Social contacts & mobility:
Older Minnesotans remain close to
family, give care
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- Despite the fact that young people often
move far from home for education or work
opportunities in Minnesota, only about one
in three older people does not see his or
her children at least on a weekly basis.
Fully 72 percent of older Minnesotans have
at least one child who lives within a
30-minute drive.
- Table
8 Having Living Children
Nearby
- Table
10 Contact with Children
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- Older Minnesotans are mobile. About one
in 10 lives in another state part of the
year. These "snowbirds"
are most likely to be married and more
likely to have slightly higher educational
and income levels than non-snowbirds.
- Table
1 Live in Another State
Part of the Year
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- Overall, about 13 percent of older
Minnesotans are "caregivers"
— that is, they currently give
assistance to someone because an injury,
disability or medical condition makes them
unable to care for themselves. About
one-fourth (24 percent) of these people
are caring for a parent or parent-in-law;
and slightly more than that (27 percent)
are caring for a spouse.
- Table
4 Caregivers for Some
One Ill or Disabled
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- Among people aged 55-59, very few (less
than 3 percent) do not drive or have a
spouse who drives. However, having a car
and being able to drive decreases
significantly with age. Among people aged
85 and older, nearly half (43 percent)
have no direct access to personal
transportation, and nearly half of these
(20 percent) are not able to find
transportation when they need it.
- Table
3 Older Adult Drivers
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