Women can leave poverty by marrying or living with employed person. Women may sell valuable assets, such as real estate. Probably many other means that women exit poverty. B. Older women have fewer options to exit poverty. Possibility of marrying, increasing retirement benefits, or labor force participation almost nil.
Government programs fall short of raising elderly out of poverty.
Noneconomic family support essential to elderly women attempting to live alone C. With increases in life expectancy and persons living past 65, increasing need for family versus government support for elderly to live independently should spark debate.