by VDC Staff
A major new federal health report shows progress in some areas of senior health across the United States — but warns that mental health struggles, food insecurity, and drug-related deaths are rising at alarming rates among older adults.
The United Health Foundation released the 14th edition of its America’s Health Rankings Senior Report, examining 56 health measures for older Americans across all 50 states. The findings offer a mixed picture: meaningful gains in preventive care and workforce growth, alongside troubling increases in behavioral health challenges.
Vermont Leads the Nation
Vermont claimed the top spot in overall senior health this year. The state has seen a 44% drop in teeth extractions over the past decade — a marker of improved dental care access — and only 1.6% of older Vermonters reported skipping medical care because of cost, one of the lowest rates in the country.
The news isn’t all positive for the Green Mountain State, however. Nursing home quality declined 39%, and food insecurity among older Vermonters jumped 29% in just one year, between 2022 and 2023.
Explore Vermont-specific data and the full report here.
A Nation Making Progress — With Caveats
Nationally, the death rate among adults ages 65 to 74 continued a slow recovery, dropping 2% between 2023 and 2024, moving closer to pre-pandemic levels from 2019.
The caregiving workforce also grew. The number of geriatric clinicians reached a new high after a 4% increase, and home health workers grew by 5%. The amount of unpaid care provided by family members and friends held steady.
Serious Concerns in Mental and Behavioral Health
Despite those gains, older adults are facing a growing behavioral health crisis. Drug deaths among seniors increased 38% — a stark contrast to a nationwide trend of declining drug deaths across other age groups. Older adults were the only age group to see an increase. Excessive drinking rose 10%, and the suicide rate climbed 4%.
Hunger is also growing. Food insecurity among adults 60 and older increased 6% in a single year, rising from 8.7% to 9.2% between 2022 and 2023. That translates to 7.4 million older Americans who didn’t consistently have enough to eat in 2023.
Gaps Remain Across Communities
The report also notes persistent disparities in health outcomes based on race and ethnicity, gender, and whether older adults live in rural or urban areas — underscoring that broad national trends don’t tell the whole story for every community.
Researchers say the data is intended to help states and local communities identify where to focus resources and build on what’s working, while addressing the challenges that continue to grow.