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SWOK 587: Aging

A guide to the social work resources available at Heritage University

Social Work and Aging

Data & Statistics

2020 Profile of Older Americans from US Department of Health & Human Services
"This report is prepared by the Administration on Aging (AoA), part of the Administration for Community Living, an operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services."

 

Data Briefs: The State of Aging and Health in America
This Data Brief Series by the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) topic-specific documents focusing on public health issues related to older adults.

Infographics
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is the nation’s premier system of health-related cell phone and landline surveys that collect state data about U.S. residents regarding their health-related risk behaviors, chronic health conditions, and use of preventive services.

Data Collection and Analysis Tools
About the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
About the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

US Census Bureau Age and Sex Composition in the United States

Government Resources

Medicare Overview
Medicare is a federal program that pays for covered health care services of qualified beneficiaries. It was established in 1965 under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide health insurance to individuals aged 65 and older, and it was expanded in 1972 to include permanently disabled individuals under the age of 65.

Databases

Ageline

Research Reports

Housing America's Older Adults
"With the rapid aging of the US population, the need for affordable, accessible, and supportive housing suitable for older adults is set to increase. Our research in this area focuses on the demographics of the older population; the supply of housing available to adults with functional limitations and disabilities; affordability problems; the links between housing, health, and community services; and the public and private responses to these challenges."

Mexican Health and Aging Study
The Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) is a national longitudinal study of adults 50 years and older in Mexico.  

Policy

KFF
The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.
 

Public Policy for Older Adults
"Use our advocacy tools to stay healthy, secure, and independent, and get the latest public policy news to take action when the time is right."

 

Comprehensive Policy Approaches to Support the Aging

A variety of comprehensive approaches that span a number of policy areas supporting older adults' social, physical and economic wellbeing.

Public Policy - Understanding the Aging Workforce
"A wide range of government policies affect the ability of individuals to remain in the work force at older ages as well as their need to do so."

Organizations

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)

Gerontological Society of America

"GSA is the oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging."

Online Resources

Alzheimer’s Disease and Healthy Aging
"Evidence-based, scientific information to educate, inform, and assist translating research into public health practice."

National Institute on Aging
 For 50 years, the institute has led a broad scientific research effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life.

 Institute of Gerontology (IOG) at Wayne State University
The Institute of Gerontology (IOG) at Wayne State University has established itself as a premier program intensively focused on research, advanced pre-doctoral and post-doctoral student training, community outreach, and continuing education for health care providers.

OER/OA

Aging Collection Resources

This collection focuses on a rapidly evolving field in which the study of both species-specific and ubiquitous aging mechanisms informs the biological process.

 

Open Textbooks for Gerontology

Researching

Inclusive Questions for Older Adults: A Practical Guide to Collecting Data on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
SAGE’s National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging was created to address the country’s need for information on these unique and diverse populations. One of our first tasks was to create this guide, which has been updated in 2016, 2023 and 2024 to reflect emerging research and best practices to help service providers ask questions about sexual orientation and gender identity in safe and respectful ways.

Project Talent

 Wisconsin Longitudinal Study website

Health and Retirement Study

National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS)
Begun in 2011, the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) gathers information on a nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and older. Annual, in-person interviews collect detailed information on the disablement process and its consequences.