How Poverty and Aging Masquerade as Incapacity for Low-Income Older Adults

• Date: 01 March 2024

Bifocal Vol. 45 Issue 4

115

Hector is in his late 80s. Recently widowed, his

only source of income is Social Security. He’s

struggling to keep up with his utility bills. Hector’s



that he used to do, like shovel the sidewalk or cut the

grass. Paying for a landscape company to handle





Hector sticks to a strict budget on groceries. His

refrigerator and cupboards have few items, and

they are sometimes out of date. Hector has a tooth-

ache that has been bothering him for weeks, but he



Is Hector showing signs of diminished capacity?

Or is he simply one of the many older adults living

in poverty? This article will examine how pover-

ty and aging masquerade as incapacity for older



importantly, what we can do as practitioners in the

law and aging community.

How Poverty and Aging Masquerade as

Incapacity

Older adults living in poverty must contend with

the dual prejudices of society. One result of age-

ism is assuming that older adults are incapable of



of independence and autonomy for their own

protection. Likewise, society places harsh value

judgments on people living in poverty and how

they spend their money. Combined, these preju-

dices combine to treat low-income older adults as

-

ly incorrect in their attempts to do so.



that are frequently used to restrict the independence

and autonomy of older adults, the “hallmarks” can

look a lot like living in poverty. To an outsider, it

may look like Hector is dealing with dementia. He’s

an older adult with unpaid bills, a home that’s un-

maintained, expired food, and unaddressed medical

issues. To people who are more familiar with poverty

dynamics, Hector’s situation can be seen for what it is:

an older adult who is living in poverty and must make



How Poverty and Aging Masquerade as Incapacity for

Low-Income Older Adults

By Nicole Shannon, J.D.



Nicole is

focused on systemic issues facing older clients and individuals with disabilities, such as guardianship, long-term care, and

-

sity of Michigan Law School.