Use of At-Home Medical Tests Among Older US Adults: A Nationally Representative Survey.

The availability of direct-to-consumer, at-home medical tests has grown over the last decade, but it is unknown how frequently older adults purchase at-home tests, how they perceive such tests, and how interested they are in using at-home tests in the future. We conducted a cross-sectional, nationally representative survey of non-institutionalized US adults aged 50 to 80 about their previous use of, perceptions of, and future intentions to use at-home medical tests. We found that nearly half of older adults (48.

How old do I look? Aging appearance and experiences of aging among U.S. adults ages 50-80.

Appearance is an indicator of age and life stage, which are linked to socially salient stereotypes and prejudices. Older adults' appearance-related perceptions and behaviors may affect their experiences of aging within broader society, which may in turn influence health. This study examined associations between two measures related to aging appearance-assessment of one's aging appearance relative to same-age peers and investing time or effort to look younger-positive and negative experiences of aging, and health using multivariable regression.

Prevalence and Frequency of Cannabis Use Among Adults Ages 50-80 in the United States.

Legal access to and attitudes toward cannabis are changing rapidly. Most of the United States and territories allow adults to use medical and/or recreational cannabis. Recent trends demonstrate increasing cannabis use among older U.

The Joys and Stresses of Social Relationships and the Effect on Resiliency During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Survey of U.S. Older Adults.

Background And Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic placed unprecedented stress on older adults. Resiliency could mitigate deleterious effects of pandemic stressors. We described trends in resilience among U.

Racial and ethnic variances in preparedness for aging in place among US adults ages 50-80.

Objectives: To investigate the preparations made by adults to age in place and identify disparities.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among U.S.

Older adults' perspectives on emergency department costs during COVID-19.

Objectives: COVID-19 has strained the household finances of many Americans who are already experiencing increasing health care expenses. Concerns about the cost of care may deter patients from seeking even urgent care from the emergency department (ED). This study examines predictors of older Americans’ concerns about ED visit costs and how cost concerns may have influenced their ED use in the early stages of the pandemic.

Perceptions of telehealth among older U.S. adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: A national survey.

Introduction: COVID-19 necessitated a shift from in-person to virtual care for all patients, particularly older adults. It is unknown how older individuals' views of telehealth changed during this time and how this may affect their future use of telehealth services.

Methods: We used data from a cross-sectional online survey of a nationally representative sample of 2074 U.

Prevalence and Frequency of Self-measured Blood Pressure Monitoring in US Adults Aged 50-80 Years.

This survey study investigates the prevalence, frequency, and factors associated with self-measured blood pressure monitoring among adults ages 50 to 80 years.

Experiences of Everyday Ageism and the Health of Older US Adults.

Importance: Major incidents of ageism have been shown to be associated with poorer health and well-being among older adults. Less is known about routine types of age-based discrimination, prejudice, and stereotyping that older adults encounter in their day-to-day lives, known as everyday ageism.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of everyday ageism, group differences and disparities, and associations of everyday ageism with indicators of poor physical and mental health.

Attitudes toward policies to encourage influenza vaccination in long-term care facilities: A national survey of US adults aged 50-80 years.

In October 2017, the National Poll on Healthy Aging surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,007 adults aged 50-80 years to assess attitudes toward influenza (flu) vaccination policies in long-term care facilities. Support for requiring vaccinations was lowest for visitors. Policy makers can use these findings to develop sustainable vaccination strategies.

Predictors of Receipt of Comprehensive Medication Reviews in Older Adults.

Background: Polypharmacy is highly prevalent among older adults. This study's purpose was to provide nationally representative estimates of self-reported comprehensive medication review (CMR) receipt among older adults and describe factors associated with their receipt, as CMRs are available through the Medicare Part D program.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the National Poll on Healthy Aging (NPHA), a nationally representative online survey of community-dwelling adults aged 50-80, administered in December 2019.

Firearm ownership, attitudes, and safe storage practices among a nationally representative sample of older U.S. adults age 50 to 80.

Firearms are a leading cause of injury mortality across the lifespan, with elevated risks for older adult populations. To inform prevention efforts, we conducted a probability-based web survey (12/1/2019-12/23/2019) of 2048 older adults (age 50-80) to characterize national estimates of firearm ownership, safety practices, and attitudes about health screening, counseling, and policy initiatives. Among older U.

Interest in and concerns about telehealth among adults aged 50 to 80 years.

Objectives: To describe associations between patient factors and interest in and concerns about telehealth video visits among adults in midlife and older.

Study Design: A cross-sectional, nationally representative panel survey of US adults aged 50 to 80 years (N = 2256) in May 2019.

Methods: Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted prevalence of interest in different types of video telehealth visits and concerns about telehealth for individuals with different characteristics.

Perceptions of Overall Mental Health and Barriers to Mental Health Treatment Among US Older Adults.

Objectives: We surveyed older adults about their perceived mental health and their comfort discussing and engaging in mental health treatment.

Methods: A nationally representative survey of community-dwelling older adults aged 50-80 (N = 2,021), with respondents asked to rate their current mental health as compared to 20 years ago, comfort discussing their mental health, and potential hesitations to seeking treatment in the future.

Results: About 79.

Care Challenges Due to COVID-19 and Mental Health Among Caregivers of U.S. Adults With a Chronic or Disabling Condition.

Background And Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses new challenges for caregivers of adults with chronic or disabling conditions. This study uses nationally representative data to examine the prevalence of pandemic care challenges and supports and their associations with caregiver mental health and interpersonal well-being.

Research Design And Methods: Participants include 311 caregivers aged 50-80 in the United States who were providing care for an adult with a chronic or disabling condition from the June 2020 National Poll on Healthy Aging.

Changes in activity levels, physical functioning, and fall risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Physical function worsens with older age, particularly for sedentary and socially isolated individuals, and this often leads to injuries. Through reductions in physical activity, the COVID-19 pandemic may have worsened physical function and led to higher fall-related risks.

Methods: A nationally representative online survey of 2006 U.

The Everyday Ageism Scale: Development and Evaluation.

Objectives: Older adults regularly encounter age-based discrimination and stereotyping in their day-to-day lives. Whether this type of routine ageism negatively affects their health and well-being is unclear, in part due to the absence of validated scales that comprehensively measure this phenomenon and distinguish it from other sources of everyday discrimination.

Methods: This study describes the development of a novel scale, the Everyday Ageism Scale, and its psychometric evaluation using a nationally representative sample of US adults age 50-80 from the December 2019 National Poll on Healthy Aging ( = 2012).

Interest in Sex and Conversations About Sexual Health with Health Care Providers Among Older U.S. Adults.

: Sexual health is an important component of overall health and well-being for older adults. Despite this, little is known about the importance of sex to quality of life, as part of romantic relationships for older adults, and potential drivers of interactions between healthcare providers and older adults about sexual health. In this study using a nationally representative population, we describe perceptions and experiences of sex among older adults.