Seniors are showing encouraging gains in key health measures and taking
more steps to improve their own health, according to the second edition
of United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings® Senior Report:
A Call to Action for Individuals and Their Communities.
Minnesota is the healthiest state for seniors for the second year in a
row. Hawaii ranks second, followed by New Hampshire (3), Vermont (4) and
Massachusetts (5). Mississippi is the least healthy state for seniors,
followed by Louisiana (49), Kentucky (48), Oklahoma (47) and Arkansas
(46).
Key findings include:
-
seniors are more active compared to last year, with physical
inactivity declining from 30.3 percent of the senior population to
28.7 percent;
-
preventable hospitalizations dropped from 66.6 discharges per 1,000
Medicare beneficiaries to 64.9 discharges;
-
nursing home care improved, with quality nursing home beds rising from
42 percent of beds rated four or five stars to 46.8 percent.
“We commissioned this report to understand and identify ways to improve
seniors’ health because Americans are living longer and the senior
population will double in size over the next 25 years,” said Reed
Tuckson, M.D., senior medical adviser to United Health Foundation. “It’s
time to shift our focus from how long Americans are living, to
how well we’re living. We want this report to encourage seniors
and the people in their lives to be more active, to talk about
end-of-life plans and to live the best lives we all can.”
“The decline in physical inactivity indicated in the report shows that
seniors are making progress in living healthier lives,” said Rhonda
Randall, D.O., senior adviser to United Health Foundation and chief
medical officer and executive vice president, UnitedHealthcare Retiree
Solutions. “However, significant challenges remain – such as the
prevalence of obesity and many chronic conditions – that we as a nation
need to address in order to improve seniors’ health and quality of life.
It is up to us – communities, states and the health care system – to
promote healthy behaviors among this growing demographic.”
Minnesota’s strengths include ranking first for all health determinants
combined, which includes ranking in the top five states for a high rate
of dental visits, a high percentage of volunteerism, a high percentage
of quality nursing home beds, a low percentage of marginal food
insecurity, a high percentage of prescription drug coverage, and ready
availability of home health care workers. Like all states, Minnesota has
areas where it can improve: its challenges include low community support
expenditures and a low prevalence of older adults with a dedicated
health care provider.
To see the Rankings in full, visit: www.americashealthrankings.org/senior.
Rapidly expanding senior population poses challenges
With the senior population poised to double in the next 25 years, states
and local communities should continue to address unhealthy behaviors
that threaten to compromise seniors’ health. More than 35 percent have
four or more chronic conditions, while more than 25 percent of seniors
are obese and 28 percent are physically inactive. Only about 60 percent
of seniors received the flu vaccine in the last 12 months. Older adults
will account for roughly 20 percent of the U.S. population by 2030,
according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, making these
challenges urgent.
“Chronic illnesses such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease not only
affect seniors’ overall health but place pressure on families,
caregivers and our health care system,” said Dr. Tuckson. “These
challenges will only intensify as the senior population continues to
grow. It’s critical that we work together –individuals, families,
communities, states and the health care system – to develop solutions
that address chronic illness among seniors and lay the groundwork for
improved health for generations to come.”
About America’s Health Rankings Senior Report
America’s Health Rankings Senior Report: A Call to Action for
Individuals and Their Communities offers a comprehensive analysis of
senior population health on a national and state-by-state basis across
34 measures of senior health. In commissioning the report, United Health
Foundation seeks to promote discussion around the health of older
Americans while driving communities, governments, stakeholders and
individuals to take action to improve senior health.
Researchers draw data from more than 12 government agencies and leading
research organizations to create a focused, uniquely rich dataset for
measuring senior health at the state level, including the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of
Commerce, the U.S. Department of Labor, The Dartmouth Atlas Project, the
National Foundation to End Senior Hunger and the Commonwealth Fund.
United Health Foundation also produces the annual America’s Health
Rankings report. For 24 years, America’s Health Rankings has provided an
analysis of national health on a state-by-state basis by evaluating a
historical and comprehensive set of health, environmental and
socioeconomic data to determine national health benchmarks and state
rankings. The Rankings employs a unique methodology, developed and
annually reviewed by a Scientific Advisory Committee of leading public
health scholars.
The America’s Health Rankings Senior Report and the America’s Health
Rankings Report are designed to identify health opportunities in
communities as well as multistakeholder, multidisciplinary approaches to
improving the health of the population. Through its programs and grants,
United Health Foundation puts a spotlight on the health of America while
promoting evidence-based solutions and means to improve it. To learn
more about America’s Health Rankings – and to get information on how to
help improve community health – visit www.americashealthrankings.org.
About United Health Foundation
Through collaboration with
community partners, grants and outreach efforts, United Health
Foundation works to improve our health system, build a diverse and
dynamic health workforce and enhance the well-being of local
communities. United Health Foundation was established by UnitedHealth
Group (NYSE: UNH) in 1999 as a not-for-profit, private foundation
dedicated to improving health and health care. To date, United Health
Foundation has committed more than $240 million to programs and
communities around the world. We invite you to learn more at www.unitedhealthfoundation.org.
Twitter: @AHR_Rankings
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Website:
www.americashealthrankings.org/senior
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