New Report Finds Significant Health Concerns Loom for Seniors in Coming Years; Current Seniors Make Health Gains, But Challen...
May 25 2016 - 7:00AM
Business Wire
- Next-generation seniors set to be
less healthy than current seniors, with 55 percent growth in
diabetes, 25 percent increase in obesity compared to levels of 15
years ago
- Current seniors have better health
status than three years ago, with progress made in the number of
home health care workers, and preventable hospitalizations
- Yet, challenges remain, including a
nearly 9 percent increase in the rate of obesity and 5 percent
increase in food insecurity among today’s seniors
- Report finds Massachusetts replaces
Vermont as healthiest state for seniors; Louisiana remains least
healthy state for seniors
Increasing rates of diabetes and obesity among middle-aged
Americans (50-64 years old), coupled with the massive growth in the
senior population over the next 15 years, are likely
to significantly affect the health and quality of life
for the next generation of seniors, according to some of the key
findings of the 2016 United Health Foundation’s America’s Health
Rankings Senior Report.
The report compares the health of middle-aged Americans in 2014
to middle-aged Americans in 1999 and details broad health concerns
for the next generation of older Americans, as well as the
potential for strain on the Medicare program and the overall
health care system. Among the key findings for the next generation
of seniors:
- Prevalence of diabetes among today’s
middle-aged adults has increased by a dramatic 55 percent, and the
prevalence of obesity has increased by 25 percent, compared to
middle-aged adults 15 years ago;
- 25 states are poised to face a 50
percent or greater increase in the senior population by 2030;
- Of the states with a rapidly growing
senior population, seven are poised to face an 80 percent or
greater increase in the prevalence diabetes vs. that of current
seniors when they were middle-aged;
- Among these states, Nebraska (145
percent) and Colorado (138 percent) will experience the most
dramatic increases in the prevalence of diabetes among current
middle-aged adults who will age into senior status by 2030;
- Among states with a rapidly growing
senior population, 11 will also face a 20 percent or greater
increase in the prevalence rate of obesity vs. current seniors when
they were middle-aged;
- Notably, Arizona (96 percent) will
experience the most dramatic increase in the prevalence rate of
obesity among current middle-aged adults who will age into senior
status by 2030.
Report Shows Rise in Obesity Among Current Seniors, but
Notable Improvements in Care Trends
The report shows the current generation of American seniors has
better health status than it had just three years ago, but faces
serious challenges due to increased obesity and poor nutrition.
Specifically, the report finds:
- Preventable hospitalizations decreased
by approximately 9 percent over the past year, while home health
care worker availability increased by about 18 percent over the
last three years;
- “Very good” or “excellent health”
status among adults ages 65 and over increased by approximately 7
percent over the past three years;
- Challenges remain for seniors,
including a 9 percent increase in the rate of obesity over the past
three years;
- Food insecurity has increased by
approximately 5 percent in the last year.
Massachusetts Ranks 1st; Louisiana Ranks
50th in Senior Health
Massachusetts is the healthiest state for seniors, rising from
sixth place last year, while Louisiana again ranks as the least
healthy state for older adults, according to the newest report.
Among rankings, the report found:
- Vermont (2), New Hampshire (3),
Minnesota (4), Hawaii (5) and Utah (6) round out the healthiest
states for seniors;
- Oklahoma (49), Mississippi (48),
Arkansas (47) and West Virginia (46) experience the most challenges
in seniors’ health and well-being;
- Rhode Island, Alaska and New Jersey
made the greatest strides to improve their senior health ranking
over the past three years;
- Rhode Island jumped from 30 to 11 in
the rankings, Alaska from 39 to 21 and New Jersey from 28 to
16;
- These three states made progress in
decreasing food insecurity, which is closely related to seniors’
nutrition; Alaska and Rhode Island reduced hospital deaths; and
Alaska and New Jersey decreased hip fractures.
“As a geriatrician, I see certain health conditions ‘snowball’
as people age – that is, smaller problems in middle-age can get
much larger and more complicated, affecting overall health much
more as we age,” said Rhonda Randall, D.O., senior adviser to
United Health Foundation, and chief medical officer and executive
vice president, UnitedHealthcare Retiree Solutions. “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. 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.”
To read the report and other materials, including visual
illustrations, visit:
www.americashealthrankings.org/report/seniors.
About America’s Health Rankings Senior Report
America’s Health Rankings Senior Report offers a comprehensive
analysis of senior population health on a national and
state-by-state basis across 35 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 a dozen 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 and has recently expanded its reporting
series to include a number of spotlight reports focused on
important markers of the nation’s health, including impacts of
unhealthy living, substance abuse and mental health. America’s
Health Rankings is also releasing two new population reports this
year that examine the health of mothers and children and the health
of those who have served our country. For more information, 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 $285 million to programs and communities around
the world. We invite you to learn more at
www.unitedhealthfoundation.org.
Twitter: @AHR_RankingsFacebook:
www.facebook.com/AmericasHealthRankingsWebsite:
www.americashealthrankings.org
Click here to subscribe to Mobile Alerts for UnitedHealth
Group.
View source
version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160525005207/en/
United Health FoundationLD Platt,
202-654-8830ld_platt@uhg.com
UnitedHealth (NYSE:UNH)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
UnitedHealth (NYSE:UNH)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024