Final answer:
The poorest group among older adults is older women of color due to intersecting challenges of gender and race. Social Security and Medicare provide essential support for the elderly, and higher unemployment rates for non-White people and the young can impact long-term poverty.
Step-by-step explanation:
The poorest group among older adults is D) older women of color. Although African Americans have a higher percentage of individuals living in poverty than other racial groups, and most people living below the poverty line in the United States are white, older women of color often face intersecting challenges related to both gender and race, which may contribute to higher levels of poverty among this group. This phenomenon can be understood within the framework of intersectionality, which examines how various social identities overlap and affect experiences of oppression.
Additional factors affecting poverty levels among older adults include Social Security and Medicare, which are especially important for the elderly as they can provide a safety net that may help mitigate poverty. It is also relevant to note that historically, unemployment rates for non-White individuals and the young tend to be higher, which may affect long-term financial stability and poverty in old age.