A future generation of U.S. seniors may be poised for higher rates of chronic disease, according to an annual report ranking their health.
A comparison of middle-aged adults ages 50 to 64 in 1999 and 2014 found a 55 percent growth in diabetes and a 25 percent increase in obesity, according to the 2016 “America’s Health Rankings Senior Report.” Released in May by the United Health Foundation, the annual report is a snapshot of national-and state-level senior health based on indicators such as smoking and physical inactivity.
In addition to the increases in disease prevalence, 25 states are set to see a more than 50 percent increase in their senior population by 2030. The changes pose significant challenges to the health and quality of life of the next generation of U.S. seniors, said Rhonda Randall, DO, senior advisor to the United Health Foundation and chief medical officer and executive vice president of UnitedHealthcare Retiree Solutions, in a news release.
Public health has made some inroads to ensure a brighter future for U.S. seniors. Successes include a 29 percent drop in hospital deaths among seniors ages 65 and older in the past three years and a 9 percent reduction since last year in preventable hospitalizations, from 59.3 to 53.8 discharges per 1,000 Medicare recipients. However, challenges include a 7 percent decrease in home-delivered meals to low-income seniors, a 5 percent increase in food insecurity among seniors 60 and older and a 7 percent decrease in community assistance to seniors ages 65 and older living in poverty, according to the report.
“The ‘America’s Health Rankings Senior Report’ is a call to action, particularly as we look at the data for the next generation of seniors,” Randall said. “We must work together — across states, communities and the public health sector — to find ways to continue improving delivery of care to seniors and encourage wellness and health among both current and future seniors.”
Massachusetts healthiest for seniors, Louisiana struggles
Massachusetts topped the list as the healthiest state for seniors, an improvement from its sixth-place ranking last year. The jump is linked to a 12 percent reduction in physical inactivity levels and a 20 percent drop in smoking rates, according to the report. Filling out the top five healthiest states were Vermont — last year’s No. 1 — New Hampshire, Minnesota and Hawaii. The five least healthy states for seniors were Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Arkansas and West Virginia. This is the second year that Louisiana has been ranked last, as the state continues to struggle with high rates of smoking, obesity and physical inactivity.
States with notable improvements since 2015 include Alaska, which jumped up 10 places from 31 to 21. The report linked its upward movement to increases in nursing home quality and decreases in hospital deaths. However, Michigan dropped nine places to 26 in the rankings due to an increase in food insecurity and physical inactivity levels from 2015.
For more information about “America’s Health Rankings Senior Report,” visit www.americashealthrankings.org.
- Copyright The Nation’s Health, American Public Health Association
