A new study from Alignment Health identified the leading threats to American seniors’ health.
While the senior population is growing, significant barriers to equitable, quality health care remain a persistent issue, according to Alignment for Health’s 2023 Social Threats to Aging Well in America survey.
The second annual survey collected feedback on the social and environmental factors preventing seniors from receiving the quality care they deserve. “By giving seniors a voice, we can better understand their unique health care challenges and help them age well and live healthier, more prosperous lives,” wrote the research team.
For the study, researchers surveyed a group of 2,601 seniors ages 65 and older from June 28 to July 10. The results revealed three primary barriers among seniors: economic instability, food insecurity, lack of support and transportation.
Here’s a breakdown of the findings:
Economic instability was the top barrier in the survey results for the second year in a row.
- One in five seniors said they have skipped medical care when they need it, and of those respondents, 28.9 percent said they skipped it due to concerns they couldn’t afford the care.
- Of the total survey participants, 14 percent reported having medical debt.
- One in nine seniors said they do not think they can pay all their medical bills in the next year.
Food insecurity became even more of an issue from 2022 to 2023.
- More than one in 11 seniors said struggling with food insecurity causes depression and anxiety.
- One in five of the seniors who expressed concern about negative impacts to their health in the next year reported a lack of healthy food to eat.
- When asked about health insurance benefits they would use, a grocery allowance was ranked highest for the second year in a row, with 55 percent of participants saying they would utilize the benefit.
Lack of support and lack of transportation both tied as the third leading barrier.
- Of the one in five seniors who skipped medical care they needed in the last year, nearly one-third said they skipped it due to not having a ride or a companion at their appointments.
- When asked about what would prevent them from staying in their homes as they age, 26 percent said a lack of support was a barrier to their independence, and nearly one in five said they would use non-medical companionship if it were available through their insurance.
- One in eight seniors said a lack of reliable transportation was a barrier to their independence, and two out of five seniors said they would use fuel assistance to get to their appointments if it were offered through their insurance.