America's Health Rankings — 2026 Senior Report

Executive BriefSpotlight: Older Adults in Rural CommunitiesIntroductionNational SnapshotFindingsHealth OutcomesSocial and Economic FactorsClinical CareBehaviorsState RankingsAppendixMeasures TableData Source DescriptionsMethodologyReferencesState Summaries

US Summary

2026 Senior Report 2026 Senior Report – Executive Brief 2026 Senior Report – State Summaries 2026 Senior Report – Risk of Social Isolation County-Level Maps 2026 Senior Report – Measures Table 2026 Senior Report – Infographics 2026 Senior Report – Report Data (All States)

The United Health Foundation is proud to release the America’s Health Rankings® 2026 Senior Report, which presents 56 measures of health and well-being from 25 data sources to provide a comprehensive view of older adult health across the nation. The report also features insights on factors that shape the health of older adults living in rural areas.  

This year’s report finds progress in several areas of older adult health, including expansion of the workforce caring for older adults, improvements in preventive health behaviors, and a continued decrease in early deaths. Despite these areas of progress, food insecurity increased, and several measures of mental and behavioral health worsened.

The home health care workforce increased 5% between 2023 and 2024. Geriatric clinicians increased 4% between September 2024 and September 2025, reaching a new high.
The percentage of adults age 65 and older in fair or better health reporting no physical activity decreased 16% between 2023 and 2024, indicating more older adults are staying active.
The early death rate decreased 2% among adults 65-74 between 2023 and 2024.
Food insecurity increased 6% between 2022 and 2023, affecting 7.4 million adults age 60 and older — 500,000 more than in 2022.
America’s Health Rankings data show adults ages 65-74 were the only age group that experienced a significant increase in drug deaths between 2022 and 2023. Older adults also faced rising rates of excessive drinking and suicide.
The healthiest state for older adults was Vermont. This was followed by Utah, New Hampshire, Minnesota and Colorado. Louisiana had the most opportunity to improve, followed by Mississippi, Kentucky, Arkansas and West Virginia.
America’s Health Rankings data provide insights into the health of older adults living in rural areas.

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