[Ohio's Issues on Aging for the 1980's]

GAO analyzed issues related to the elderly and compared concerns expressed by elderly Ohioans with those of the elderly nationwide. GAO found that issues important to elderly Ohioans were also important across the Nation. Over 40 percent of the issues selected by Ohioans and the elderly nationwide involved economics. Nationally, social issues ranked next, but Ohioans placed as much emphasis on health as social issues. Although most States recommended that the elderly's economic situation could be improved by reducing service costs, Ohioans recommended that economic problems be ameliorated by increasing income through employment, improving pension plans, and increasing Social Security benefits. Both groups recommended that health be improved through providing more information about aging to health care professionals and focusing on prevention and treatment of prevalent disabling illnesses.