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The elderly in five nations: the importance of universal coverage
K Donelan1, R J Blendon, C Schoen
1Harvard Opinion Research Program, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA.
Health Affairs (Project Hope)
|May 17, 2000
Summary
Most older adults surveyed were satisfied with their healthcare. However, US seniors expressed more pessimism about the direction and future affordability of elder care compared to other nations.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Health Services Research
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- Healthcare systems face increasing demands from aging populations globally.
- Understanding the perspectives of older adults on healthcare is crucial for policy development.
- International comparisons can highlight unique challenges and successes in elder care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the perceptions of adults aged 65 and older regarding healthcare services across five developed nations.
- To identify specific areas of satisfaction and concern among elderly populations regarding health system quality, affordability, and accessibility.
- To analyze national differences in optimism or pessimism towards current and future elder care.
Main Methods:
- A 1999 survey was conducted among individuals aged 65 years and older.
- Data were collected from respondents in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
- Key metrics included satisfaction with quality, affordability, and availability of health services, as well as views on system direction and future affordability.
Main Results:
- A majority of respondents across all surveyed nations reported general satisfaction with healthcare quality, affordability, and availability.
- The United States' healthcare system performance, in terms of access and cost, was comparable to other nations surveyed for the elderly population.
- US respondents exhibited significantly higher levels of pessimism regarding the recent direction of elder care and the future affordability of healthcare in old age compared to respondents from other countries.
Conclusions:
- While overall satisfaction with healthcare is high among the elderly in these nations, significant national differences exist in outlook.
- The United States faces a unique challenge in addressing the pessimism of its elderly population concerning the trajectory and long-term financial viability of its healthcare system for seniors.
- Future research should explore the drivers of this pessimism in the US to inform targeted policy interventions and improve elder care perceptions.