Information for the press release was acquired at http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/28/senior-citizens-health-care-report/2354635/. (“Senior health care crisis looms; report ranks states”)
Baby
Boomers are now becoming senior citizens.
As they do, a strain is going to be placed on the health care
system. On average, they may live longer
than previous generations, however, they are also more likely to be obese and
have diabetes and other chronic diseases.
A
few months ago, the United Health Foundation released, “America’s Health
Rankings Senior Report.” Based on 34
measures of senior health, including obesity, drug coverage, physical
inactivity and more, the report analyzed seniors’ health status.
This
report states that one in eight Americans is now 65 or older (about 40.3
million people). By 2030, the year by
which all Baby Boomers will have turned at least 65, those numbers will
increase to one in five (72.1 million people).
By 2030, it is anticipated that 8.7 million Americans will be 85 or
older.
Out
of every 10 seniors, about eight have one or more chronic health issues. Fifty-percent have two or more
conditions. Obesity, diabetes, heart
disease and arthritis will bring about huge numbers of disabled seniors. Adults 65 and older spend two to five times
more on healthcare than younger adults.
It
is hoped that this report will serve as a warning about the impending economic
consequences. “The
report offers ‘an important set of messages ... for personal focus, family and
community focus, and a heads-up to the providers, and a real heads-up to policy
makers,’ said Jennie Chin Hansen, CEO of the American Geriatrics Society and
author of one of several commentaries in the report.”
The report revealed how each State is ranked based on a variety
of issues, “including a large number of seniors who report being in very good
or excellent health, high rates of creditable drug coverage, relatively high
availability of home health care workers, as well as a low rate of seniors at
risk of going hungry and a low rate of hospitalization for hip fractures…”
Using these factors, Minnesota has the best record while
Mississippi has the worst. However,
these figures don’t provide the full picture, because Minnesota also has a high
rate of chronic drinkers, and the State provides little assistance to older
adults in poverty. And while Mississippi
ranked lowest on the factors in the previous paragraph, they also have a much
smaller number of chronic drinking and a high rate of flu vaccination.
The senior population is expected to grow 46% between 2015 and
2030. Arizona expects the largest
increase in the number of seniors by 2030, with a whopping 101% anticipated
increase of seniors. The report covered each
State’s obesity rates, the number of seniors living at or below the poverty
level, the percentage of seniors with chronic diseases and much more.
If you’re interested in reading the entire report, visit the
link at the top of this PR. As a Baby
Boomer myself, being over 65, I found this report to be both interesting and
frightening. What are your thoughts on
this topic?
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