ORANGE, Calif., Sept. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Financial instability, loneliness and meals insecurity are the highest three social boundaries impacting seniors’ entry to complete, reasonably priced, high-quality well being care, in response to the 2022 Social Threats to Growing older Effectively in America survey launched right now by Alignment Healthcare, a tech-enabled Medicare Benefit firm. The inaugural examine explores the monetary, bodily and emotional threats to seniors’ potential to age properly and stay more healthy, extra affluent lives.
Administered by Toluna and sponsored by Alignment, the examine requested 2,601 adults aged 65 and older throughout america about their largest obstacles to well being care and the assist they should overcome these challenges. The examine targeted on environmental elements often known as social determinants of well being (SDoH), corresponding to revenue and entry to dependable transportation and wholesome meals. SDoH are confirmed to have a much more important affect on general well being than scientific care, in response to the Nationwide Academy of Drugs.
“With 10,000 adults turning 65 daily, it’s extra pressing than ever to grasp the problems seniors face that impede their path to well being, wellness and happiness,” stated Dr. Dinesh Kumar, chief medical and working officer, Alignment Healthcare. “This examine gives insights into these boundaries and offers a window into the options we must always take into account to greatest handle these wants. With this useful data, we may help guarantee our elders obtain the eye, respect and care they want and deserve whereas elevating expectations of what well being care will be.”
Highlights from the benchmark survey embody:
Financial instability
- From medical debt to copays and extra, survey outcomes uncover that greater than 1 in 5 U.S. seniors lists the lack to pay as their prime barrier to well being care within the subsequent yr.
- One in 10 says they don’t have the sources and assist to cowl medical payments, and almost 1 in 6 carries medical debt. Of these with medical debt, greater than 1 / 4 owe quantities equal to a few months or extra in residing bills.
- One respondent wrote, “I’m going again to work at 80 years previous to pay payments.”
Loneliness
- Based on the examine, 21% of seniors rank loneliness and isolation as prime elements inflicting stress and psychological well being points.
- Some seniors cite COVID-19 restrictions and fears for his or her emotions of isolation, whereas others are dealing with deaths, relationship issues, distance from family members and extra.
- One in 5 seniors says they’re lonelier now than they have been a yr in the past, and the identical quantity says they received’t have constant companionship or in-home assist within the subsequent yr.
- With 35% of seniors residing alone, 1 in 5 says they might lean on non-medical companion care if accessible.
Meals insecurity
- Fifteen p.c of seniors anticipate struggling to place wholesome meals on their desk within the subsequent yr.
- Meals insecurity is spurred by rising prices on the checkout lane, bodily difficulties in getting ready meals for themselves, lack of dependable transportation and extra.
- One-third (33%) of seniors rank grocery help as their most necessary assist precedence.
Transportation:
- Greater than 20% of respondents observe the dearth of dependable transportation as an issue when searching for medical care.
- One in 7 says they won’t have constant transportation to medical care within the subsequent yr.
Psychological Well being
- One-quarter of seniors say COVID-19 had the best detrimental affect on their psychological well being previously yr.
- Seniors see simpler entry to care (e.g., telehealth visits, transportation to medical appointments) as a profit that would scale back stress whereas bettering general well being.
Know-how:
- One in 10 (10%) seniors says their lack of entry to dependable know-how — or difficulties utilizing it — will likely be an impediment to well being and medical care within the subsequent yr.
- One in 7 (14%) lists know-how coaching as a profit they’d most prefer to entry.
Concerning the “2022 Social Threats to Growing older Effectively in America” examine
The web survey was performed from July 24 to Aug. 13, 2022. It included a nationally and regionally consultant pattern of two,601 seniors aged 65 and older, together with greater than 100 residents every in six states: Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina and Texas. This survey was designed to generate significant conversations about boundaries to senior care. As that is the primary Social Threats to Growing older Effectively in America survey, it is going to function a benchmark for comparability for future outcomes when doable and spotlight variations for seniors going ahead. View the total report right here.
About Alignment Healthcare
Alignment Healthcare is a consumer-centric platform delivering custom-made well being care in america by way of its Medicare Benefit plans. The corporate offers companions and sufferers with custom-made care and repair the place they want it and after they want it, together with scientific coordination, danger administration and know-how facilitation. Alignment Healthcare gives well being plan choices by way of Alignment Well being Plan and likewise companions with choose well being plans to assist ship higher advantages at decrease prices.
An infographic accompanying this announcement is obtainable at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d6d97b4c-c2df-4b74-9e45-df4a31985b3c.
Media Contact
Priya Shah
mPR, Inc. for Alignment Healthcare
[email protected]
