People over 65 years old (65+) are the fastest growing group in the US population, and workers 65+ are increasing in number much more rapidly than any other worker age group. By year 2012, workers 65+ are estimated to comprise 16.7% of US labor force. This group of elderly workers is highly diverse (e.g. racial/ethnic and socio-economic status composition), yet their health status is only beginning to be characterized. Furthermore, careful examination of health-related quality of life of the older worker has been virtually ignored by the occupational health/aging research community. Finally, there has been no systematic research into variations in healthcare costs and utilization in this population, despite systemic concern over rising healthcare costs in the United States. This study proposes to use the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) to study the health status, medical expenditures, healthcare utilization, and quality of life of employed older adults. Both datasets contain large representative samples of US adults 65+ (n=386,887 and n=17,396). Both descriptive and analytic modeling are proposed within a structural equation modeling (SEM) framework, taking into account socio-economic determinants of health such as occupational segregation and occupational prestige. The study proposes to:1) characterize health disparities, morbidity, health behaviors and conditions, and health-related quality of life of US workers and non-workers 65+ stratified by age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, health insurance, occupational segregation and prestige, employment status and occupational/industry categories;2) using SEM, identify sociodemographic and occupational factors (including occupational prestige and segregation) associated with healthcare utilization and expenditures by workers 65+ after adjustment for health behavior, morbidity and health conditions;and 3) using SEM, predict the health- related quality of life in sub-populations of workers 65+ after adjustment for health behavior, morbidity and health conditions. This study is relevant to four out of five National Institute on Aging (NIA) research goals, including: (1) understanding of disease and disability in older adults;(2) aiding in developing interventions to improve their health and quality of life;(3) understanding the implications of an aging society;and (4) identification of health disparities and interventions to decrease these disparities. The findings of the proposed study can be used by policy makers, employers, and other stakeholders to make health-related and employment-related decisions and implement workplace changes and health promotion programs targeting the senior community in order to improve well-being and quality of life of people 65+.
Adults over 65 years old who remain employed past retirement age constitute a rapidly growing and a highly diverse proportion of US older adults, however their health status, healthcare expenditures, and quality of life are only beginning to be characterized. Using innovative advanced statistical techniques this proposal will describe current older worker socio-demographics characteristics, health status, as well as study linkages between occupational status and occupation on one hand, and health status, healthcare utilization and expenditures, and health-related quality of life on the other.
| Kachan, Diana; Olano, Henry; Tannenbaum, Stacey L et al. (2017) Prevalence of Mindfulness Practices in the US Workforce: National Health Interview Survey. Prev Chronic Dis 14:E01 |
| Olano, Henry A; Kachan, Diana; Tannenbaum, Stacey L et al. (2015) Engagement in mindfulness practices by U.S. adults: sociodemographic barriers. J Altern Complement Med 21:100-2 |
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| Arheart, Kristopher L; Fleming, Lora E; Lee, David J et al. (2011) Occupational vs. industry sector classification of the US workforce: which approach is more strongly associated with worker health outcomes? Am J Ind Med 54:748-57 |
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