Projects

The Effects of COVID-19 on Long Term Care for High-Need Older Adults with and without Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias

The overarching aim of this study is to assess the immediate and longer-term effect of the COVID 19 pandemic on the use of long-term services and supports by high-need older adults living in the US and to understand how these impacts differ for those living with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). We will draw on pre- and post-COVID-19 observations from two large, longitudinal, nationally representative surveys of older Americans, the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and the National Health and Aging Study (NHATS) and their linkages to geographically-based contextual data and to Medicare claims. We will undertake three specific aims: (1) Evaluate the immediate impact of COVID-19 on a comprehensive set of long-term services and supports, comparing high-need older adults with and without ADRD; (2) Determine whether changes in care arrangements persist beyond the immediate shock of COVID-19 comparing high need older adults with and without ADRD; (3) Assess the consequences of immediate or persistent changes in long-term services and supports measured by unmet needs and claims-based preventable health care utilization for high need older adults with and without ADRD.

Vicki A Freedman

01/31/2028