The rapid growth of the global aging population has raised attention to the health and healthcare needs of older adults. The purpose of this mini-review is to: (1) elucidate the complex factors affecting the relationship between chronological age, socioeconomic status (SES), access to care, and healthy aging using a SES-focused framework; (2) present examples of interventions from across the globe; and (3) offer recommendations for research-guided action to remediate the trend of older age being associated with lower SES, lack of access to care, and poorer health outcomes. Evidence supports a relationship between SES and healthcare access as well as healthcare access and health outcomes for older adults. Because financial resources are proportional to health status, efforts are needed to support older adults and the burdened healthcare system with financial resources. This can be most effective with grassroots approaches and interventions to improve SES among older adults and through data-driven policy and systems change.

Objectives This study aims to identify older adult malnutrition in Texas, examine county-level characteristics associated with crude malnutrition death rates, and describe assets and opportunities available to address and improve malnutrition among the older population. Design Secondary data analysis using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s WONDER online database, the U.S. Census 2014–2018 American Community Survey, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Access Research Atlas data. Setting All 254 counties in the state of Texas. Participants Individuals aged 65 years and older. Measurement The dependent variable was the proportion of county-level malnutrition crude death rates. Independent variables included Health Provider Shortage Area designations, rurality, poverty status, food access, age, race, ethnicity, and education. Results The overall malnutrition crude death rate in Texas was 65.6 deaths per 100,000 older Texans, ranging from 0 to 414.46 deaths per 100,000 depending on the county. Higher malnutrition crude death rates were associated with non-metropolitan counties (P=0.018), lower education (P=0.047), greater household poverty (P=0.010), and low food access (P<0.001). Conclusion Socioeconomic disadvantages at the county-level appear to be one of the root causes of malnutrition crude death rates in Texas.

BACKGROUND We assessed whether self‐descriptions, self‐perceptions, perceived substance use of friends, and actual substance use were associated with high school girls' frequency of making social comparisons to peers. METHODS We analyzed data from the Adolescent Health Risk Behavior Survey data for 357 high school girls using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS Compared to those who “never/rarely” made social comparisons, participants who self‐described as fearing something constantly (p = .014) and forced to imitate the people they like (p = .009) were more likely to “usually” compare themselves to peers. Participants who described themselves as feeling forced to imitate the people they like (p = .022), were not the person they would like to be (p = .005), and did not remain calm under pressure (p = .010), were more likely to “often/always” make social comparisons. Participants who perceived themselves as unattractive (p = .034) and self‐centered (p = .016) were more likely to “often/always” make social comparisons. Participants who perceived a larger proportion of friends use illicit drugs were less likely to “usually” make social comparisons (p = .027). Participants who perceived a larger proportion of friends drink alcohol were more likely to “often/always” make social comparisons (p = .018). CONCLUSIONS Girls who perceive and describe themselves more negatively are at increased odds of making social comparisons to peers.

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With a rapidly aging workforce and the rising prevalence of chronic conditions, efforts are needed to better understand the needs of older adult workers and how to create supportive working environments for them. This study examines factors associated with job satisfaction among full-time employed adults ages 60+ years with 1+ chronic conditions. Data were collected with an internet-delivered survey in January 2022. Analyses included 337 older adult workers with chronic conditions. An ordinal regression model was fitted to assess factors associated with higher levels of job satisfaction. The model adjusted for sociodemographics, disease characteristics, social engagement, work logistics, and perceptions about the workplace. On average, participants were age 65.14(±4.56) years and self-reported 3.05(±2.09) chronic conditions. Twenty-eight percent reported being very satisfied with their current job and 48.4% worked remotely 1+ days per work week. Higher job satisfaction levels were positively associated with being Hispanic (β=0.68, P=0.030), exhibiting stronger organizational citizenship behavior (β=0.16, P&lt; 0.001), and working more days remotely (β=0.12, P=0.026). Higher job satisfaction levels were negatively associated with job-related stress (β=-0.26, P&lt; 0.001), feelings of social disconnectedness (β=-0.12, P=0.010), and greater intentions of leaving current jobs within the next three months (β=-0.70, P&lt; 0.001). Findings suggest that job satisfaction among older adult workers is rooted in their compatibility with their organizations’ work environment, management of job-related stressors, and opportunity to engage in meaningful and fulfilling interactions with others. Strategies such as remote working are encouraged to give older adults flexibility to promote work-life balance and self-manage their chronic conditions.