As the elections approach, a national poll shows which health topics affect older people most

More than half of the people who voted in the 2020 election were 50 or older, making this age group a key demographic for candidates up and down the ballot.

Now, one study shows which issues are at the top of their list of health-related concerns for the November election.

Five of the top six issues that the highest percentage of older adults are deeply concerned about involve the cost of various types of health care, from medical care and prescription drugs to long-term care, health insurance and dental care. Financial scams and fraud, which can cause intense stress and mental distress, were also in the top six.

Published in JAMA by a team at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, the study is based on data from the National opinion poll on healthy aging. The poll, conducted in February and March 2024, asked more than 2,500 adults aged 50 and older across the country how concerned they were about 26 different health-related topics for older adults in their communities, not just themselves.

Five of the top six topics were all rated ‘very concerned’ by at least 50% of older people, while dental care costs are not far behind at 45%.

The new research shows some differences among older adults based on age, gender and self-reported political ideology.

For example, 67% of those who called themselves liberal were very concerned about the cost of medical care for older adults in their community, compared to 56% of those who called themselves moderate and 51% who said they were politically conservative.

When it came to the cost of prescription drugs, 64% of self-identified liberals said they were very concerned, compared to 54% of moderates and 51% of conservatives.

The new analysis also shows that higher percentages of women than men are very concerned about both types of costs, namely 59% versus 54% for the cost of medical care and 58% versus 51% for the cost of prescription drugs.

Those in their 50s and early 60s were also more likely to say they are very concerned about the cost of medical care for older adults in their community than those over 65, at 60% versus 53%.

And among those living in rural areas, 62% said they are very concerned about the cost of medical care, compared to 56% of those living in metropolitan areas, which include both cities and their suburbs.

“It is important that candidates for president, the U.S. House and Senate, and state offices are well informed about the top concerns of older voters,” said John Z. Ayanian, MD, MPP, lead author of the new study and director of IHPI.

“There have been efforts in recent years to reduce the costs of some types of care for older adults, especially those enrolled in Medicare, but these findings suggest a strong interest in more action, across the political spectrum and different demographics.” groups.”

The top 10 concerns were rounded out by access to quality care in their home or nursing homes and assisted living facilities; quality of healthcare; inaccurate or misleading health information; and access to affordable healthy food.

The new research is based on a 71% survey response rate and a statistically adjusted analysis of the survey’s core population results.