Top 10 states with improvements in older people’s independence

Many U.S. states — including some that have done poorly on rankings of health measures for decades — have been reporting great success with keeping older residents independent in the past few years.

That performance showed up earlier this week in a new batch of disability prevalence statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The bureau collected the statistics through the American Community Survey, a program that sends suvey questionnaires to 3 million U.S. households per year. One thing members of the public can do with the results is to use a research tools system to produce state disability statistics tables.

A user can look at the percentage of people in different age groups in each state who have any disabilities, multiple disabilities, specific types of disabilities, disabilities that interfere with self care, and disabilities that keep people from living independently.

For purposes of the American Community Survey, the Census Bureau defines someone who has “independent living difficulty” as someone who, “because of a physical, mental or emotional problem, [is] having difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping.”

Many people who have any “independent living difficulty” already need some informal long-term care (LTC) services from friends and family members, and are well on their way to having the kinds of “self-care difficulties” (such as problems with bathing and dressing) that may lead to an ongoing need for extensive home care, expensive assisted living facility care, or full-blown nursing home care.

Private insurers that sell long-term care insurance (LTCI) and other disability- and LTC-related products in states with improving independent living statistics may find that the insureds in those states do better than expected and help hold down claims costs.

See also: Where are the high-income thin people?

Of course, changes in survey methods or other confounding figures may skew the numbers, but it could also be that the new survey numbers reflect real improvements in health services and support services, even in some states traditionally known for high infant mortality rates, high early-death rates among residents who survive infancy, and high disability rates.

But, in many states, there’s an interesting split: Independent living statistics deteriorated for residents ages 18 to 64 as they improved for residents ages 75 and older. That may reflect improvements in health care and life expectancy for children born with severe health problems, but it also could reflect lifestyle differences, or differences in the health care systems for people under 65 and people ages 65 and older.

For a list of the 10 states that showed the greatest improvement between 2008 and 2012, and a table showing the independent living disability prevalence percentages for residents ages 75 and older in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, read on. 

10. Minnesota

Independent living disability prevalence

Ages 18-64

2008: 2.5%

2012: 3%

Change, 2008-2012: +0.5 percentage points

Ages 75 and up

2008: 22.1%

2012: 19.6%

Change, 2008-2012: 2.5 percentage points

See also: Americans’ Health Improves Slightly: Study.

9. Nevada

Independent living disability prevalence

Ages 18-64

2008: 2.8%

2012: 3.3%

Change, 2008-2012: +0.5 percentage points

Ages 75 and up

2008: 26.9%

2012: 24.3%

Change, 2008-2012: -2.6 percentage points

See also: The new retirement dream: Relocation.

8. Oklahoma

Independent living disability prevalence

Ages 18-64

2008: 4.4%

2012: 4.5%

Change, 2008-2012: +0.1 percentage points

Ages 75 and up

2008: 27.7%

2012: 24.9%

Change, 2008-2012: -2.8 percentage points

See also: How PPACA has changed insured rates, state by state

7. Arizona

Independent living disability prevalence

Ages 18-64

2008: 3.4%

2012: 3.5%

Change, 2008-2012: +0.1 percentage points

Ages 75 and up

2008: 24.4%

2012: 21.3%

Change, 2008-2012: -3.1 percentage points

See also: 12 best cities for successful aging: 2014.

6. Colorado

Independent living disability prevalence

Ages 18-64

2008: 2.3%

2012: 2.6%

Change, 2008-2012: +0.3 percentage points

Ages 75 and up

2008: 25.8%

2012: 22.3%