Louisiana ranks the fourth unhealthiest state for senior citizens for the second year, according to the United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings Senior Report.
It is the second year in a row that Louisiana has ranked fourth-worst, in the eleven years the United Health Foundation has been doing annual rankings.
Chief Medical Officer for the Medicare and Retirement Division, Dr. Phillip Painter, says increasing poverty among older citizens is a big part of that.
"There's a higher level of what we call 'food insecurity,' so the ability for seniors to have access, let's say, to healthy food," said Dr. Painter. "There's also physical inactivity: they're not as physically active as they could or should be."
Access to healthcare, physical environment, social and economic factors, and healthy behaviors play a vital role in the ranking as well.