Ohio ranks 34th for senior health, new study finds

The latest edition of the UnitedHealth Foundation’s annual ranking of states based on senior health found that Ohio is 34^th among the 50 states, a slight improvement from last year’s ranking of 35 (Source: “See how Ohio ranks for senior citizen health,” Dayton Daily News, May 27, 2018).

America’s Health Ranking Senior Report assesses the health of seniors at the national and state levels, according to the foundation, which was established by insurance company UnitedHealth Group.

The report’s key findings for Ohio include:

• Ohio seniors rank first in prescription drug coverage (89 percent of Medicare enrollees aged 65 and older).
• In the past two years, frequent mental distress decreased from 7.4 percent to 6.2 percent of adults aged 65 and older.
• In the past five years, low-care nursing home residents increased from 9.2 percent to 11.7 percent of residents.
• In the past year, SNAP reach decreased from 77 to 65.9 participants per 100 adults aged 60 or older in poverty.
• In the past year, home health care workers increased from 109.4 to 114.7 aides per 1,000 adults aged 75 and older.