50 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS)
50.3 Description
- Used for research to reduce disability, maximize health and independent functioning, and enhance quality of life at older ages
- Allows for study of national disability trends as well as individual trajectories
- Topics include physical, social, technological, and service environment; physical and cognitive capacity; use of assistive devices and rehabilitation; help received with daily activities (self-care, household, medical); participation in valued activities; wellbeing; and, quality of end of life care. Also experiences during COVID outbreak
50.6 Collection Methodology
- Nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries 65 and older
- Stratified three-stage sample (counties or groups of counties, zip codes or zip code fragments, Medicare beneficiary)
- Sample refreshed periodically (2011 and 2015)
50.7 Available at
- Public Use Files (PUFs) are free for download with registration at https://www.nhatsdata.org/
- Sensitive and restricted use data files require an application process described at https://www.nhatsdata.org/ResDataFiles.aspx
50.8 User Guide/Data Dictionary
User guide and other data documentation available at https://www.nhats.org/scripts/dataDocum.htm
50.10 Proposal or Application required?
All files require registration. Sensitive and restricted files require an additional application.
50.11 DUA required?
Restricted files require DUA as noted under https://www.nhats.org/researcher/data-access/sensitive-data-files?id=nsoc_other_sensitive_files
50.12 Special Notes
User registration for access is necessary at https://www.nhats.org/researcher/data-access