Report: R.I. 11th in nation for senior health

RHODE ISLAND RANKED 11th in the nation for senior health, improving three spots from last year, according to the United Health Foundation. / COURTESY UNITED HEALTH FOUNDATION
RHODE ISLAND RANKED 11th in the nation for senior health, improving three spots from last year, according to the United Health Foundation. / COURTESY UNITED HEALTH FOUNDATION

PROVIDENCE – The Ocean State ranked 11th in America’s Health Rankings Senior Report, moving up three spots from last year.
The report, from the United Health Foundation, said Massachusetts is the healthiest state for seniors, rising from sixth place last year, and Louisiana is the least healthy state for older adults.
Vermont, New Hampshire, Minnesota and Hawaii round out the top five healthiest states.
America’s Health Rankings Senior Report studied 35 measures of senior health, such as food insecurity, obesity and physical inactivity.
The report said Rhode Island’s strengths include its high percentage of health screenings, low hip fracture rate and high SNAP enrollment, while its challenges include limited availability of home-delivered meals, low volunteerism and low community support expenditures.
The report said food insecurity decreased in Rhode Island over the past year to 12.6 percent from 16.2 percent for adults 60 and older. Hospital deaths also decreased over the last year to 18.8 percent from 21.2 percent.
The Ocean State ranked 13th for obesity (a drop from 11th last year) and 36th for physical inactivity (falling from 23rd last year). The report said that over the past three years, obesity increased 18 percent, to 26.1 percent of adults 65 and older from 22.2 percent.

Still, the report said Rhode Island was among three states – the others being Alaska and New Jersey – that have made the greatest strides to improve their senior health ranking over the past three years.
Three years ago, Rhode Island ranked 30th for senior health.
It said the three states made progress in decreasing food insecurity, which is closely related to seniors’ nutrition, and also noted Rhode Island’s reduction in hospital deaths.
In commissioning the report, the United Health Foundation said it seeks to promote discussion around the health of older Americans while driving communities, governments, stakeholders and individuals to take action to improve senior health.

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