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The State of Aging and Health in America
2007 Report
It is our pleasure to share with you The State of Aging and Health in
America 2007. This report was released by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) and The Merck Company Foundation at the 2007
Joint Conference of the American Society on Aging and the National Council
on Aging in March 2007.
We anticipate that The State of Aging and Health in America 2007 report will
be a welcomed and useful resource for a variety of audiences committed to
improving and preserving the health of older adults, including public health
and aging professionals, policymakers, and researchers. This report updates
a similar report released in 2004 and is designed to present information and
data from a variety of sources in a straightforward, easy-to-read format.
The United States population is rapidly aging. By 2030, the number of
Americans aged 65 and older will more than double to 71 million older
Americans, comprising roughly 20 percent of the U.S. population. In some
states, fully a quarter of the population will be aged 65 and older. An
enhanced focus on promoting and preserving the health of older adults is
essential if we are to effectively address the health and economic
challenges of an aging society. The cost of providing health care for an
older American is three to five times greater than the cost for someone
younger than 65. By 2030, the nation’s health care spending is projected to
increase by 25% due to demographic shifts unless improving and preserving
the health of older adults is more actively addressed.
The State of Aging and Health in America 2007 report presents the most
current national data available on 15 key health indicators for older adults
related to health status, health behaviors, preventive care and screening,
and injuries. The “State-by-State Report Card” provides similar information
for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, and enables states
to see where they are on each indicator as well as in relation to other
states.
The report includes bold “Calls to Action” and a “Spotlight” on
reducing injuries associated with falls. These features highlight model
intervention programs and thoughtful recommendations for policymakers,
health care providers, and older adults themselves to ensure not just
longer, but healthier lives. Emerging public health opportunities such as
promoting cognitive health and addressing end-of-life decision making
issues.
This report is intended to reflect not only challenges but also optimistic
reasons for healthy aging. We already know much about how to reduce illness and functional
decline among older Americans. The real challenge is to more broadly apply
what we already know about helping to ensure that added years are healthy
years. We are happy to have you as a partner in this effort.
Suggested Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and
The Merck Company Foundation. The State of Aging and Health in America
2007. Whitehouse Station, NJ: The Merck Company Foundation; 2007.
State of Aging and Health Report
Interactive Site
2007 Full Report (PDF–4.5Mb)
2007 Executive
Summary (PDF–2.42Mb)
2004 Full
Report (PDF–1.25Mb)
A limited number of hard copies of the State of Aging and Health in America
2007 Report are available. A single hard copy can be requested
here.
One or more documents on this Web page is available in Portable Document Format
(PDF). You will need Acrobat
Reader (a free application) to view and print these documents.
Page last reviewed: November 4, 2008
Page last modified: June 30, 2008
Content source: Division of Adult
and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and
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