A cross-sectional study analyzed health care contact days among older adults in traditional Medicare, revealing that on average, older adults spent about 3 weeks per year receiving care outside the home. These contact days were predominantly ambulatory, including primary care visits, specialty care visits, tests, imaging, procedures, and treatments. Factors associated with more ambulatory contact days included younger age, female sex, White race, non-Hispanic ethnicity, higher income, higher education, urban residence, more chronic conditions, and care-seeking behaviors. About 11% of older adults had 50 or more contact days in a year, with most of these days spent on specialty care visits and treatments. The study found significant variation in contact days by sociodemographic factors, geography, and care-seeking behaviors, with some factors beyond clinical need influencing the use of contact days. The results suggest opportunities to optimize contact days through care coordination, reducing patient burdens. The study used nationally representative data linked to Medicare claims, providing a comprehensive view of health care use outside the home. Limitations include the study population being limited to those in traditional Medicare and potential misattribution of laboratory test days. The findings highlight the importance of considering non-clinical factors in health care utilization and suggest that contact days could be a valuable measure for improving care for older adults and their care partners.A cross-sectional study analyzed health care contact days among older adults in traditional Medicare, revealing that on average, older adults spent about 3 weeks per year receiving care outside the home. These contact days were predominantly ambulatory, including primary care visits, specialty care visits, tests, imaging, procedures, and treatments. Factors associated with more ambulatory contact days included younger age, female sex, White race, non-Hispanic ethnicity, higher income, higher education, urban residence, more chronic conditions, and care-seeking behaviors. About 11% of older adults had 50 or more contact days in a year, with most of these days spent on specialty care visits and treatments. The study found significant variation in contact days by sociodemographic factors, geography, and care-seeking behaviors, with some factors beyond clinical need influencing the use of contact days. The results suggest opportunities to optimize contact days through care coordination, reducing patient burdens. The study used nationally representative data linked to Medicare claims, providing a comprehensive view of health care use outside the home. Limitations include the study population being limited to those in traditional Medicare and potential misattribution of laboratory test days. The findings highlight the importance of considering non-clinical factors in health care utilization and suggest that contact days could be a valuable measure for improving care for older adults and their care partners.