Clinical Care

Geriatricians

and geriatric nurse practitioners

are trained to meet the unique needs of older adults.^33,34 Care from a geriatrician

can be helpful when an older person is coping with multiple chronic conditions or managing multiple medications, as some drugs may have adverse side effects or harmful interactions with one another.³⁵

Changes over time. Nationally, the number of family medicine and internal medicine geriatricians and nurse practitioners per 100,000 adults age 65 and older increased 4% from 39.9 to 41.5 between September 2024 and September 2025. In September 2025, there were approximately 25,400 geriatric clinicians across the country, roughly 1,700 more than in September 2024.

During this time frame, the number of geriatric clinicians increased 4% or more in 26 states, led by: 34% in Maine (34.9 to 46.6 clinicians per 100,000 adults age 65 and older), 13% in Tennessee (37.1 to 42.1) and 9% in Oregon (32.6 to 35.4). At the same time, geriatric clinicians decreased 6% in the District of Columbia (100.3 to 94.5) and 4% in New Hampshire (43.9 to 42.2).

Differences. In September 2024, the number of geriatric clinicians per 100,000 adults age 65 and older was 5.5 times higher in the District of Columbia (94.5 clinicians per 100,000 adults age 65 and older) and 4.3 times higher in Rhode Island (74.1) than in South Dakota (17.3).

Home health

and personal care aides

help older adults remain in their homes as they age, a preferred care option

for many.^36–38 These aides provide

short-term skilled nursing services such as supporting recovery from surgery, as well as long-term care for those with disabilities, functional decline or chronic illness.³⁹ The Department of Labor estimates that 739,800 job openings in home health care

will be added between 2024 and 2034 as the older adult population grows.⁴⁰

Changes over time. Nationally, the number of personal care and home health aides per 1,000 adults age 65 and older increased 5% from 62 to 65 between 2023 and 2024, and 38% since 2016. 

Between 2023 and 2024, the supply of home health care workers increased 5% or more in 25 states, led by: 24% in Washington (59 to 73 aides per 1,000 adults age 65 and older), 21% in Maryland (29 to 35) and 18% in Indiana (38 to 45). At the same time, home health care workers decreased 5% or more in eight states, with the largest decreases being 13% in Hawaii (23 to 20) and 8% in both Massachusetts (88 to 81) and West Virginia (52 to 48).

Differences. In 2024, the supply of home health care workers was 9.8 times higher in New York (166 aides per 1,000 adults age 65 and older) than in Florida (17).

Cancer has been one of the top two leading causes of death

in the U.S. for more than 75 years.⁴¹ Older adults have the highest incidence of cancer

— in 2025, 88% of cancer diagnoses occurred among adults age 50 and older.⁴² Breast

and colorectal cancers,

which are among the most prevalent forms of cancer,

are most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 65 and 74.^43–45

Changes over time. Nationally, cancer screenings — the percentage of females ages 65-74 who reported having a mammogram in the past two years and the percentage of adults ages 65-75 who reported having a colorectal cancer screening within the recommended time period — increased 4% from 74.1% to 76.8% between 2022 and 2024.

Between 2022 and 2024, the prevalence of cancer screenings among adults ages 65-75 significantly increased:

During this time frame, cancer screenings significantly increased in four states: 11% in both New Jersey (71.6% to 79.8%) and Delaware (74.2% to 82.2%), 8% in Massachusetts (76.9% to 83.3%) and 5% in Minnesota (78.1% to 82.2%).

Differences. In 2024, cancer screenings significantly varied by geography, educational attainment, household income, gender, race/ethnicity and metropolitan status. The prevalence among adults ages 65-75 and older was:

During the 2023-2024 flu season,

flu vaccinations prevented nearly 6,000 influenza-related deaths among adults age 65 and older in the U.S., as well as approximately 780,000 illnesses, 436,000 medical visits and 64,000 hospitalizations.⁴⁶

Changes over time. Nationally, the percentage of adults age 65 and older who reported receiving a seasonal flu vaccine in the past 12 months did not significantly change between 2023 and 2024 (63.4% to 62.5%) and remains lower than the Healthy People 2030 target to increase the proportion of people of all ages who get the flu vaccine every year to 70%.

⁴⁷

Differences. In 2024, the prevalence of flu vaccination significantly varied by geography, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, household income, metropolitan status and gender. The prevalence among adults age 65 and older was:

Every year, approximately 900,000

individuals in the U.S. are diagnosed with pneumonia, 150,000 of whom are hospitalized and 41,000 of whom die from pneumonia or its complications.⁴⁸ Hospitalization

and death rates

from pneumococcal infections are highest among older adults.^49,50

Changes over time. Nationally, the percentage of adults age 65 and older who reported ever receiving a pneumonia (pneumococcal) vaccine did not change significantly between 2023 and 2024 (70.2% to 69.8%). 

Differences. In 2024, the prevalence of pneumonia vaccination significantly varied by race/ethnicity, educational attainment, geography, household income, gender, metropolitan status, disability status and veteran status. The prevalence among adults age 65 and older was: 

In 2025, the number of people living in nursing homes

across the U.S. increased to 1.2 million, while the number of nursing home facilities

decreased to just 15,000.^51,52 Nursing home quality varies across the United States, impacted by differences in ownership,

staffing stability,

staff training

and environment.^53–55 Using the Five-Star Quality Rating System,

the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services evaluates nursing homes in measures of staffing, health inspections and quality and works to improve standards.⁵⁶

Changes over time. Nationally, the percentage of nursing home beds rated four or five stars increased 9% from 31.1% to 34.0% between September 2024-November 2024 and September 2025-November 2025.

Between 2024 and 2025, the prevalence of nursing home beds rated four or five stars increased 9% or more in 26 states, led by: 45% in West Virginia (18.5% to 26.9%), 33% in Tennessee (25.1% to 33.5%) and 31% in both Maine (34.0% to 44.6%) and Georgia (20.9% to 27.3%). During the same time period, the prevalence decreased 9% or more in four states and the District of Columbia: 39% in Vermont (41.9% to 25.7%), 35% in Hawaii (59.7% to 38.9%), 18% in Nevada (27.6% to 22.5%), 17% in Idaho (51.3% to 42.7%) and 15% in District of Columbia (21.6% to 18.4%).

Differences. In 2025, nursing home quality was 2.6 times higher in North Dakota (49.1%) than in Louisiana (18.6%).