Improved care and outcomes for Louisiana’s oldest residents has helped the state climb three spots to No. 47 on the United Health Foundation’s new annual ranking of the healthiest states for seniors.
The rankings, released today, note recommended health screenings among Louisiana seniors increased 30% to 72.7% over the past two years, while low-care nursing residents fell by 38% to 14.2% of all residents over the same span.
The United Health Foundation compiles the rankings based on roughly 50 measurements of senior health. Louisiana’s strengths, according to the report, include a high percentage of hospice care use (No. 14), pain management (No. 1) and home delivered meals to seniors (No. 19). The report, however, says Louisiana remains challenged by high prevalences of obesity, smoking and poverty among seniors. The state also ranks No. 43 for premature deaths among seniors.
Minnesota tops the new ranking, followed in order by Utah, Hawaii, Colorado and New Hampshire. Mississippi is at the bottom of the list, preceded in order by Kentucky, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas.
See the complete rankings of the United Health Foundation 2017 America’s Health Rankings report.
