Report: Hawaii is Fourth-Best State for Senior Health

Annual findings of United Health Foundation still rank Aloha State high, but not as high as last year when it was No. 1

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Hawaii is the fourth-best state for senior health, accoding to the third edition of United Health Foundation’s “America’s Health Rankings Senior Report: A Call to Action for Individuals and Their Communities.”

The only bad news there is that the Aloha State was ranked first last year.

The report identified Hawaii’s “strengths” as a low prevalence of obesity, a low geriatrician shortfall and a low hip fracture rate. Its “challenges” included a high prevalence of underweight seniors, a high prevalence of activity-limiting arthritis pain and a high percentage of hospital deaths.

The report also noted these year-over-year highlights regarding the health of people 65 and older in Hawaii:

• Pain management for those suffering joint pain decreased 37 percent from 59.4 percent of adults to 37.2 percent.

• Flu vaccine coverage increased 12 percent from 62.7 percent to 69.9 percent.

 • Hospice care increased 18 percent from 35.6 percent to 41.9 percent of decedents.
• Use of intensive care units increased 7 percent from 12.2 percent to 13.1 percent of decedents.
• Poor mental health days increased 18 percent from 1.7 to 2.0 days in the previous 30.
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