The National Poll on Healthy Aging (NPHA) is a recurring, nationally representative household survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults age 50 and older.
By tapping into the perspectives of older adults, the NPHA helps inform the public, health care providers, policymakers, and advocates on issues related to health, health care and health policy affecting older adults and their families.
Launched in spring 2017, the NPHA grew out of a strong interest in aging-related issues among many members of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation (IHPI). IHPI brings together more than 800 U-M faculty who study health, health care and health policy. About 10% of IHPI members have now collaborated with the poll team in the development of poll questions, poll reports and manuscripts. In addition to the resources provided by IHPI, the poll receives support from Michigan Medicine, U-M's academic medical center. AARP was a sponsor of the poll from its launch in 2017 through May 2025.
In 2023, the NPHA team established a partnership with the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to develop the Michigan Poll on Healthy Aging based on a representative sample of adults in Michigan.
We share our poll results through poll reports, poll extras, and videos to elevate the voices of the public, inspire future research, and inform state and national conversations around healthy aging. Many U-M experts have collaborated with the NPHA team in analyzing poll data and publishing results in peer-reviewed journals and other outlets.
We welcome you to sign up for our emails to receive poll reports as they become available. Members of the media may also request pre-embargo access by contacting Kara Gavin. We also share findings, news coverage and data visualizations via social media, including the IHPI X account and IHPI LinkedIn page.
For more information on the NPHA and its reach, read our recent impact report (updated February 2026) and 5-year report (updated June 2022).
U-M researchers thinking about surveying older adults as part of an upcoming study or grant proposal are encouraged to contact the NPHA team at [email protected] to discuss project ideas and potential collaboration opportunities
Survey Methods
Explore how the NPHA collects responses from nationally representative samples of older Americans.
Funders
With instrumental support from funders, the poll brings older adults’ perspectives on health topics to the forefront.
The Team
Get to know the U-M research team behind the poll, including our content experts, and meet the poll's National Advisory Board.
As the population of people over 50 in the U.S. continues to grow, healthy aging has become an increasingly important topic for all of us.
The U-M National Poll on Healthy Aging has been elevating the voices of older adults across the country since 2017. Over that time, we've gained critical knowledge about many aspects of life after 50 by directly asking older adults about their experiences and opinions on health trends and issues.
National Poll on Healthy Aging Impact Report
A recent report highlights the NPHA’s extraordinary impact and looks at the future of elevating the voices of older adults
Contact the NPHA Team
Have questions about our reports, media requests, or opportunities to collaborate? The National Poll on Healthy Aging team welcomes your inquiries.
General Inquiries
[email protected]
Media Inquiries
Kara Gavin
734-516-5362
[email protected]