Association Between Successful Aging Activities and Perceived Health Among Older Adults With Hearing and/or Vision Impairments

Abstract

Due to the high prevalence of age-related sensory impairment (SI), this study examined the relative strength of the association between successful aging activities and perceived health among older adults with SI. A sample of adults aged 65 and older who experienced SI in vision and/or hearing was drawn from the 2015–2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (N = 2,084). Two aspects of successful aging were considered: employment status and religious participation. Of the total sample, 1,370 (65.7%) reported hearing impairment; 440 (21.1%), vision impairment; and 274 (13.1%) dual sensory impairment. Among the covariates, female gender, higher educational attainment, non-Hispanic White race, fewer chronic diseases, alcohol use, non-hospitalization, non-cigarette use, and no mobility challenges were associated with greater perceived health status. Working older adults with SI are more likely to perceive their health status as good compared with their unemployed counterparts (odds ratio [OR] = 2.43, p < .01). Religious participants with SI also perceive greater health (OR = 1.58, p < .01). For older adults with SI, ensuring that they participate in productive activities, such as employment or religious activities, may be important for their perceived health status and may lead to better overall health outcomes.