Washington ranks No. 10 nationwide in terms of the health of the state’s senior population, according to the United Health Foundation.
The foundation found that the state ranked 11th in 2015, and currently ranks ninth in terms of the health of its residents of all age groups.
The foundation in May released its fourth annual America’s Health Rankings Senior Report. The report provides information on 35 measures of health for a combined comprehensive analysis of the senior population, both nationwide and on a state-by-state basis.
Overall, some of Washington state’s greatest strengths were a low prevalence of physical inactivity; low rate of preventable hospitalizations; and a low hip fracture rate.
Some other key highlights for Washington state:
In the past year, the general nursing home quality increased 14 percent from 47.4 percent to 53.8 percent of beds rated 4- or 5-stars.
Food insecurity decreased 12 percent from 13.5 percent to 11.9 percent of adults ages 60 and older.
In the past two years, low-care nursing home residents increased 31 percent from 6.4 percent to 8.4 percent of residents.
In the past three years, hospice care use increased 39 percent from 33.4 percent to 46.4 percent of decedents ages 65 and older.
In the past three years, very good or excellent health status increased 11 percent from 42.1 percent to 46.8 percent of adults ages 65 and older.
Other findings include:
One in six impoverished Washington seniors receive a home-delivered meal, compared with 19.1 percent nationally.
About one in four Washington seniors are obese, compared with about 27.5 percent nationally.
About three in 10 Washington seniors volunteered through an organization within the past 12 months, compared with 26.4 percent nationally.
About 70.6 percent of Washington seniors visited a dentist or dental clinic in the past year, compared with 65.7 percent nationally.
This year, the report also features an in-depth examination of the middle-aged population, or those ages 50-64.
The health of seniors in this group was compared to that of the health of those who were in that age bracket in 1999.
According to the report, there is a 66 percent higher prevalence of diabetes among Washington’s middle-aged residents and a 12.5 percent higher prevalence of obesity compared to that of middle-aged adults in 1999.
On a nationwide level, key findings include the fact that some states’ senior populations are increasing rapidly, combined with double- or- triple-digit increases in rates of diabetes, and double-digit increases in rates of obesity.
The report also found, however, a 7 percent increase in the number of seniors who reported very good or excellent health nationwide, compared to three years ago.
It also found a 9 percent decline in preventable hospitalizations and an 18 percent increase in the number of home health care workers.
On the negative end, obesity among today’s seniors increased 9 percent nationally, compared to a 6 percent increase in obesity among the general population.
The top five healthiest states nationwide, in order from first to last, were Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Minnesota and Hawaii.
