[senior citizen]

""Are more likely to live longer than their parents but also "live sicker" for a longer period of time....."""


http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/28/senior-citizens-health-care-report/2354635/

Click hyperlink above to see map and read report.....

An aging nation that's living longer but with growing rates of obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases points to an emerging health care crisis, says a report out Tuesday that analyzes seniors' health status state-by-state.

Just two years ago, the first Baby Boomers turned 65, setting into motion a "tremendous demographic shift in the U.S. population," said physician Rhonda Randall, a senior adviser to the not-for-profit United Health Foundation, which released America's Health Rankings Senior Report Tuesday.

The report focuses on 34 measures of senior health, including physical inactivity, obesity, self-reported health status, poverty, drug coverage, hospital re-admission rates and flu vaccinations. The data analyzed is from more than a dozen government agencies and private research groups.

As generations move into retirement, they become greater consumers of health care, Randall said. But those turning 65 today "are more likely to live longer than their parents and grandparents, and much more likely to live sicker for a longer period of time," she said.

Among signs of impending challenges the report cites:
• 1 in 8 Americans (13% or 40.3 million) are 65 or older, and that is projected to grow to 1 in 5 (19.3%, or 72.1) in 2030, the year all members of the Baby Boomer generation will have turned 65, according to Census data. By 2050, seniors will make up 25% of the population. Those 85 and older are projected to increase from 5.8 million in 2010 to 8.7 million in 2030.


• Nearly 8 in 10 seniors are living with at least one chronic health condition; 50% have two or more, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates. About 25% of older Americans are obese; 20% have been diagnosed with diabetes; more than 70% have heart disease; nearly 60% have arthritis, a leading cause of disability.


• Adults 65 and older spend nearly twice as much as those 45 to 64 on health care each year; they spend three to five times more than all adults younger than 65, according to CDC.

If not addressed, the increased burden of chronic disease will not only have severe economic consequences but affect older adults' overall well-being, Randall said. "This is a really important time in our nation's history for us to take a look at this demographic change and the health and behavior outcomes for this population. If we don't measure it, we won't know what to do about it."

The report offers "an important set of messages ... for personal focus, family and community focus, and a heads-up to the providers, and a real heads-up to policy makers," said Jennie Chin Hansen, CEO of the American Geriatrics Society and author of one of several commentaries in the report.

Some of the trends are "very cautionary," Hansen added. They highlight "that we really do have to be thoughtful, strategic and intentional if we are going to insure that people's health and well-being is going to be made better. There's stuff we know, but now there's stuff we have to do. "

Overall, Minnesota tops the list in senior health, followed by Vermont (2), New Hampshire (3), Massachusetts (4) and Iowa (5).
At the bottom: Mississippi (50), Oklahoma (49), Louisiana (48), West Virginia (47) and Arkansas (46).

[CFrance]

For Pete's sake.

[Doctor Who]

Power of positive thinking can overcome the impossible...just look around TV to support this theory. The only thing we cant buy in the US is good health, but we can certainly work hard to improve on what we have. We have great examples in this community of people who never gave up and continue to lead wonderful lives. Be positive!

[Erijo]

Dear Senior, I don't know what to say, I don't want to be rude, but most of your posts are so negative, depressing and "pot-stirring." For the future I will by pass them.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by senior citizen

""Are more likely to live longer than their parents but also "live sicker" for a longer period of time....."""


http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/28/senior-citizens-health-care-report/2354635/

Click hyperlink above to see map and read report.....

An aging nation that's living longer but with growing rates of obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases points to an emerging health care crisis, says a report out Tuesday that analyzes seniors' health status state-by-state.

Just two years ago, the first Baby Boomers turned 65, setting into motion a "tremendous demographic shift in the U.S. population," said physician Rhonda Randall, a senior adviser to the not-for-profit United Health Foundation, which released America's Health Rankings Senior Report Tuesday.

The report focuses on 34 measures of senior health, including physical inactivity, obesity, self-reported health status, poverty, drug coverage, hospital re-admission rates and flu vaccinations. The data analyzed is from more than a dozen government agencies and private research groups.

As generations move into retirement, they become greater consumers of health care, Randall said. But those turning 65 today "are more likely to live longer than their parents and grandparents, and much more likely to live sicker for a longer period of time," she said.

Among signs of impending challenges the report cites:
• 1 in 8 Americans (13% or 40.3 million) are 65 or older, and that is projected to grow to 1 in 5 (19.3%, or 72.1) in 2030, the year all members of the Baby Boomer generation will have turned 65, according to Census data. By 2050, seniors will make up 25% of the population. Those 85 and older are projected to increase from 5.8 million in 2010 to 8.7 million in 2030.


• Nearly 8 in 10 seniors are living with at least one chronic health condition; 50% have two or more, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates. About 25% of older Americans are obese; 20% have been diagnosed with diabetes; more than 70% have heart disease; nearly 60% have arthritis, a leading cause of disability.


• Adults 65 and older spend nearly twice as much as those 45 to 64 on health care each year; they spend three to five times more than all adults younger than 65, according to CDC.

If not addressed, the increased burden of chronic disease will not only have severe economic consequences but affect older adults' overall well-being, Randall said. "This is a really important time in our nation's history for us to take a look at this demographic change and the health and behavior outcomes for this population. If we don't measure it, we won't know what to do about it."

The report offers "an important set of messages ... for personal focus, family and community focus, and a heads-up to the providers, and a real heads-up to policy makers," said Jennie Chin Hansen, CEO of the American Geriatrics Society and author of one of several commentaries in the report.

Some of the trends are "very cautionary," Hansen added. They highlight "that we really do have to be thoughtful, strategic and intentional if we are going to insure that people's health and well-being is going to be made better. There's stuff we know, but now there's stuff we have to do. "

Overall, Minnesota tops the list in senior health, followed by Vermont (2), New Hampshire (3), Massachusetts (4) and Iowa (5).
At the bottom: Mississippi (50), Oklahoma (49), Louisiana (48), West Virginia (47) and Arkansas (46).

I'm not sure what the intended message is.

[Happydaz]

Originally Posted by Erijo

Dear Senior, I don't know what to say, I don't want to be rude, but most of your posts are so negative, depressing and "pot-stirring." For the future I will by pass them.

Amen to that. I have never seen such negativity and pot stirring. This is the first time I have ever used the "ignore" function. I am a positive person who has moved to the sunny, healthy Villages and I am very happy here.

[rubicon]

The OP posted some statical data published recently. I had read a similar report. It is not negative but factual. Perhaps with some life changes people can do some things to improve or stall the inevitable.

It is puzzling to me to read posters view this report as being negative.

It has been my view that we should acknowledge reality and deal with it instead of ignoring it and having it work against us.

There is much written about the benefits of negative thinking... Essentially negative thinking in this sense means considering the consequences and debating that point to advance your position. One great leader who dealt favorably with such usage was Abraham Lincoln.

Finally the comments made concerning the OP were not only unkind they were not factually incorrect. As I recollect this OP posted several recipes that had many members very engaged. How much more positive can one be?

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Erijo

Dear Senior, I don't know what to say, I don't want to be rude, but most of your posts are so negative, depressing and "pot-stirring." For the future I will by pass them.

Originally Posted by Happydaz

Amen to that. I have never seen such negativity and pot stirring. This is the first time I have ever used the "ignore" function. I am a positive person who has moved to the sunny, healthy Villages and I am very happy here.

We all know we're going to die.
A lot of us may have various illness before that happens.
No sense in dwelling on negative information.

A circle of friends is probably the most helpful thing as we age.
The Villages is a wonderful spot for making new friends.
So have fun, enjoy your friends, eat well, and get some exercise if you can.

Most of all, enjoy life and focus on the positive!

[Uptown Girl]

Rhonda Randall has some pertinent credentials.

One can find numbers to illustrate any opinion they may want to express.
Makes me wonder in what direction this article hopes to lead public thinking.
What is the seed being planted here?

Does she want people to begin to believe we seniors (by virtue of our volume of numbers) are now the biggest drain on the health care system?
Sorry, that is a crock.


I have long been expecting this opinion to rear it's ugly rear.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by rubicon

The OP posted some statical data published recently. I had read a similar report. It is not negative but factual. Perhaps with some life changes people can do some things to improve or stall the inevitable.

It is puzzling to me to read posters view this report as being negative.

It has been my view that we should acknowledge reality and deal with it instead of ignoring it and having it work against us.

There is much written about the benefits of negative thinking... Essentially negative thinking in this sense means considering the consequences and debating that point to advance your position. One great leader who dealt favorably with such usage was Abraham Lincoln.

Finally the comments made concerning the OP were not only unkind they were not factually incorrect. As I recollect this OP posted several recipes that had many members very engaged. How much more positive can one be?

Rubicon, we don't often agree but this time I agree with what you have said. I would just add this: Those who were complaining about negativity, were simply projecting their own negativity onto the OP. It was like they were saying, "how dare you bring these facts to our attention, don't you know we prefer to have our heads buried in the sand?"

As a society, we can't take corrective action if we don't know what the problem is. Step one is knowing what the problem is today, step two is making reasonable projections into the future, if no changes are made, and step 3 might be a discussion of possible corrective actions.

This is exactly what this board was designed for and this thread represents the first two positive steps above. However, when anti-health-people come to a thread like this, with negativity in their hearts, all they are going to see is negativity.

Perhaps they know instinctively that the solution is going to involve living a healthier lifestyle and they have long ago rejected any such solution.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

Rubicon, we don't often agree but this time I agree with what you have said. I would just add this: Those who were complaining about negativity, were simply projecting their own negativity onto the OP. It was like they were saying, "how dare you bring these facts to our attention, don't you know we prefer to have our heads buried in the sand?"

As a society, we can't take corrective action if we don't know what the problem is. Step one is knowing what the problem is today, step two is making reasonable projections into the future, if no changes are made, and step 3 might be a discussion of possible corrective actions.

This is exactly what this board was designed for and this thread represents the first two positive steps above. However, when anti-health-people come to a thread like this, with negativity in their hearts, all they are going to see is negativity.

Perhaps they know instinctively that the solution is going to involve living a healthier lifestyle and they have long ago rejected any such solution.

And perhaps they are simply tired of reading post after negative post from the same people who rarely if ever have anything positive to say. It gets old, and just like repeatedly lecturing your kids when they were younger caused them to turn you off, so does the constant negativity, warnings, "facts," research, or whatever some posters want to call it.