Chronic Diseases
- Older adults are disproportionately affected by chronic conditions, such as diabetes, arthritis and heart disease. Nearly 95% have at least one chronic condition, and nearly 80% of have two or more.
- The leading causes of death among older adults in the U.S. are heart disease, cancer, COVID-19, stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases, Alzheimer’s diseases, and diabetes.
- Chronic diseases can limit a person’s ability to perform daily activities, cause them ro lose their independence, and result in the need for institutional care, in-home caregivers or other long-term services and supports
- Multiple chronic diseases account for two-thirds for all health care costs and 93% of Medicare spending, Yet, less than 3% of U.S. health care dollars is spent on prevention to improve overall health.