Senior Citizens Most Concerned about Health
Primarily want to maintain mental ability ¨C fear Alzheimer’s the most
About seven out of ten senior citizens are concerned about their health and wellbeing and 80 percent try to keep up with health news ¨C mostly from their doctor, but secondly on the Internet. Preserving their mental function is the biggest health concern and Alzheimer’s is the disease they fear most. These are part of the findings in a survey of American ages 63 to 80 for UnitedHealthcare’s SecureHorizons.
The Senior Security Study was national survey of seniors ages conducted to identify what seniors want and are most concerned about across a wide range of lifestyle, wellness and healthcare topics. Among the survey¡¯s top findings:
More Seniors Care about Health than Wealth:
Nearly seven out of ten seniors (69%) expressed concerns about their health and wellbeing, a larger percentage than expressed concern about other categories such as personal finance (52%), often considered a top source of anxiety among older Americans; spiritual wellbeing (58%) and receiving adequate care in old age (56%).
Most Staying Up-to-Date on Healthcare:
Eighty percent of seniors reported that they keep up to date on the latest health news. Doctors, at 43%, are the most popular source of health information for seniors. The Internet (25%) is the second most common resource consulted by seniors, although younger respondents were more likely to go online for health answers than older ones.
Maintaining Mental Sharpness a Priority:
Preserving their mental function is a bigger concern among seniors than the relationship issues, mood disorders and emotional problems that can accompany aging.
¡ñ Nearly 6 out of 10 seniors (59%) are concerned about staying mentally sharp.
¡ñ Less than half (48%) say they are concerned about maintaining social relationships.
¡ñ Less than one-third are concerned with dealing with depression (32%).
¡ñ Less than a third are concerned with dealing loneliness (31%).
¡ñ Less than half (48%) say they are concerned about maintaining social relationships.
¡ñ Less than one-third are concerned with dealing with depression (32%).
¡ñ Less than a third are concerned with dealing loneliness (31%).
¡°We conducted this survey to find out what really matters to seniors,¡± said Rick Jelinek, Chief Executive Officer of SecureHorizons by UnitedHealthcare.
¡°Given our exclusive focus on helping seniors 65 and older ‘live secure, be secure,’ it¡¯s crucial that we know their biggest concerns. As the Senior Security Study reveals, seniors today want to maintain a healthy, independent lifestyle ¨C and want to make sure that their healthcare coverage helps them achieve this goal affordably and in a way that meets their specific needs.
Jelinek said the company has also launched a new Website – www.iLiveSecure.com – to help seniors navigate the Medicare system and connect with “valuable tips” for maintaining their health and wellbeing.
Health and Wellbeing Matter to More Seniors than Personal Finances
Senior concerns about their health and wellbeing covered a broad range of issues. The most common concerns among seniors include maintaining their health and mobility (62%) and maintaining an active lifestyle (55%).
A majority of seniors also care about availability of affordable prescription drugs (55%).
“We know the cost of prescription drugs has been a big concern with seniors, especially low-income seniors,¡± said Jelinek. ¡°That¡¯s why we’ve worked so hard with our partners at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to bring affordable drugs to this population through Medicare Part D coverage. With more than 38 million beneficiaries enrolled in the program, Part D is helping seniors manage their drug costs. It¡¯s one of the many ways we¡¯re helping them ¡®live secure, be secure.¡¯¡±
While 69% of respondents mentioned health as a concern, only 52% say they were worried about their finances and 58% were concerned about their spiritual wellbeing.
The most common spiritual concern among seniors is being at peace before they die (45%).
About the same number say they are concerned about maintaining their health to attend religious services (44%). However, relatively few seniors (27%) regret not living a more spiritual life.
Regarding their personal finances, more than half (54%) of seniors are concerned with having enough money to last the rest of their life. Nearly half of seniors are also concerned with paying for long term care (48%) and understanding how their health coverage works (47%).
Seniors Look to Doctors and the Internet for Information on Staying Healthy and Active
Staying informed on health and wellbeing is a priority for most seniors, with 80% reporting that they keep up to date on the latest health news. After physicians, at 43%, the Internet is the most popular source of information — one quarter of respondents say they looked online for health answers, although younger seniors age 63-64 (46%) are more likely to go online for health answers than 65-72 year olds (27%) and 73-80 year olds (18%).
Other top resources for respondents include magazines (22%), newspapers (20%) and television (18%).
In general, men and women relied on the same sources of information, although women were more than twice as likely as men to get their health information from television (23% compared to 10%).
Seniors More Concerned about Mental Health than Relationships, Loneliness and Depression
Maintaining mental sharpness (59%) is a commonly cited concern among seniors. In contrast, less than half (48%) say they are concerned about maintaining social relationships.
Roughly one third of respondents express concern about depression (32%). About the same percentage of respondents (31%) say they are concerned about loneliness, one of the most commonly noted emotional health issues among the elderly.
When asked what specific mental health condition concerned them most, Alzheimer¡¯s topped the list, with 22% of seniors saying they are concerned about the disease.
Many seniors also have questions about paying for mental health expenses ¨C 45% of them are concerned about knowing whether their health insurance plan covers mental health care.
Methodology
For the SecureHorizons Secure Senior Study, Market Strategies, Inc. conducted telephone interviews nationally and across ten key markets with heads of households ages 63-80 who participate in healthcare decisions for their household. A total of 400 national interviews were conducted from July 21-25, 2006, while a total of 750 market interviews were conducted from July 26-August 2, 2006. The national survey, which serves as a comparative benchmark for the individual market results, provides a statistical precision of +/- 4.9 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. In order to participate, respondents could not themselves work, or have an immediate household member who works, in the health care industry, for a market research firm or in the advertising industry.
About SecureHorizons by UnitedHealthcare
SecureHorizons by UnitedHealthcare claims to be the country¡¯s leading Medicare Advantage plan provider. Exclusively focused on the health and well-being of seniors, particularly those 65 and older enrolled in Medicare, SecureHorizons by UnitedHealthcare helps them ¡°Live Secure, Be Secure¡±. The SecureHorizons by UnitedHealthcare brand is nationally recognized for offering choices within Medicare Advantage and other products that promote health, wellness, delivery and accessibility for seniors at the best possible price through one of the nation¡¯s largest provider networks.
Sailesh Mishra
sailesh2000_2000@yahoo.co.uk
sailesh2000_2000@yahoo.co.uk