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IntroductionThe Health of Tomorrow’s SeniorsFindingsTop and Bottom StatesChange in RankFuture PerspectiveCore MeasuresBehaviorsCommunity & Environment: MacroPolicyClinical CareOutcomesSupplemental MeasuresState Summaries
Alabama
Alaska
Arkansas
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
District of ColumbiaAppendixDescription of Core MeasuresDescription of Supplemental MeasuresMethodology2016 Model Development2016 Senior Health Advisory GroupThe TeamExecutive SummaryConclusionAmerica’s Health Rankings® Expansion
Figure 6 - 2015–2016 Change in Rank
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Change in Rank
Alaska, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania saw the greatest improvements in rank from 2015, while Kansas, Michigan, and Ohio dropped in the rankings (Figure 6). Alaska climbed 10 places from 31st to 21st, with an increase in nursing home quality and decrease in hospital deaths. New Jersey also jumped 10 ranks from 26th to 16th, with an increase in nursing home quality and decrease in food insecurity. Pennsylvania jumped 7 places from 25th to 18th, with decreases in both smoking and physical inactivity. All three states that dropped in the rankings experienced an increase in food insecurity. Kansas and Ohio also experienced an increase in obesity, while Michigan saw an increase in physical inactivity.
Several states also saw notable improvements in the rankings over the past three years. Rhode Island jumped from 30th to 11th, with improvements in preventable hospitalizations (24% decrease), smoking (23% decrease), and seniors reporting very good or excellent health (18% increase). Alaska improved from 39th to 21st, with a 27% decrease in hip fractures and 16% reduction in poverty. New Jersey also jumped from 28th to 16th, with a 19% decrease in hip fractures and 10% increase in volunteerism. All three states made strides in reducing food insecurity and hospital deaths over the past three years. Food insecurity decreased 44% in Alaska, 4% in New Jersey, and 18% in Rhode Island, while hospital deaths decreased 24% in Alaska, 31% in New Jersey, and 39% in Rhode Island.