Health risks
As older people are at greater risk of many diseases and disabilities, it is important for this population to avoid health risks that could increase the probability of these threats. However, in 2020, around 8.9 percent of adults aged 65 years and older still smoked cigarettes, a slight increase from previous years. Furthermore, an estimated 28.9 percent of older adults in the U.S. were obese in 2020, an increase from 25.3 percent in 2013.One of the worst diseases that older people face is inarguably Alzheimer's disease, with an estimated 13.8 million older people expected to suffer from the disease by 2050. In 2019, the death rate from Alzheimer's among those aged 85 years and older was 1,191 per 100,000 population. Alzheimer's disease is currently the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
Health insurance and costs
As adults age and their health care needs increase, the importance of health insurance and quality affordable health care treatment becomes clear. By 2027, it is forecast that eight million older people will be enrolled in Medicaid, compared to the 6.4 million that are expected to be enrolled in 2020. In 2020, Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years and older were expected to pay an average of 3,855 U.S. dollars annually for inpatient hospital services, but these costs rose significantly if the patient was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. In recent years there has been increased support among older adults for a government sponsored long-term insurance plan similar to Medicare, with 70 percent of older adults in 2018 stating they would support such a plan.
