12 Healthiest States for Seniors: 2023

The United Health Foundation this week released its annual America's Health Rankings Senior Report, which reviews 10 years of data to provide a comprehensive view of the health and well-being of Americans 65 and older. The report identifies some concerning short- and long-term trends. Between 2020 and 2021, early deaths increased from 2,072 to 2,151 per 100,000 adults 65 to 74, largely because of the pandemic's disproportionate impact on older Americans. Longer-term mortality trends are also headed in the wrong direction, according to the report. Two issues many do not realize have significantly befallen seniors in recent years are stubbornly high suicide rates and drug-related deaths, the latter increasing from 6.6 to 9.9 per 100,000 adults 65 and older between the 2016-2018 and 2019-2021 ranges. There are some bright spots in the data. Access to high-speed internet continues to increase, allowing older adults to stay better connected with family and friends and providing social engagement to boost overall health and well-being. In addition, the number of health care providers focused on caring for older populations continues to grow. The report includes a ranking of the most and least healthy states for seniors based on 35 measures across five categories of health. These include health outcomes (such as early death, chronic conditions and behavioral health) and four other categories that are determinants of health:

• Social and economic factors: Community and family safety, economic resources and social support and engagement
• Physical environment: Air and water quality, housing
• Behaviors: Nutrition and physical activity, sleep health and tobacco use
• Clinical care: Access to care, preventive clinical services and quality of care

Data in the report came from a variety of sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Mapping Medicare Disparities Tool. See the gallery for the 12 healthiest states for older Americans, and how each ranked across the five health categories, according to the United Health Foundation.