When it comes to aging well in the United States, where you live matters. Health outcomes for older adults are influenced by access to quality health care, prevalence of chronic disease, poverty rates, environmental factors, clinical care availability, and lifestyle behaviors.
According to the latest America’s Health Rankings Senior Report and related research data, several states consistently struggle with senior health outcomes — recording low scores in critical measures such as clinical care, health behaviors, economic conditions, and overall outcomes.
Here are the 10 worst states for seniors to be healthy in 2026 — ranked based on composite measures that include health outcomes, prevention, clinical care access, socioeconomic conditions, and behavioral risk factors.
Each section explains why these states lag behind others and what seniors should be aware of if they live there or are considering relocating.
