On Long Island, seniors are skipping meat, chasing sales, and fearing their money won't last

On Long Island, N.Y., routine living costs are squeezing older residents, and even retirees who have some savings say day-to-day expenses are becoming harder to absorb.

Here's what to know

People who spoke with Newsday described paring back grocery purchases, postponing repairs, planning around sales, and questioning whether their fixed incomes will stretch far enough.

As Newsday reported, about 32,147 Long Island seniors were living in poverty in 2023, or 6.2% of older residents, up from 4.7% in 2013.

For some seniors, the strain shows up in small, everyday decisions about what to buy now, what to delay, and what to skip.

At 83, Mary Whelan told Newsday that bargain hunting is part of her routine as she checks store circulars, shops at dollar stores, and buys extra when prices drop.

"I watch everything. If I can save here and there, that's what I do," Whelan said. "I'm willing to wait and stock up."

In Freeport, 82-year-old Aida Mieles described a similar squeeze to Whelan. She told Newsday, "I can't buy as much as I used to food-wise. The meat is too much."

As Newsday reported, citing a 2025 study by the Center for an Urban Future, Long Island had roughly 520,000 seniors in 2023, 24% more than in 2013.

Over the same period, the number of seniors in poverty rose by 62%.

Rachel Neches, senior data and policy researcher at the nonprofit Center for an Urban Future, summed up the trend plainly, per Newsday, saying Long Island is "aging really rapidly, but financial insecurity among older adults is growing even faster."

More background

Federal poverty measures capture only part of the problem.

Newsday reported that the Elder Index from the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston estimates that a senior living alone on Long Island needs roughly $37,000 to $64,000 per year for basic expenses, depending on housing costs.

That can leave many older adults exposed, with renters facing particular pressure.

Awilda Rosario, the Salvation Army Freeport Senior Center's director of senior services, told Newsday that housing costs consume so much of many seniors' incomes that "other things like food" are pushed "to the back burner."

Owning a home or having retirement savings has not shielded every older adult from the squeeze.

Paying for help at home can also become a major expense. Geriatric specialist Suzanne Fields of Stony Brook University said home care can be especially difficult for those who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but still cannot afford private assistance.

Using state financial services data cited by Newsday, the annual cost of a home health aide was about $66,000 in 2021.

In June, the Social Security Board of Trustees said, as reported by Newsday, that the trust fund reserves were expected to run dry in 2032 if Congress does not act. Beth Finkel, state director for AARP New York, said, "It's not like there will be no payout. But what will happen is each and every Social Security recipient will have about a 20% cut in their Social Security check."

What's being done?

Newsday reported that 46,620 seniors visited Long Island Cares' six pantries in 2025, a 9% increase from 2024. Its 340 member agencies, including soup kitchens and pantries, served 552,765 seniors in 2025, up 17% from 2024.

Programs such as senior centers can help stretch limited budgets by providing meals, activities, and social connection.

Whelan said she visits the Freeport Salvation Army senior center for exercise classes, crafts, and free meals. Mieles said she goes every day.

"You meet people, and not only that, you hear stories that are worse than yours," Mieles said. "It makes a difference, a big difference."

Where can I learn more?

Older adults are also grappling with higher utility bills, housing instability, and climate-related dangers, from shutoffs and rising summer costs to displacement after disasters and extreme heat.

• In Rhode Island, advocates fielded 40 overnight crisis calls as utility shutoffs hit seniors.

• After climate disasters, older adults struggle to find new homes as relief falls short.

• Across the United States, millions of elderly Americans face escalating climate risks without strong action plans.

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