High Health Status - Age 65+ in Vermont

Vermont

Self-reported health status measures how individuals perceive their health. It is a subjective measure of health-related quality of life that is not limited to specific health conditions or outcomes, but also factors in social support, ability and ease of functioning and other socioeconomic, environmental and cultural components. Health status is used to track the health of a population over time and is an independent predictor of mortality, which makes this measure a good predictor of both short- and long-term mortality as well as future use of health care, particularly among those age 65 and older.

According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the prevalence of adults age 65 and older who report “very good” or “excellent” health is higher among:

• White older adults compared with Black, Hispanic, American Indian/Alaska Native and multiracial older adults.
• Older adults with a college degree compared with those who have less than a high school education; the prevalence is higher with each increase in education level.
• Older adults with an annual household income of $75,000 or more compared with those who have incomes less than $25,000; the prevalence is higher with each increase in income level.
• Older adults without a disability compared with older adults who have difficulty with self-care, independent living difficulty, difficulty with mobility, difficulty with cognition, difficulty seeing and difficulty hearing.
• Older adults living in metropolitan areas compared with those in nonmetropolitan areas.
• Older adults who have not served in the U.S. armed services compared with older adults who have served.

People with higher levels of education are more likely to be healthier. While older adults cannot change whether or not they received a high school education during young adulthood, education remains one of the most important drivers of health. Health literacy skills, for example, are key predictors of an individual's well-being. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has multiple plans to help individuals or organizations improve health literacy among older adults. 

Mental health is also essential to overall wellness. Studies have found that social and emotional support can increase the number of mentally healthy days for older individuals. In particular,  having supportive relationships is a strong predictor of an individual's overall health. Therefore, policies and interventions aimed at promoting social ties and reducing social isolation could help to advance population health. 

Other ways to support healthy aging for individuals include visiting the doctor for regular health screenings, staying active, eating nutritious foods and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.

Health status is an overall health and well-being measure used by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to summarize and gauge progress toward achieving Healthy People 2030 objectives.

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