What you should know:

– A new survey from Alignment Health reveals the key social and environmental factors that impact the health and well-being of older adults in the United States. These factors, known as social determinants of health, prevent older adults from living healthier lives.

– The Social Threats to Aging Well in America in 2024 was conducted between April 30 and May 21, 2024, via an online survey of 2,051 Americans ages 65 and older. Additional surveys were conducted in Arizona, Nevada, and North Carolina to achieve a minimum sample size of 100 per state for analysis purposes.

Social threats to healthy aging in America

Key findings from the survey include:

• Aging in place: Nearly seven in 10 seniors (69%) said aging in place is the biggest social barrier to their health. Many seniors prefer to remain independent in their own homes, but this can present challenges related to safety, accessibility and social isolation.
• Lack of transportation and access to health care: Nearly two-thirds of seniors (64%) said that lack of reliable transportation and access to healthcare are major barriers to their health, which can prevent them from attending appointments, receiving necessary treatments and managing chronic illnesses.
• Economic uncertainty: Financial problems can have a significant impact on health. More than half of seniors (56%) cited economic uncertainty as their top concern, and many had medical debt and difficulty paying their medical bills.

• Mental health and loneliness: Lack of support, mental health problems and loneliness were also cited as significant social barriers to health.
• Cultural barriers: One in five seniors say cultural barriers are a challenge, highlighting the importance of culturally sensitive care.
• Food insecurity: 18% of seniors were concerned about food insecurity, indicating the impact of economic factors on overall health.

Addressing social determinants of health

To improve the health and well-being of older people, it is important to address these social determinants of health. This may include:

• Expanding access to transport: Providing transportation options to help seniors get to medical appointments and other essential activities.
• Supporting local ageing: We offer programs and services to help older adults remain independent at home, such as home modifications, meal deliveries and companionship.
• Combating economic uncertainty: Providing financial assistance, job training, and other resources to help seniors improve their economic situation.
• Promoting mental health and social support: Offers counseling, support groups, and other resources to address mental health issues and loneliness.

“As an industry, we need to pay close attention to what our nation’s seniors tell us are the biggest barriers affecting their health so we can find solutions that help eliminate as many of those barriers as possible and ensure they are successful in their later years,” said Dr. John Kim, senior vice president of market management at Alignment Health and chief medical officer at Alignment Health Plan in California. “Our research to date has shown that we need to accelerate innovative partnerships for our growing member base, such as those that address food insecurity or provide home care support services.”