Detroit Area Old Age Study, 1966

This data collection contains information about health gathered in interviews with persons aged 65 and over living in the Detroit area (Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties as well as the city of Detroit) in 1966. The majority of questions concerned the respondent's physical health, e.g., illnesses, symptoms, history of medical care, type of medical care received currently, satisfaction with care, mental health, dental health, hospitalization costs, medicine costs, health insurance costs, welfare status, attitudes toward assistance and welfare programs, and past sources of payment for medical care and hospitalization other than insurance. Also asked were questions about income and personal finances, past and present employment and earnings, attitudes about retirement, cost of household utilities, amount paid in taxes, sources and history of financial assistance, and housing and living conditions. Other questions probed for place of birth and place where raised, daily activities, attitudes about surrounding area, number of times per week visiting or shopping in surrounding area in both the past and present, contact with family members, family history, family health history, attitudes about role in family, memberships, leisure activities, hobbies, presidential voting history, past and current political affiliation, and attitudes toward the federal government's response to social problems, as well as the respondent's race, education, number of children, marital status, and religious affiliation.