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Aging in Place, Limited Access to Medical Care and Economic Insecurity Threaten U.S. Senior Health
New Alignment Health study shows nearly 2 in 5 seniors who experience loneliness say it’s impacting their health, 1 in 4 who have medical debt owe debt equal
About this update from Alignment Healthcare, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"New Alignment Health study shows nearly 2 in 5 seniors who experience loneliness say it’s impacting their health, 1 in 4 who have medical debt owe debt equal to 4+ months of living expenses\nORANGE, Calif., Sept. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aging in place (64%), limited access to medical care (60%), and economic insecurity (51%) were cited by U.S. seniors as the top three barriers to their overall health, according to the 2025 Social Threats to Aging Well in America survey released by Alignment Health. The annual survey of more than 2,200 Americans ages 65 and older spotlights the social and environmental hurdles keeping older adults from living healthier, longer lives. Aging in place remains No.1 for the second consecutive year. This barrier impacts most seniors regardless of geography, income or education. More seniors are choosing to live independently and longer in their homes, yet respondents shared they need the right support. Almost two-thirds (64%) indicated they would use benefits that cover safety rails, personal medical safety alerts, memory exercises or care and assistance with an end-of-life plan. “Our annual survey looks beyond the medical diagnosis and provides a full picture of seniors’ state of being, their desires in aging and what support they need to reach their optimal level of aging as they wish,” said Dr. Ken Kim, chief medical officer at Alignment Health. “Where they live, how they get care and the support systems around them can change their health trajectory – for better or worse. These insights not only shape how we specifically design our benefits, services and partnerships, but we hope these insights provide direction for others working in senior health.” Key Findings at a Glance: Medical Care Access Crisis: From long waits for appointments to lack of telehealth technology, issues with access to medical care affect 60% of seniors, making it the No. 2 social threat. More than half (54%) of seniors who skipped care cite access issues as the reason. Of those who never skipped medical care, 45% fear they might in the future for the same reason.Economic Insecurity Hits Hard: For the second year running, economic insecurity is the third most pressing threat. This year’s survey revealed that 27% of respondents say money worries rank among their top three stressors, and 13% of seniors say it’s been their No...