By UnitedHealthcare
Washington is the 7th healthiest state for U.S. adults aged 65 and older according to the 2024 American’s Health Rankings Senior Report from The United Health Foundation. The ranking is a one-point increase from Washington’s previous position of 8th.
This change can be attributed to positive health factors in Washington, including a low prevalence of food insecurity, a low prevalence of multiple chronic conditions and a 50% increase in home healthcare workers between 2021-2022.
Despite these improvements, the report revealed some areas needing improvement, especially socioeconomic factors. The housing cost burden for households with adults aged 65 and older increased by 35.3% since 2021. Washington also ranked 47th in community support expenditures, providing $24 per adult aged 60+ compared to a national average of $62.
Other notable Washington findings from the report include:
- Between 2017-2019 and 2020-2022, senior drug deaths increased by 60%, from 8.6 to 13.8 deaths per 100,000 adults aged 65 and older between 2017-2019 and 2020-2022).
- Held the second-lowest rate of physical inactivity at 22.9%, compared to a national average of 30.9%.
- High-speed internet access increased by 12% in households with one or more adults aged 65 and older between 2016 and 2022.
Country-wide, America’s Health Rankings Senior Report found that older adults made progress in measures of social connectedness and access to clinical care but struggle with socioeconomic barriers. The report examines 52 measures of health from 24 distinct data sources to present a comprehensive overview of the health and well-being of the nation’s older adults.
For more information and the full report, click here.
