Aging in Place, Lack of Transportation and Access, and Economic Insecurity Are Top Three Social Barriers to U.S. Senior Health
Aging in Place, Lack of Transportation and Access, and Economic Insecurity Are Top Three Social Barriers to U.S. Senior Health
Alignment Health's 2024 Social Threats to Aging Well in America survey reveals 1 in 4 seniors skip medical care, 1 in 5 seniors do not have enough money to pay off medical debt in next year
Alignment Health的2024年美國老年人幸福度社會威脅調查顯示，4分之1的老年人不接受醫療保健，5分之1的老年人沒有足夠的錢在明年償還醫療債務。
ORANGE, Calif. , Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alignment Health released its 2024 Social Threats to Aging Well in America survey today, exploring the primary social and environmental factors, known as social determinants of health, preventing U.S. seniors from living healthier lives.
加利福尼亞，橙市，2024年8月21日(GLOBE NEWSWIRE)—— Alignment Health 今天，Alignment Health發佈了其2024年美國老年人幸福度社會威脅調查，研究了導致美國老年人健康問題的主要社會和環境因素，即所謂的健康社會決策因素。
In an online survey of more than 2,000 U.S. seniors ages 65 or older, aging in place (69%), lack of transportation and access to medical care (64%), and economic insecurity (56%) were the top three most-cited social barriers to their overall health.
在對2000多名65歲或以上的美國老年人進行的在線調查中，老年人生活在原地(69%)、交通和醫療保健的缺乏(64%)以及經濟不安全(56%)被認爲是對他們整體健康最常引用的三個社會障礙。
"As an industry, we must pay close attention to what our nation's seniors are telling us are the major roadblocks that impede their health so we can pinpoint solutions that help remove as many of those barriers as we can and ensure they thrive in their later years," said Dr. John Kim, senior vice president, market management at Alignment Health and chief medical officer, Alignment Health Plan in California. "Our past research has informed the need to accelerate innovative partnerships for our growing member base, such as ones that address food insecurity or benefits that support at-home care."
Alignment Health和Alignment Health Plan的高級市場管理副總裁兼首席醫療官John Kim博士表示：「作爲一個行業，我們必須密切關注我們國家的老年人告訴我們的主要阻礙，這些阻礙妨礙了他們的健康，以便我們可以找到儘可能多的解決方案，確保他們在晚年過得幸福。我們過去的研究已經提出了加速創新夥伴關係的需求，爲我們不斷增長的會員群體提供支持，例如解決食品不安全問題或支持在家醫療保健的福利。」
Highlights and key findings from the survey include:
調查結果的亮點和主要發現包括：
No. 1 Social Threat: Aging in Place
As more seniors choose to live independently and longer in their own homes, aging in place brings its own set of challenges: Nearly seven out of 10 consider aging in place a top social barrier to their health and well-being.
第一大社會威脅：老齡化居住
隨着越來越多的老年人選擇獨立生活並在自己的家中長壽，老齡化居住帶來了一系列的挑戰：將近七成認爲老齡化居住是影響他們健康和幸福的頂級社會障礙。
Among respondents who reported experiencing stress and anxiety in the past year, 22% ranked aging in place as the No. 1 factor causing the most stress or anxiety, while 45% ranked it among their top three stressors.
在過去一年報告經歷過壓力和焦慮的受訪者中，22%的人將老齡化居住排在最引起壓力或焦慮的因素之首，而45%的人將其列爲三大壓力來源之一。
A majority of survey respondents (67%) said they would use benefits that support aging in place if their health plan offered them in the next 12 months. These benefits include making their homes safer, personal medical alerts, in-home health care visits and non-medical companion care.
67％的調查對象表示，如果他們的醫療計劃在未來12個月內提供支持居家養老的福利，他們將會使用這些福利。這些福利包括讓他們的住所更安全、個人醫療警報器、上門醫療保健服務和非醫療陪伴照料。
No. 2 Social Threat: Lack of Transportation and Access to Care
The inability to physically get to and from doctor appointments and medical services poses a significant threat to health, with almost two-thirds of seniors citing lack of reliable transportation and access as a top barrier.
社會威脅第二名：交通及醫療資源的不足
由於無法前往和離開醫生約診和醫療服務，身體上的威脅非常大，幾乎有三分之二的老年人將無法可靠的交通和資源獲取視爲最大的障礙。
An even higher percentage of respondents, 71%, indicated they would use transportation benefits if their health plan offered it in the next year. Lack of transportation and access to care was the top reason for those who skipped medical care, with 64% citing this issue.
71％的受訪者表示，如果他們的醫療計劃在未來一年內提供交通福利，他們將會使用這些福利。缺乏交通和醫療資源是那些不接受醫療保健的人的主要原因，64％的人提到了這個問題。
Of those who never skipped medical care, 50% said they may in the future due to lack of transportation and access to care.
在從未跳過醫療保健的人中，50％的人表示，由於交通和醫療資源不足，他們將來可能會跳過醫療保健。
No. 3 Social Threat: Economic Insecurity
With seniors on fixed incomes and rising housing, health care and daily expenses, it's no surprise that more than half of respondents (56%) ranked economic insecurity as a top concern, while 15% reported it as their top driver of stress or anxiety in the next 12 months.
第3個社會威脅：經濟不安
隨着固定收入的老年人和不斷上漲的住房、醫療保健和日常開支，超過一半的受訪者（56%）將經濟不安定視爲最重要的問題，而15%的人表示在未來12個月內，經濟不安定是他們壓力或焦慮的主要原因。
More than 4 out of 10 (44%) seniors facing economic barriers said they were burdened by medical debt. Of those with medical debt, 59% owed an amount equivalent to one month or more of living expenses. The survey also found that 21% of seniors did not have or were unsure they had enough money to pay their medical expenses in the next year.
超過40%（44%）面臨經濟障礙的老年人稱他們因醫療債務而感到負擔沉重。在那些有醫療債務的人中，59%的人欠款相當於一個月或更多的生活開支。調查還發現，21%的老年人沒有足夠的錢支付或者不確定是否有足夠的錢支付未來一年的醫療費用。
Other Notable Findings
其他值得注意的發現
- Lack of support (38%), mental health (33%) and loneliness (30%) ranked as the next most significant social and environmental factors weighing heavily on today's seniors in terms of their health and wellness.
- One in 5 seniors also cited cultural barriers (21%) and food insecurity (18%) as barriers to their health and well-being.
- One in four (26%) seniors admitted to skipping medical care, with 13% missing at least once in the past year.
- The top reasons for seniors skipping medical care: lack of transportation and access to medical care (64%) and economic insecurity (35%)
- Interestingly, seniors suffering from food insecurity and loneliness were more likely to live in an urban setting.
- Among the six states where additional polling was conducted, Nevada and North Carolina seniors in this survey seemed to be most impacted by social determinants of health, reporting higher numbers in all eight categories studied in the survey.1
- And, while California is home to the greatest number of seniors of any U.S. state, it seemed to be faring relatively well among the states surveyed. Californians over 65 in this survey were less impacted by three of the eight social determinants studied and were on par with seniors across the U.S. on the other five.
- 支持匱乏（38%），心理健康（33%）和孤獨（30%）被排名爲對當今老年人健康和福祉產生重大影響的社會和環境因素。
- 五分之一的老年人也認爲文化障礙（21%）和食品不安全（18%）是影響他們健康和福祉的障礙。
- 四分之一（26%）的老年人承認跳過醫療保健，13%在過去一年至少錯過一次。
- 老年人跳過醫療保健的主要原因：缺乏運輸和獲得醫療保健的途徑（64%）以及經濟不安全（35%）。
- 有趣的是，食品不安全和孤獨困擾的老年人更有可能生活在城市環境中。
- 在進行額外調查的六個州中，內華達州和北卡羅來納州的老年人似乎受到社會健康決定因素的影響最大，報告的八個類別中的數字較高。
- 此外，雖然加利福尼亞州是美國任何州中老年人數量最多的州，但在調查的州中表現相對較好。調查中65歲以上的加利福尼亞州居民在八種社會健康決定因素中受到的影響要比其他五個州的老年人少，並且在其他五個因素上與全美老年人持平。
About 2024 Social Threats to Aging Well in America
While this is the third consecutive year that Alignment Health has studied the social issues affecting senior health, the 2024 report is the first time it has partnered with Ipsos, one of the world's largest market research and polling companies. The survey was conducted via an online poll of 2,051 Americans aged 65 and older between April 30 and May 21, 2024. Additional surveys were collected in Arizona, Nevada and North Carolina to reach a minimum sample size of 100 per state for analysis purposes. These additional "boost" surveys were weighted down to avoid over-representation within the general population. The states of California, Florida and Texas were also part of the state analysis; however, boost samples were not necessary in these states. Weights were only applied at the national level (individual states were not weighted separately) and insights are representative of the 65+ age group. State-level findings reflect the opinion of these respondents only.
關於2024年美國老年人健康受到的社會威脅
儘管這是Alignment Health連續第三年研究影響老年人健康的社會問題，但2024年的報告是它首次與Ipsos合作，後者是全球最大的市場調研和民意測驗公司之一。該調查通過對2051名65歲及以上的美國人進行在線調查而進行，調查時間爲2024年4月30日至5月21日。爲了進行分析，額外的調查在亞利桑那州，內華達州和北卡羅來納州進行，以達到每個州最低100個樣本的樣本量。這些額外的「提升」調查將被衰減以避免在普通人口中過度代表。加利福尼亞州，佛羅里達州和德克薩斯州也是州級分析的一部分；但是，在這些州不需要額外的boost樣本。權重僅在國家層面應用（各個州沒有單獨加權），洞察力代表了65歲以上的年齡組。州級發現僅反映了這些調查對象的意見。
To read the full report, visit .
查看完整報告，請訪問.
About Alignment Health
Alignment Health is championing a new path in senior care that empowers members to age well and live their most vibrant lives. A consumer brand name of Alignment Healthcare (NASDAQ: ALHC), Alignment Health offers more than 50 benefits-rich, value-driven Medicare Advantage plans that serve 53 counties across six states. The company partners with nationally recognized and trusted local providers to deliver coordinated care, powered by its customized care model, 24/7 concierge care team and purpose-built technology, AVA. Based in California, the company's mission-focused team makes high-quality, low-cost care a reality for members every day. As it expands its offerings and grows its national footprint, Alignment upholds its core values of leading with a serving heart and putting the senior first. For more information, visit alignmenthealth.com.
關於雅培醫療保健
Alignment Health在老年護理領域走出了一條新路，使會員能夠健康老去並過上充滿活力的生活。作爲Alignment Healthcare（NASDAQ: ALHC）的消費品牌名稱，Alignment Health提供超過50種富含福利、價值導向的醫療保險優勢計劃，覆蓋六個州的53個縣。該公司與全國知名和值得信賴的地方提供者合作，通過其定製的護理模式、全天候禮賓護理團隊和專門設計的技術AVA提供協調護理。總部位於加利福尼亞州，該公司的使命團隊每天都讓高質量、低成本的護理成爲現實。隨着其產品的擴展和全國業務的發展，Alignment秉承以充滿服務的心領導，並將老年人放在第一位的核心價值觀。了解更多信息，請訪問alignmenthealth.com。
Media Contact
Priya Shah
mPR, Inc. for Alignment Health
alignment@mpublicrelations.com
媒體聯繫人
Priya Shah
針對雅培醫療保健公司的mPR, Inc.
alignment@mpublicrelations.com
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1 The 2024 Social Threats to Aging Well in America report examined eight key social determinants of health: aging in place, lack of transportation and access, economic challenges, lack of support, mental health issues, loneliness, cultural barriers, and food insecurity.
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《2024年美國老齡化的社會威脅報告》研究了八個關鍵的社會健康決定因素: 在家老齡化，交通和接入困難，經濟挑戰，缺乏支持，心理健康問題，孤獨，文化障礙和食品不安全。