Foreword

Executive Brief Foreword Introduction National HighlightsFindingsHealth Outcomes Social and Economic Factors Clinical Care Behaviors State RankingsAppendixMeasures Table Data Source Descriptions MethodologyState Summaries

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2023 Senior Report – Executive Brief 2023 Senior Report 2023 Senior Report – State Summaries 2023 Senior Report – County-Level Maps for Risk of Social Isolation 2023 Senior Report – Measures Table 2023 Senior Report – Infographics 2023 Senior Report – Report Data (All States)

Improving the Health of the Older Adults in Our Lives Using Data
Dr. Rhonda Randall, Chief Medical Officer & Executive Vice President at UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual and United Health Foundation Board Member
We all have older adults in our lives who we admire, who lead interesting lives, teach us so much and continue to make new memories with us. As a geriatrician, I am committed to supporting health as we age and ensuring that older Americans are thriving.
Every year I look forward to the America’s Health Rankings® Senior Report, a comprehensive review of the health of our nation’s older generations and a critical tool for individuals, community leaders and policymakers to guide their decision-making with solid data. I always learn something new from this report, which takes into account the measures that really matter as we age, such as the ability to be independent, the availability of community support and the level of access to health care resources provided to seniors.
In this report, we see some concerning short- and long-term trends, including in mortality. As we all know, the COVID-19 pandemic had a disproportionate impact on older Americans, which was reflected in a continued increase in the early death rate in the most recent data. But we also see longer-term mortality trends headed in the wrong direction, like drug deaths, or remaining stubbornly high, like suicide — areas that many people do not realize have impacted seniors significantly in recent years.
On the other hand, the bright spots in the data give me hope. For example, it’s great to see a continued increase in access to high-speed internet, which can allow older adults to be better connected with family and friends. Although not a replacement for face-to-face interactions, anything that promotes social engagement is so important for overall health and wellbeing. It is also heartening to see the continued growth in the number of physicians, nurse practitioners, personal care and home health care workers per capita, as more individuals choose careers focused on caring for older populations. I know firsthand how important and rewarding this work is — but also recognize the great need for even more dedicated people to fill these roles.
Since the inception of this report 11 years ago, we have examined disparities across the senior population. As we age, the differences in our health can become more pronounced, and we did find significant variation by race/ethnicity, gender, rural/urban geography, income and education. These disparities were particularly wide in mortality, behavioral health and physical health measures.
From over a decade of working on these reports with the United Health Foundation, I know that when I see improvements in measures it is almost always because there was a successful coordinated effort to improve outcomes. I hope that the report will be a valuable resource for these efforts at the individual and community levels as leaders and policymakers tailor their interventions to address the most pressing challenges facing seniors today. With the right investments, some creativity and a desire for change, we can improve the lives of older Americans.

Improving the Health of the Older Adults in Our Lives Using Data

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