Americans score 60 on longevity preparedness index

US adults scored an average of 60 out of 100 on the new Longevity Preparedness Index (LPI), indicating that most are underprepared to live well as they age.

The index measures readiness across eight areas: social connection, daily activities, care, home, community, life transitions, health and finance. Care preparedness scored lowest at 42, while community strength scored highest at 70.

Developed by John Hancock in collaboration with the MIT AgeLab, the index surveyed more than 1,300 adults and establishes benchmarks for how people can better prepare to thrive throughout later life.

Women outperformed men by two to three points in most domains, including care (43 vs 41), social connection (71 vs 68), daily activities (61 vs 59) and life transitions (62 vs 60). Men scored higher in finance (65 vs 63).

Brooks Tingle is president and chief executive of John Hancock.

Tingle said: “Our inaugural Longevity Preparedness Index introduces a new way of thinking about longevity – it’s no longer just about how much you’ve saved for retirement or even about how healthy you are; it’s also about where you’ll live, how you’ll get around and who you’ll share your time with.”

The research comes as the US population aged 65 and over is projected to rise from 58m to 82m by 2050.

On average, one-fifth of a person’s life is expected to be lived in a state of illness, while almost four in 10 people will face financial instability as they age.

Few US adults know who will care for them as they grow older or how they will afford that care, with many never having discussed their wishes with family.

Those with caregiving experience scored higher in care preparedness (46 vs 39) and home planning (58 vs 54) than those without, though both groups showed significant gaps.

“The LPI is more than a measurement; it is a research-based framework that seeks to redefine how we think about preparing for later life,” said Dr Joe Coughlin, founder and director of the MIT AgeLab.

“While health and wealth security are key, between those two vital bookends are the routines and assumptions that make up daily life.”

The index will be updated annually over the next four years as part of a five-year research collaboration between John Hancock and the MIT AgeLab, announced in 2024.