienation. 2. Have the lower incomes.

3. Have a lower level of living.

4. Have a smaller possibility of increasing their income through productive effort.

5. Have a positive attitude toward public aid.

TABLE 2.-Percentage of individuals who earned specified amounts at nonfarm work during preceding 12 months, by sex, age, and family status, upper Monongahela Valley, W. Va., July 1954

1 "Population Change and Migration Study, 1958," Leonard M. Sizer.

None. 1 to 3..

4 to 7.. 8 to 10..

11 items..

Total

TABLE 4.—Summary of level of living items by age of household1

1 "Population Change and Migration Study, 1958," Leonard M. Sizer. TABLE 5.-Attitude toward Federal aid for low income families by age groups1

64 and under 65 and over 64 and under 65 and over 64 and under 65 and over 64 and under 65 and over 64 and under] 65 and over