The Aging Population: Americans 55+ Report Optimism for their Health & the Future

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CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 4, 2025--

A remarkable 79% of the 55+ population report excellent to good mental health, with 28% indicating excellent and 51% reporting good mental health. Despite the natural aging process, only a small portion of the population notes a decline in their mental health over the past five years, with 17% experiencing a slight decline and just 3% reporting a significant decline.

Even fewer anticipate a worsening of their mental health in the next five years, with only 9% expecting a decline and a mere 2% foreseeing a significant decline. The drivers behind this positive mental health trend include strong community connections, faith-based activities, regular exercise, and enriching life experiences. This remarkable optimism follows the historic spike in anxiety and depression experienced by adults in America in 2020 ( PubMed ).

“Despite the stress and doom that have dominated healthcare headlines for the past five years, the optimism Americans 55+ have about their health is encouraging,” New Ocean Health CEO Hal Rosenbluth said. “As we settle into 2025, corporate America and enterprising startup leaders have an obligation to bring healthcare solutions that expand upon the access all patients need to thrive over the long-term.”

Among the 197 respondents who reported a decline in their mental health, the primary factors contributing to this deterioration were financial concerns, escalating health issues, and a sense of isolation.

Mental health services have high satisfaction levels when utilized…

• 61% of respondents have utilized mental health services offered through their insurer.
• 50% of respondents have Medicare coverage, and 25% have coverage through their employer, and satisfaction levels among both populations are high.
• These respondents indicate that the mental health services they were provided were comprehensive and greatly benefited their or met their mental health needs (56% employer coverage, 42% Medicare).

…But large swaths of Americans 55+ are not accessing these services when offered by insurance.

• 41% of those with Medicare say they have not used or are unaware of provided mental health services with 27% of those with employer-sponsored coverage saying the same thing. This accounts for 27% of all respondents.
• 76% have not used digital support to manage a chronic condition and/or long-term mental health condition, 24% of those open to it; (36% would utilize a digital solution to manage chronic conditions and/or long-term mental health condition if they had access)

"When patients have deep community ties, and importantly, access to healthcare that works, their mental and physical health remains consistently strong,” commented Michael Musci, the Chief Medical Officer at New Ocean Health Solutions. "However, if older Americans cannot access the mental health and community support they need as they age, we can expect their overall health outcomes to decline."

While people are overall positive about aging, there is an undercurrent of concern, as substance use among the aging population has been on the rise for years, according to theAmerican Psychological Association,with alcohol reported as the most misused substance, followed by cannabis. The New Ocean survey respondents reported that:

• Half of those surveyed report having been diagnosed with at least one long-term mental health condition (anxiety, depression, substance use).
• 32% alter the way they take pain medication from the prescribed instructions.
• 23% use pain medication for reasons other than pain relief, such as to aid sleep, enhance mood, or reduce stress.
• 29% engage in recreational substance use one to three times per week with only 8% admitting to daily use.
• Alcohol was the most frequently used substance (35%), followed by tobacco/nicotine and marijuana, which had similar usage rates (14% and 13%, respectively).

About New Ocean Health Solutions

New Ocean Health Solutions is a software design and development company that empowers organizations to foster a healthy culture. We deliver on the need for a broad enterprise health management platform that includes health and well-being programs people value. By using behavioral economics principles, New Ocean’s programs are more adaptable to human nature and more likely to get users to engage over the long-term. New Ocean’s platform leverages research-based methodologies to encourage users to make good choices and form healthy habits when it comes to their health, while ensuring that realistic goals are set. Led by former Walgreens Health & Wellness President and retail health clinic pioneer, Hal Rosenbluth.

Methodology

The research was conducted as an online pulse survey powered by Harris QuestDIY powered by the Harris Poll on behalf of New Ocean Health Solutions. The survey was fielded in the United States on Jan. 7, 2025, among 1,000 U.S. adults 55+ with an equal split in male and female. The age/generational split was also equal between those age 55-64 and 65+.

Aging Population (n=1000)

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CONTACT: Ben Mathios

[email protected]

201-419-9356

KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA PENNSYLVANIA

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MENTAL HEALTH WOMEN SENIORS MEN OTHER HEALTH ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE HEALTH CONSUMER GENERAL HEALTH

SOURCE: New Ocean Health Solutions

Copyright Business Wire 2025.

PUB: 03/04/2025 09:00 AM/DISC: 03/04/2025 09:02 AM

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250304521606/en