Correspondent: Jennifer Moore
A new report summarizing findings from the 2006 to 2016 New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement Longitudinal Study was released in August. The report showed that in 2016, two-thirds of adults age 55 and older enjoyed good physical, mental, and social health. Approximately one in five were caregivers, and these individuals were more likely to be in poorer health. The study also indicated that older adults who rent their home are at greater risk of mental health deterioration than older adults who are homeowners, and the gap in mental health outcomes between these two groups has increased over time. The study was carried out using six biennial surveys and was led by the Health and Ageing Research Team at Massey University.