New AHR Senior Report

America’s Health Rankings 2021 Senior Report

The unprecedented public health challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic have underscored the importance of senior health more than ever.

As vaccines become more accessible, we shouldn’t lose sight of the recent trends in overall health that older Americans faced leading into the pandemic – or the insights we can use to drive solutions that can build on community health successes and address longstanding challenges.

To advance the health of older Americans in communities across the country, the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA) recently partnered with America’s Health Rankings to release the 9th edition of the Senior Report.

To advance the health of older Americans in communities across the country, the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA) recently partnered with America’s Health Rankings to release the 9th edition of the Senior Report.

The report provides a comprehensive look at the health and well-being of older adults in the United States while capturing key trends, successes, and challenges to spark meaningful dialogue and action to improve senior health.

The majority of the data help establish a baseline for the health of older Americans leading into the COVID-19 pandemic.

Notably, trends show that before the current public health crisis, seniors across the country were experiencing encouraging clinical care improvements, with increases in the number of geriatric providers and an increase in flu vaccination rates.

Despite these successes, rural/urban and racial and ethnic disparities – as well as variations by state – continued to affect the population of older Americans.

In the months leading up to the pandemic, seniors also experienced increases in drug deaths, suicides, and frequent mental distress – which were possibly exacerbated by the nationwide shutdowns that increased feelings of loneliness and isolation for all.

GAPNA is pleased to partner with the United Health Foundation in releasing this report. As frontline clinicians, advanced practice nurses are active across the continuum of care, working in primary, acute, post-acute care, home care, and long-term care to improve the health of seniors every day.

Contextualizing the impact of the pandemic with the Senior Report data underscores the need for a greater emphasis on senior health care and health outcomes in all settings, and contributes to GAPNA’s mission of advocating for quality care for older adults.

Visit the America's Health Rankings Website to view the full 2021 Senior Report and access new web tools, including the entire suite of America’s Health Rankings data, to better understand and improve the health of America’s seniors.