Aging in Place, Lack of Transportation and Access, and Economic Insecurity Are Top Three Social Barriers to U.S. Senior Health

Core Insights - The 2024 Social Threats to Aging Well in America survey by Alignment Health identifies key social determinants affecting the health of U.S. seniors, highlighting aging in place, lack of transportation, and economic insecurity as primary barriers [1][2][5]. Group 1: Aging in Place - Aging in place is considered the top social barrier to health, with 69% of seniors citing it as a significant challenge [1][2]. - Among seniors experiencing stress, 22% identified aging in place as the leading cause of their anxiety, while 45% included it in their top three stressors [3]. - 67% of respondents expressed interest in benefits that support aging in place, such as home safety improvements and in-home health care [3]. Group 2: Lack of Transportation and Access to Care - Lack of reliable transportation and access to medical care is a major concern, with 64% of seniors identifying it as a top barrier to health [1][4]. - 71% of seniors indicated they would utilize transportation benefits if offered by their health plan [4]. - This issue is the primary reason for skipping medical care, affecting 64% of respondents [6]. Group 3: Economic Insecurity - Economic insecurity is a significant concern for seniors, with 56% ranking it as a top issue, and 15% citing it as their main source of stress [5]. - 44% of seniors facing economic barriers reported being burdened by medical debt, with 59% of those owing amounts equivalent to at least one month of living expenses [5]. - 21% of seniors are uncertain if they have enough funds to cover medical expenses in the coming year [5]. Group 4: Other Notable Findings - Additional social factors impacting seniors include lack of support (38%), mental health issues (33%), and loneliness (30%) [6]. - Cultural barriers (21%) and food insecurity (18%) were also noted as significant concerns [6]. - 26% of seniors admitted to skipping medical care, primarily due to transportation issues (64%) and economic insecurity (35%) [6]. Group 5: Regional Insights - Seniors experiencing food insecurity and loneliness are more prevalent in urban areas [7]. - Nevada and North Carolina reported higher impacts from social determinants of health compared to other states surveyed [7]. - California, while having the largest senior population, showed relatively better outcomes in three of the eight social determinants studied [7]. Group 6: Survey Methodology - The survey was conducted online with over 2,000 seniors aged 65 and older, marking the first collaboration with Ipsos for this research [8]. - Additional polling in Arizona, Nevada, and North Carolina ensured a minimum sample size for state-level analysis [8].