Report: Hawaiʻi Ranks Fourth for Senior Health

Hawaii Senior Health Infographic 2015.

By Maui Now Staff

According to the third edition of United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings Senior Report: A Call to Action for Individuals and Their Communities, Hawaiʻi ranked fourth for senior health this year.

The nationwide report shows positive trends, especially for measures that look at whether seniors are getting the right care in a setting of their choice.

Seniors have lower hospital readmission rates and preventable hospitalization rates compared to last year, while hospice care use and the number of home healthcare workers have increased.

“United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings Senior Report is a vital tool for understanding where we, as a state, are making strides in senior health and where key challenges for Hawaiʻi’s seniors remain,” said Ron Fujimoto, D.O., chief medical officer, UnitedHealthcare’s Community Plan for Hawaiʻi. “With America’s senior population poised to double by 2050, we must continue to invest in programs and solutions that address our seniors’ health needs and help them live the best lives they possibly can.”

“It is heartening to see seniors’ health is improving, but our societal challenge remains finding ways to encourage more seniors to be more active,” said Rhonda Randall, D.O., senior adviser to United Health Foundation, and chief medical officer and executive vice president, UnitedHealthcare Retiree Solutions. “Strong community support is an essential part of promoting positive health among seniors. We must work together–across states, communities and our own families–to encourage all seniors to find ways to be as active as they’re able to be.”

Hawaiʻi’s Overall Health

Strengths
• Low prevalence of obesity
• Low geriatrician shortfall
• Low hip fracture rate

Challenges
• High prevalence of underweight seniors
• High prevalence of activity-limiting arthritis pain
• High percentage of hospital deaths

Nationwide Rankings

Vermont is the healthiest state for seniors, rising from fourth place last year. New Hampshire ranks second, improving one spot from last year. Minnesota fell to third after being ranked first for two years in a row, while Hawaiʻi (4) and Utah (5) round out the top five states.

Louisiana ranks 50th as the least healthy state for older adults, followed by Mississippi (49), Kentucky (48), Arkansas (47) and Oklahoma (46).

To see the rankings in full, go online.

To get information on how to help improve community health, go online.

DOWNLOADABLE PDFS
HawaiiSeniorHealth-Profile-2015
HawaiiSeniorHealth-Summary-2015