John A. Hartford Foundation: January 2020

Care of older adults is mired in misinformation, with most older patients and caregivers mistakenly believing that sharp declines in quality of life are inevitable, according to a new survey from The John A. Hartford Foundation (JAHF) and WebMD. Driving Towards Age-Friendly Care for the Future, a survey of more than 2,700 older patients and caregivers, found that:

• More than 40 percent of respondents believe depression is an inevitable part of aging.
• Three in four older adults are not aware that they have the right to ask for, and receive, health care that is tailored to what matters to them.
• Nearly 40 percent of respondents did not know that some prescription medications can impact cognition.

The survey underscores the importance of the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative, a national movement led by JAHF and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, in partnership with the American Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association of the US.

John A. Hartford Foundation (New York, NY)