BULLETIN POLL: HOME SAFETY 2012 COMPARISON OF THOSE YEARS AND THOSE AGE 50+

Transcription

1 BULLETIN POLL: HOME SAFETY 2012 COMPARISON OF THOSE YEARS AND THOSE AGE 50+ Copyright 2012 AARP Research & Strategic Analysis 601 E Street, NW Washington, DC Reprinting with permission June,

2 General Information and Acknowledgements AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of more than 37 million, that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for Americans 50+ and the world's largest-circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for the 50+ audience; AARP VIVA, a bilingual lifestyle multimedia platform addressing the interests and needs of Hispanic Americans; and national television and radio programming including My Generation and Inside E Street. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at The views expressed herein are for information, debate, and discussion, and do not necessarily represent official policies of AARP. About this research The purpose of this brief poll was to investigate the similarities and differences of those ages 18 to 49 and those ages 50+ regarding home safety. We wanted to know how important they considered different home features, and whether or not they have them. Acknowledgements The author would like to thank Barbranda Walls and Jim Toedtman of the AARP Bulletin for their ideas, suggestions, and request for this information. Additional thanks go to Teresa Keenan, Ph.D., for her review of this report 2

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS FOR BULLETIN POLL ON HOME SAFETY PAGE 4 GENERAL METHODS OVERVIEW 2012 PAGE 6 DETAILED FINDINGS FOR BULLETIN POLL ON HOME SAFETY PAGE 7 APPENDICES: ANNOTATED QUESTIONNAIRE 3

4 Key Findings 4

5 Key Findings People Years People 50+ The majority of people say they feel somewhat or very safe living in their current home. More than nine in ten people years say having the home safety features we asked about is important and the majority say their current home has them. One safety feature is an exception to this generalization. Only about six in ten (63%) say having grab bars near your tub or shower is very or somewhat important and less than four in ten (38%) say they have them. The majority of people say they feel somewhat or very safe living in their current home. More than nine in ten people 50+ say having the home safety features we asked about is important and the majority say their current home has them. One safety feature is an exception to this generalization. While almost eight in ten (77%) say having grab bars near your bath tub or shower is important less than half (48%) say they have them. A gap analysis shows people in both groups are likely to rate home safety features as important, even when they do not have them. People 50+ are significantly more likely than their counterparts to say grab bars are important (77% vs. 63%) and to say they have them (48% vs. 38%). The absence of grab bars near their tub or shower by the majority of people of any age is troubling because most falls occur in the bathroom and may be prevented if this feature is installed. 5

6 General Research Methods Overview 2012 Data Collection Mode: Random-digit dial telephone omnibus survey. Sample: the total sample included 1,021 respondents age 18+. Objectives: To learn what people 18+ consider important home features and whether they have them. Fielded: May 23-27, Margin of Error For total respondents is +/-3.07% at the 95% level of confidence. 6

7 Detailed Findings: Home Safety 7

8 Figure 1: Proportion who Feel Safe in their Home HS-1, how safe would you say you currently feel living in your home? Do you feel...? 2% Somewhat unsafe 1% Very unsafe Almost all respondents (96%) say they feel very or somewhat safe living in their home, regardless of their age. 22% Somewhat safe A minority say they feel somewhat unsafe and fewer say they feel very unsafe.. 74% Very safe Source: AARP Bulletin Poll: Home Safety 2012, June 2012, n =

9 Figure 2: Proportion Who Say Home Feature is Important or Very Important by Age HS2.a-f: How important would you say the following things are regardless of whether you currently have them or not. How about (INSERT ITEM)? Is it...? Total 50+ years years Regardless of age, most people say the home features we asked about are Important or Very Important to them. People age 50+ are significantly more likely than those between 18 to 49 years to say that having grab bars near your bath tub or shower is Important or Very important to them even though they are less important to our respondents than the other features. A working smoke detector on every floor A fire extinguisher in your kitchen Well lighted stairways Deadbolt locks on your outside doors Handrails in stairways 98% 98% 98% 93% 94% 91% 90% 91% 91% 91% Grab bars near your bath tub or shower 69% 77% 63% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Source: AARP Bulletin Poll: Home Safety 2012, June 2012, n =

10 Figure 3: Proportion Who Say Their Current Home Has Safety Feature by Age HS-3. Does your current home have (INSERT ITEM)? Total 50+ years years A working smoke detector on every floor 93% 95% Two-thirds or more people 18+ say their current home has the features we asked about, with one exception. Less than half of all respondents say their current home has grab bars near your bath tub or shower. This is especially the case for those between years. Deadbolt locks on your outside doors Well lighted stairways Handrails in stairways A fire extinguisher in your kitchen 83% 83% 84% 71% 72% 71% 70% 67% 73% 65% 65% 64% Grab bars near your bath tub or shower 42% 48% 38% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Source: AARP Bulletin Poll: Home Safety 2012, June 2012, n =

11 Figure 4: Gap Analysis Comparing Importance with Having Home Feature HS2.a-f: How important would you say the following things are regardless of whether you currently have them or not. How about (INSERT ITEM)? Is it...? HS a-g: Does your current home have (INSERT ITEM)? Have Importance When we compare how important people 18+ say various home features are with the proportion who say their current home has the feature, we find a gap of more than 20 percentage points between the rating of importance and the reporting of having for four home safety features: A fire extinguisher in your kitchen = 28% gap Well lighted stairways = 21% gap A working smoke detector on every floor A fire extinguisher in your kitchen Well lighted stairways Deadbolt locks on your outside doors 65% 71% 93% 98% 93% 83% 91% Handrails in stairways = 21% gap Handrails in stairways 70% 91% Grab bars near your bath or shower = 27% gap 42% Grab bars near your bath or shower 69% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Source: AARP Bulletin Poll: Home Safety 2012, June 2012, n =

12 Figure 5: Gap Analysis Comparing Importance with Having Home Features Among those 18 to 49 years of age HS2.a-f: How important would you say the following things are regardless of whether you currently have them or not. How about (INSERT ITEM)? Is it...? HS a-g: Does your current home have (INSERT ITEM)? Have Importance When we compare how important people years say various home features are with the proportion who say their current home has the feature, we find a gap of more than 20 percentage points between the rating of importance and the reporting of having for three home safety features: A fire extinguisher in your kitchen = 28% Well lighted stairways = 21% Grab bars near your bath or shower = 25% A working smoke detector on every floor A fire extinguisher in your kitchen 95% 98% 64% Well lighted stairways 71% Deadbolt locks on your outside doors 84% Handrails in stairways 90% 91% Grab bars near your bath or shower 38% 63% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Source: AARP Bulletin Poll: Home Safety 2012, June 2012, n =

13 Figure 6: Gap Analysis Comparing Importance with Having Home Features Among those 50+ years of age HS2.a-f: How important would you say the following things are regardless of whether you currently have them or not. How about (INSERT ITEM)? Is it...? HS a-g: Does your current home have (INSERT ITEM)? When we compare how important people 50+ say various home features are with the proportion who say their current home has the feature, we find a gap of more than 20 percentage points between the rating of importance and the reporting of having for four home safety features: A working smoke detector on every floor A fire extinguisher in your kitchen Well lighted stairways Have Importance 65% 72% 98% 94% A fire extinguisher in your kitchen = 29% Deadbolt locks on your outside doors 83% 90% Well lighted stairways = 20% Handrails in stairways = 24% Grab bars near your bath or shower = 29% Handrails in stairways 67% 91% Grab bars near your bath or shower 48% 77% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Source: AARP Bulletin Poll: Home Safety 2012, June 2012, n =

14 Figure 7: Gap Analysis Comparing Differences between Those years and Those 50+ years HS2.a-f: How important would you say the following things are regardless of whether you currently have them or not. How about (INSERT ITEM)? Is it...? HS a-g: Does your current home have (INSERT ITEM)? When we compare the percentage point difference between the level of importance and having these home by age groups, we see a deficit for each home feature except one among the younger group. -29% -25% -24% -20% 50+ years years Grab bars near your bath or shower Handrails in stairways -1% -7% Deadbolt locks on your outside doors -8% Well lighted stairways People who are % 49 years old are more likely to say -29% A fire extinguisher in your kitchen they have a -28% Working smoke detector on every -6% floor. Working smoke detector on every floor 3% -35% -30% -25% -20% -15% -10% -5% 0% 5% * This analysis was conducted by subtracting the percentage who have the feature from the percentage who say the feature is important (by respective age category). Source: AARP Bulletin Poll: Home Safety 2012, June 2012, n = years and n= years.. 14

15 Bulletin Poll: Home Safety 2012 For more information contact: Linda Barrett, or Bulletin team: Barbranda Walls, (Study lead) Jim Toedtman RSA team (Health, Home and Family): Linda L. Barrett, Ph.D. (Study Lead) Teresa A. Keenan, Ph.D. Cheryl Lampkin, Ph.D. Jennifer Leslie 15

16 5/30/2012 5:36:00 PM homesafetyqn.doc Job #L8821 May 23, 2012 Home Safety This study was conducted for AARP via telephone by SSRS, an independent research company. Interviews were conducted from May 23 May 27, 2012 among a nationally representative sample of 1,021 respondents age 18 and older. The margin of error for total respondents is +/-3.07% at the 95% confidence level. More information about SSRS can be obtained by visiting HS-1 How safe would you say you currently feel living in your home? Do you feel? SAFE UNSAFE Don t NET Very Somewhat NET Somewhat Very know Refused 5/27/ * HS-2 How important would you say the following things are regardless of whether you currently have them or not. How about (INSERT ITEM)? Is it? a. A working smoke detector on every floor IMPORTANT UNIMPORTANT Don t NET Very Somewhat NET Not very Not at all know Refused 5/27/ * * b. A fire extinguisher in your kitchen IMPORTANT UNIMPORTANT Don t NET Very Somewhat NET Not very Not at all know Refused 5/27/ * * c. Deadbolt locks on your outside doors IMPORTANT UNIMPORTANT Don t NET Very Somewhat NET Not very Not at all know Refused 5/27/ * * 16

17 HS-2 (continued) d. Grab bars near your bath tub or shower IMPORTANT UNIMPORTANT Don t NET Very Somewhat NET Not very Not at all know Refused 5/27/ * e. Well lighted stairways IMPORTANT UNIMPORTANT Don t NET Very Somewhat NET Not very Not at all know Refused 5/27/ * f. Handrails in stairways IMPORTANT UNIMPORTANT Don t NET Very Somewhat NET Not very Not at all know Refused 5/27/ HS-3 Does your current home have (INSERT ITEM)? Yes No Don t know Refused a. A working smoke detector on every floor 93 6 * * b. A fire extinguisher in your kitchen * * c. Deadbolt locks on your outside doors * * d. Grab bars near your bath tub or shower * e. Well lighted stairways * 1 f. Handrails in stairways * * g. A location in a safe neighborhood 92 8 * * 17