As election approaches, national poll shows which health topics concern older adults most

Greater than half of the individuals who voted within the 2020 election have been aged 50 and older, making this age group a key demographic for candidates up and down the poll.

Now, a study exhibits what points high their lists of health-related considerations going into this November’s election.

5 of the highest six points that the best proportion of older adults reported being very involved about must do with the price of completely different sorts of well being care, from medical care and prescribed drugs to long-term care, medical health insurance and dental care. Monetary scams and fraud, which may trigger intense stress and psychological misery, additionally made the highest six.

Revealed in JAMA by a staff from the College of Michigan’s Institute for Healthcare Coverage and Innovation, the examine relies on information from the National Poll on Healthy Aging. The ballot, performed in February and March 2024, requested greater than 2,500 adults ages 50 and older nationwide how involved they have been about 26 completely different health-related matters for older adults of their neighborhood, not only for themselves.

5 of the highest six matters all earned a ‘very involved’ ranking from not less than 50% of older adults, with dental care prices not far behind at 45%.

The brand new analysis exhibits some variations amongst older adults primarily based on age, gender and self-reported political ideology.

For instance, 67% of those that known as themselves liberal have been very involved about the price of medical take care of older adults of their neighborhood, in contrast with 56% of those that known as themselves average and 51% who mentioned they’re politically conservative.

When it got here to the price of prescribed drugs, 64% of self-identified liberals mentioned they have been very involved, in contrast with 54% of moderates and 51% of conservatives.

The brand new evaluation additionally exhibits that greater percentages of ladies than males have been very involved about each kinds of value, at 59% vs. 54% for medical care prices and 58% vs. 51% for value of prescribed drugs.

These of their 50s and early 60s have been additionally extra prone to say they’re very involved about the price of medical take care of older adults of their neighborhood than these over age 65, at 60% vs. 53%.

And amongst those that dwell in rural areas, 62% mentioned they’re very involved about the price of medical care, in contrast with 56% of these dwelling in metropolitan areas that embody each cities and their suburbs.

“It is necessary for candidates for president, the U.S. Home and Senate, and state workplaces to be well-informed concerning the high considerations of older voters,” says John Z. Ayanian, M.D., M.P.P., lead writer of the brand new examine and director of IHPI.

“There have been efforts lately to scale back prices of some kinds of take care of older adults, particularly these enrolled in Medicare, however these findings recommend a robust curiosity in additional motion, throughout the political spectrum and numerous demographic teams.”

Rounding out the highest 10 considerations have been entry to high quality care of their house or nursing properties and assisted dwelling services; well being care high quality; inaccurate or deceptive well being info; and entry to reasonably priced wholesome meals.

The brand new examine relies on a survey response price of 71% and a statistically adjusted evaluation of outcomes from the ballot’s core inhabitants.