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Data Directory

Comprehensive Sources for Understanding Healthcare and Aging

The West Health Mosaic platform consolidates data from a wide range of reputable sources, each contributing unique facets of knowledge essential to understanding and addressing the challenges in healthcare for aging populations. Below, you will find an overview of our primary data sources, including who collects them, how frequently they are updated, and the types of information they cover. By centralizing these sources, we enable users to efficiently locate the data they need to inform research, policy proposals, and persuasive narratives.

Key Data Sources

American Community Survey (ACS)

https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs

Collected By:

U.S. Census Bureau

Update Frequency:

Annually

Data Domains:

Demographics, housing, community infrastructure

Overview:

The ACS provides a broad demographic and socioeconomic portrait of the U.S. population, including age, race/ethnicity, education, and housing data. Ideal for understanding community-level contexts affecting older adults.

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/

Collected By:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Update Frequency:

Annually

Data Domains:

Health behaviors, chronic conditions, lived experiences

Overview:

BRFSS gathers state-level data on health-related risk behaviors, chronic health conditions, and use of preventive services, shedding light on the lived healthcare experiences of older individuals.

Additional Data Sources by Category

Demographics/Population

National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/

Collected By:

CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics

Update Frequency:

Annually

Data Domains:

Demographics, health status, insurance coverage

Overview:

NHIS provides demographic and health information, enabling analysis of how various populations experience health and healthcare.

Health and Retirement Study (HRS)

https://hrs.isr.umich.edu/

Collected By:

University of Michigan, funded by the National Institute on Aging

Update Frequency:

Biennially

Data Domains:

Aging, retirement, health, family structure

Overview:

HRS focuses on Americans aged 50 and above, capturing changes in health, wealth, and labor force participation over time.

Longitudinal Studies of Aging (LSOA)

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/lsoa.htm

Collected By:

CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics

Update Frequency:

Periodically (historical/longitudinal)

Data Domains:

Aging trends, socio-demographic changes

Overview:

LSOA provides insights into the dynamics of aging, including health transitions and changes in functioning over time.

Healthcare Costs/Delivery

Collected By:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Update Frequency:

Regular/ongoing

Data Domains:

Healthcare utilization, costs, service types

Overview:

Offers detailed insights into healthcare spending, utilization patterns, and cost trajectories among older adults.

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)

https://meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/

Collected By:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Update Frequency:

Annually

Data Domains:

Healthcare expenditures, insurance coverage, out-of-pocket costs

Overview:

MEPS tracks healthcare use and expenses, informing cost-related analyses and policy decisions.

Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)

https://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/

Collected By:

AHRQ

Update Frequency:

Varies by dataset

Data Domains:

Hospital inpatient/outpatient data, procedures, outcomes

Overview:

HCUP provides robust data on hospital utilization and costs, crucial for understanding the financial aspects of healthcare delivery.

American Hospital Association (AHA) Data

https://www.aha.org/data-insights

Collected By:

American Hospital Association

Update Frequency:

Annually

Data Domains:

Hospital characteristics, financials, service utilization

Overview:

AHA data offers information on hospital infrastructure and service delivery, essential for analyzing system-level healthcare dynamics.

Healthcare: The Lived Experience

National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS)

https://www.nhats.org/

Collected By:

Johns Hopkins University, funded by the National Institute on Aging

Update Frequency:

Annually

Data Domains:

Daily functioning, social engagement, caregiving

Overview:

NHATS captures nuanced details on how older adults experience health, functionality, and support in their daily lives.

Collected By:

NORC at the University of Chicago

Update Frequency:

Periodically

Data Domains:

Social networks, emotional well-being, physical and mental health

Overview:

NSHAP explores the interplay between social relationships and health outcomes in older adults.

National Elder Mistreatment Study (NEMS)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4885378/

Collected By:

Various academic/research institutions in collaboration with federal agencies

Update Frequency:

Periodic studies

Data Domains:

Elder abuse, neglect, and protective factors

Overview:

NEMS provides critical data on elder abuse and neglect, highlighting a vital but often under-explored dimension of healthcare experiences.

Community/Housing/Inclusion

Aging Integrated Database (AGID)

https://agid.acl.gov/

Collected By:

Administration for Community Living (ACL)

Update Frequency:

Regular updates

Data Domains:

Community-based services, program participation

Overview:

AGID offers insights into federally funded programs that support older adults, guiding discussions on community inclusion and service delivery.

Collected By:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Update Frequency:

Regular/ongoing

Data Domains:

Nursing home resident characteristics, quality indicators

Overview:

MDS helps evaluate long-term care services, focusing on resident well-being and facility quality.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Data

https://ltcombudsman.org/

Collected By:

Administration for Community Living (ACL)

Update Frequency:

Annual reporting

Data Domains:

Complaints, facility issues, advocacy outcomes

Overview:

Ombudsman data illuminates the quality of life in long-term care facilities and supports advocacy efforts.

Collected By:

Gerontology Institute at UMass Boston

Update Frequency:

Periodically

Data Domains:

Economic security, cost of living for older adults

Overview:

The Elder Index quantifies the income needed for older adults to maintain independence and meet daily expenses, aiding in policy and program planning.

Planning for Aging

Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)

https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sipp.html

Collected By:

U.S. Census Bureau

Update Frequency:

Periodically

Data Domains:

Income sources, program participation, economic well-being

Overview:

SIPP helps uncover the financial security landscapes in which older Americans plan and prepare for later life.

Collected By:

National Institute on Aging (NIA) and international partners

Update Frequency:

Varies by dataset

Data Domains:

International comparisons of health, retirement, and aging

Overview:

This repository allows for cross-national comparisons, informing global perspectives on aging and healthcare planning.

Connecting Insights Across Domains

The data sources curated by Westhealth Mosaic span demographics, healthcare costs, lived experiences, community inclusion, and aging preparedness. By presenting them together, we encourage multifaceted exploration—enabling you to connect healthcare affordability, accessibility, and quality with the social, economic, and community-level factors shaping the lives of older Americans. Through this directory, you can delve deeply into the issues that drive meaningful conversations and interventions at “the convergence of healthcare and aging.”