Aging and Health in America

By 2030, older adults, who currently account for 66% of the country’s health care budget, will constitute roughly 20% of the U.S. population, according to  "The State of Aging & Health in America 2013,"  a report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC report ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia on 15 indicators of adult health and provides a “snapshot of the nation’s progress toward improving the health of older adults.” The indicators are grouped into four areas: health status, health behaviors, preventative care and screening, and injuries. Connecticut ranked in the top 25% of states on nine of the indicators.

The report includes several “calls-to-action” to “encourage individuals, professionals, and communities to take specific steps to improve the health and well-being of older adults.” They include: 

1. developing a new healthy brain initiative road map;
2. addressing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender aging health issues;
3. using data on physically unhealthy days to guide interventions;
4. addressing mental distress among older adults; and
5. monitoring vaccination rates for shingles.