Results of new national survey data from AARP shows that nearly half of Americans ages 50-plus carry over credit card debt from month to month, including credit card debt carried over on an active card or a cancelled card.

Of adults ages 50-plus who carry credit card debt, the survey finds that half feel financially secure despite their credit card debt, while the other half feel financially insecure.

Nearly nine in ten (87 percent) say that unexpected expenses have contributed to their credit card debt.

For partners working to create more age- and dementia friendly communities, additional research on economic security of older adults is available from UMass-Boston’s Gerontology Institute as well as the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. Other resources aimed at protecting financial security of older adults are available from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.

For those struggling with credit card debt, the report recommends seeking information on debt reduction strategies, consulting credit counselors or financial advisors, and exploring public benefit programs. Resources such as AARP’s credit card pay-off calculator, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s educational materials, and the National Foundation for Credit Counseling may also be useful.  Additionally, programs that facilitate automatic savings from paychecks can help workers prepare for emergencies and retirement.

These findings are based on a survey of 4,846 adults ages 50-plus who carry over credit card debt from a previous month, whether on active cards or cancelled cards. Conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago on behalf of AARP, the survey includes oversamples of Black and African American adults as well as Hispanic and Latino adults.