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Contact Info

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Healthy Aging Program
4770 Buford Highway, N.E., Mailstop K-45
Atlanta, GA 30341-3717

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We are not able to answer personal medical questions. Please see your health care provider concerning appropriate care, treatment, or other medical advice.

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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.

PDF Icon 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 Health Promotion

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