Healthy AGeing in Scotland (HAGIS)
NO ONGOING DATA COLLECTION: Healthy AGeing in Scotland (HAGIS) ended in 2022.
Measures describe a question asked to a participant during a survey or an item of information requested from a manager when they fill out a data return. For example, ‘Who do you live with?’ is a measure and the possible responses might be, mother, father, brother, sister etc.
| Question/Data item wording | Response scale wording | Need OR provision OR receipt | Description of measure | Start Year | Age of interest | Age from | Age to | Informant | Multiple rater | Reporting term | Sweep title | Standard instrument | Notes | Physical health measures | Dataset | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part 1: Part 2: Part 3: |
Part 1: Part 2: Part 3: |
Receipt; | COVID-19 disruption of respite & other services | 2021 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | COVID‑19 Impact & Recovery study | No | HAGIS | |||
Does anyone help you with managing your own money? |
1. Yes |
Need;Need;Receipt;Receipt; | Difficulty/assistance managing own money | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Part 1: Part 2: Part 3: Part 4: Part 5: Part 6: Part 7: |
Part 1: Part 2: Part 3: Part 4: Part 5: Part 6: Part 7: |
Need;Need;Receipt;Receipt; | Difficulty/assistance managing own money | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Part 1: Part 2: Part 3: Part 4: Part 5: Part 6: Part 7: |
Part 1: Part 2: Part 3: Part 4: Part 5: Part 6: Part 7: |
Receipt; | Details of who helps/cares with IADLs - second person | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Let’s think for a moment about the help you receive with the difficulties that we just talked about. |
1. Number of days _______________________________________ ________________________ |
Receipt; | How many days received help/care per month | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Past month | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
On the days when HELPER’s NAME helps you, about how many hours per day do they spend helping |
1. Number of hours _______________________________________ ________________________ |
Receipt; | Hours of care/help received per day | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Does HELPER’s NAME receive Carer’s Allowance? |
1. Yes |
Receipt; | Person caring/helping receiving carer's allowance | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Does HELPER’s NAME receive regular payment from you, your family or from an agency or |
1. Yes |
Receipt; | Whether participant pays for care/helper | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Is this person [helper’s name]: |
1. From a private agency |
Receipt; | Type of carer/helper e.g. source of contact | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Thinking now about the cost of this paid help in the past month, about what percentage of this cost |
1. Write % |
Receipt; | Cost of care covered by government | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Not counting costs paid by the government, about how much did you (and your [husband/wife/partner]) pay HELPER’s NAME in the last month? |
£0 … £100,000 |
Receipt; | Amount paid for care - last month | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Past month | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Part 1: Part2: Part 3: Part 4: Part 5: |
Part 1: Part 2: Part 3: Part 4: Part 5: |
Receipt; | Details of second person who helps/cares | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
How many different paid helpers – in total – have been involved in taking care of you in the last two years? (If all helpers are unpaid relatives or friends code 0) |
1. Number |
Receipt; | How many helpers provided care in past 2 years | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Past 2 years | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Would you be willing to have to your survey responses linked to your social care records? |
Yes – Consent form signed and initialed |
Receipt; | Willingness to link social care records | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Overall, in the last 30 days, how much of a problem have you had with moving? |
None |
Need; | Difficulty with moving | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) Self-Completion questionnaire v1.3 | No | HAGIS | |||
Overall, in the last 30 days, how much difficulty have you had with concentrating or remembering things? |
None |
Need; | Difficulty with concentrating/remembering | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) Self-Completion questionnaire v1.4 | No | HAGIS | |||
Part 1: Part 2: |
Part 1: Part 2: |
Receipt; | Who participant can draw care support from | 2021 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | COVID‑19 Impact & Recovery study | No | HAGIS | |||
Does anyone help you with preparing a hot meal? |
1. Yes |
Need;Need;Receipt;Receipt; | Difficulty/assistance preparing hot meal | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Does anyone help you take your medications? |
1. Yes |
Need;Need;Receipt;Receipt; | Difficulty/assistance taking medications | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Does anyone help you make phone calls? |
1. Yes |
Need;Need;Receipt;Receipt; | Difficulty/assistance making phone calls | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Does anyone help you with shopping for groceries? |
1. Yes |
Need;Need;Receipt;Receipt; | Difficulty/assistance shopping for groceries | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Does anyone help you with doing household chores? |
1. Yes |
Need;Need;Receipt;Receipt; | Difficulty/assistance - household chores | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Because of a health or memory problem, do you have difficulty doing any of the activities on this card? Again exclude any difficulties you expect to last less than three months. |
1. Preparing a hot meal |
Need; | Difficulty completing IADLs | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Which of these health or disability benefits are you personally receiving at the moment? |
1. Incapacity Benefit previously Invalidity Benefit |
Receipt; | Receipt of care-related benefits | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Which of these health or disability benefits did you stop receiving following an unfavourable review in |
1. Incapacity Benefit previously Invalidity Benefit |
Receipt; | Ended receipt of care-related benefits | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Past year | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Which of these health or disability benefits is your [^husband / wife / partner] receiving at the moment/in the last year? |
1. Incapacity Benefit previously Invalidity Benefit |
Receipt; | Partner's receipt of care-related benefits | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Past year | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Because of a health or memory problem, do you have difficulty doing any of the activities on this card? |
1. Dressing, including putting on shoes and socks |
Need; | Difficulty compelting ADLs | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Does anyone ever help you with dressing including putting on shoes and socks? |
1. Yes |
Need;Need;Receipt;Receipt; | Difficulty/assistance with dressing | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Does anyone ever help you with walking across a room? |
1. Yes |
Need;Need;Receipt;Receipt; | Difficulty/assistance with walking across room | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Does anyone ever help you with bathing or showering? |
1. Yes |
Need;Need;Receipt;Receipt; | Difficulty/assistance with walking across room | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Does anyone ever help you with eating? |
1. Yes |
Need;Need;Receipt;Receipt; | Difficulty/assistance with eating | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Does anyone ever help you with getting into or out of bed? |
1. Yes |
Need;Need;Receipt;Receipt; | Difficulty/assistance getting out of bed | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Does anyone ever help you with using the toilet, including getting on and off the toilet? |
1. Yes |
Need;Need;Receipt;Receipt; | Difficulty/assistance using toilet | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Who most often helps you with (getting across a room / dressing / bathing / eating / getting in / out |
Text: up to 60 |
Receipt; | Who cares/helps with ADLs - male/female | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Is [NAME OF PERSON WHO HELPS] male or female? |
1. Male |
Receipt; | Who cares/helps with ADLs - male/female | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
What is that person’s [WHO PROVIDES CARE] relationship to you? |
MALES FEMALES |
Receipt; | Who helps/cares with ADLs - relationship to care recipient | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Part 1: Part2: Part 3: Part 4: |
Part1: Part 2: Part 3: Part 4: |
Receipt; | Details of who helps/cares with ADLs - second person | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
In the last 2 years, did your relatives give you (and your spouse/partner) any help with things like: a) Practical household help, e.g. with home repairs, gardening, transportation, shopping, household |
1. Yes |
Receipt; | IADL care/help received in last two years | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Past 2 years | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
Do you look after, or give any help or support to family members, friends, neighbours or others |
1. No |
Provision; | Provision of unpaid care | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
What would you say was the main reason why you retired? |
1. Became eligible for a state pension |
Provision; | Retired due to ill health of relative/friend | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Current | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
About how many hours per week on average did you give such help in the last two years? |
1. Number of hours_____________ |
Provision; | Hours IADL care/help provided | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Past 2 years | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
In the last 2 years, did you (or your spouse/partner) give any kind of help to your relatives with things |
1. Yes |
Provision; | IADL care/help provided in last two years | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Past 2 years | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS | |||
About how many hours per week of such help did you receive from other relatives over the last two years? |
1. Number of hours_________ |
Receipt; | Hours IADL help received | 2016 | 50-120 | 50 | 120 | Participant | No | Past 2 years | Pilot Sweep - Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) - Main Questionnaire | No | HAGIS |
Overview
Aims
HAGIS is Scotland’s first comprehensive longitudinal study of people aged 50+, designed to understand older adults’ health, economic, and social circumstances and to inform policies that improve wellbeing. It belongs to the Health & Retirement Study (HRS) family and is intended to re‑interview participants every two years to enable within‑Scotland tracking and cross‑country comparisons via the Gateway to Global Aging.
Institution
University of Stirling (Stirling Management School / Faculty of Social Sciences)
Geographic coverage - Nations
Scotland;
Start date
2016
Minimum age at recruitment
50
Sample Size
3,373
Sample
Study design
Longitudinal cohort study
Sample details
The pilot used an innovative, two‑stage random probability design and eligibility screening via the NHS Central Register (CHI) to identify households with someone aged 50+, followed by face‑to‑face CAPI and a self‑completion questionnaire; 1,057 main interviews were completed. High consent rates were obtained to link survey responses to administrative datasets (e.g., 85% NHS health records; 81% social care; 80% education; 77% DWP/HMRC), with linkage activities proceeding for the 2017 pilot. Within the HRS family, HAGIS enables harmonised international comparison and planned biennial follow‑ups to monitor ageing trajectories in Scotland alongside peers in Europe, North America, and Asia.
Sex
All
Sample Characteristics
Individuals aged 50+
Sample size at most recent sweep
The HAGIS COVID‑19 Impact & Recovery Study (2021–2022) completed 3,373 interviews from a target sample of 15,674 drawn from the HAGIS cohort, Generation Scotland, and a predefined panel; previous pilot wave (2016–2017) achieved 1,057 main interviews
Data
Individual data available (e.g. upon special request)?
Yes
Data Access Level
Fully open source
Data Access
https://datacatalogue.ukdataservice.ac.uk/studies/study/9130#!/details
https://datacatalogue.ukdataservice.ac.uk/studies/study/9130#!/details
Regional variable present?
Yes
Local Authority variable present?
No
Complementary Data
Linked administrative health datasets
Mapping/spatial data
NRS deaths
Prescribing Information System
Genetic Data Collected
Linked Data
DWP/HMRC
Education records
NHS health records
Social Care Survey
HDR UK Innovation Gateway
Additional information
Website
Notes
Related Measures
Cognitive measures, COVID‑19, Education, Health datasets (administrative), Socioeconomic status & deprivation,
Study Code
HAGIS
Reference paper(s)
Henderson, D.A.G., Burton, J.K., Lynch, E., Clark, D., Rintoul, J. and Bailey, N. (2019) ‘Data Resource Profile: the Scottish Social Care Survey (SCS) and the Scottish Care Home Census (SCHC)’, International Journal of Population Data Science, 4(1), article 24. Available at: Data Resource Profile: the Scottish Social Care Survey (SCS) and the Scottish Care Home Census (SCHC)
Funders
COVID‑19 Impact & Recovery: ESRC (UKRI) rapid response
Pilot: National Institute on Aging & The Nuffield Foundation