Novel Insights From Interviewer Assessments of Personal Attributes, Home Environment, and Residential Context in NSHAP

Abstract

Objectives This study was aimed to describe the interviewer-assessed measures present in the 2015/2016 Round of National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), outline strengths of interviewer-assessed measures, and explore how interviewer assessments in the domains of home environment and personal characteristics are associated with older adult health. Method Data come from the 2015/2016 Round of the NSHAP. Results We provide descriptive results from the interviewer assessments of personal attributes, indoor home environment, and outdoor residential context. We present an illustrative analysis of reports of falls, a health outcome that might be predicted by characteristics assessed by the interviewer, and we suggest directions for further research. Discussion Interviewer assessments collected in NSHAP are useful as proxy measures and can be used in combination with respondent’s reports and ecological measures to generate insights into healthy aging.