Saturday, May 27, 2017

Bill Crawford: Mississippians getting older.

Mississippi is getting older. No, this is not about our Bicentennial, but our people.
 
Since 1980 Mississippi's total population increased 18.5% but the population of residents aged 65 and older jumped 43.3%.  This pushed the median age up from 27.6 years in 1980 to 36.5 years in 2015. Over that time, the percentage of population aged 65 and older moved from 11.5% to 14%.
Guess what, health rankings rate  Mississippi the worst place to be old. 
 
The United Health Foundation just released its latest America’s Health Rankings - Senior Report. This is the fifth annual report. In the first two reports, Mississippi ranked 50th. We got off the bottom for two years. Now, we're back again, dead last in senior health.
 
The foundation says it publishes the senior health report to encourage "continued conversations among policymakers, public health officials and community leaders" and to drive "action to promote better health for our nation’s seniors."
 
The report subtitle was "A call to action for individuals and their communities."  We'll have to see if Mississippi is paying attention. 
 
The report does treat Mississippi kindly. It doesn't spotlight our bottom ranking. Rather, it says we're one of the three states "with the biggest opportunities for improvement."  Nice twist. Kentucky (#49) and Oklahoma (#48) join us in these opportunities.
 
The rankings are based on 34 measures of senior health distributed among five categories. The categories and our ranking in each were: Behaviors (45th); Community & Environment (50th); Policy (41st); Clinical Care (47th); Outcomes (45th).
 
Interesting that our policies outrank our provisions for seniors.
 
The report included several lowlights and a few highlights for Mississippi:
 
Lowlights: In the past three years, food insecurity increased from 20.5% to 24.3% of adults aged 60+; in the past two years, volunteerism decreased from 25.3% to 20.3% of adults aged 65+; since 2013, obesity increased from 27.9% to 30.8% of adults aged 65+.
 
Highlights: In the past three years, preventable hospitalizations decreased from 85.8 to 67.8 discharges per 1,000 Medicare enrollees; in the past two years, poverty decreased from 14.3% to 12.5% of adults aged 65+; since 2013, the percentage of adults aged 65+ with no disability increased from 54.0% to 57.4%.
 
We ranked in the bottom 10 on 17 of the 34 measures and in the top 10 on only two.
 
The bottom 10 measures were: physical inactivity, obesity, dental care, poverty, volunteerism, community support, food insecurity, number of geriatricians, health screenings, hip fractures, hospital deaths, hospital readmissions, preventable hospitalizations, percent able-bodied, self-reported high health status, premature deaths, and teeth extractions.
 
The top 10 measures were: excessive drinking, with only estimated 3.9% of seniors indulging at that level; and pain management, with 50.6% of seniors with arthritis who reported that related pain does not limit their usual activities.
 
Oh, the top five states for senior health were Minnesota, Utah, Hawaii, Colorado, and New Hampshire. The top ranked state in the cluster around Mississippi was Alabama at 43rd.
 
The state and national turmoil surrounding healthcare funding suggests our ranking is unlikely to improve any time soon.
 
Stay healthy my fellow seniors.
 
Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Meridian (crawfolk@gmail.com)

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bunch of stats, no stated position and no proposed solutions.

Anonymous said...

Make your own conclusions 11:04. Mine are 1) all young people that CAN leave do so at first chance. 2) the flag's days are numbered.

Anonymous said...

Sad that you have to go back to the 80s to see an increase in population but that's what the author did

Old and tired said...

Thanks Bill for the stats and it should give our elected officials pause, but probably not. Slashing the health department budget is only going to escerbate the situation. Policy decisions have consequences. And a note to 11:04 -- Bill is just putting the facts out, it's up to Tater and Gunn and Cowboy Bryant to lead us to the promised land and I don't see the Red Sea parting. And it also begs the question of where are the children going. Answer -- out of state where there is opportunity. And who is left -- the old farts.

Anonymous said...

Of what possible value or use are these stats? What the hell has this got to do with Tater or Feel or any other damned thing? Meaningless trivia.

Meanwhile; what's the average miles per gallon for a medium sized truck today compared to one sold in 1985? More useless crap.

Anonymous said...

to 5:42: Not useless crap. Tater and Fell and Gunn are in charge and we are going downhill with the young minds leaving the state. Get a grip. This ain't working no matter what you would like to belive. This state is going downhill and at a rapid rate. Put yoru head in the sand and believe it ain't happening.

Anonymous said...

Unrelated to the article, but when I read the fact that there are a lot more folks over 65 all I could think about was homestead exemption and property taxes. If you are over 65 most of your home value is exempted from all property taxes by state law, 75k of the appraised value is exempt. If the number of 65 and older is increasing so fast that leaves all the rest to pay all the property taxes.

Anonymous said...

Don't worry the geniuses of Ms Development Authority are working hard to bring in new jobs!

Anonymous said...

Useless stats? I read it to say that anybody that can get out, is getting out. Pretty telling if you ask me.

Anonymous said...

Who is left? Old guys posting on the internet all day. And inmates at Raymond

Anonymous said...

It takes a real mental-lightweight to conclude that the population aging (on average) means all the young people are leaving the state.

I could just as easily conclude that Mississippi is attracting retirees due to the fact that retirement plans are not taxed at the state level.

We are fortunate that the average age is inching up by a 'cross-hair'. Maybe that means the snowflakes are moving to Vermont.

Or hell, Kingfish says crime is 'improving' in the capital city so maybe Jackson is attracting old folks in droves.

And all those lofters that Ben Allen brought in are aging too.

See?.....ain't got shit to do with Tater.

Anonymous said...

Our economic plan is to sue, I mean steal from everyone with the pen stroke of a judge and maybe some politicians--Even the privatized pentagon (google). Forget trickle-down economics, this is milk-the-utter(s)-dry economics.

We will milk our way into peak prosperity with a three pronged approach- Milk the government titty, milk the corporate titty, AND milk the consumer tax titty.

Until the golden heffers have been milked dry, our stance will not change. The south has risen again baby!......with other people's money.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, 11:35, for wrapping this discussion up and sorta bringing it all together in meaningful fashion for us. This will conclude the seminar. Thank you for coming. There are pens and keyrings on the back table as you leave.

Anonymous said...

Statistical data based on population and age is indisputable.
The relevance to future planning can be disputed but to do so, you should be able to back that up with numbers, not opinions.
Statistical data is used by industry, in general and the insurance industry in particular, to forecast. That they do so is relevant to Mississippi , at the very least, in understanding how such data will affect future decisions they make regarding us.
I would point to future health care costs for the State and how the State will respond to changes in health care at the federal level. Or perhaps, some of you don't believe the statistical data that those over 65 have more medical care costs either and that premium are affected by those costs. Your loyalty to your party hacks forbid you to believe.

Anonymous said...

"Food insecurity" is a lie.

First, of someone "goes to bed hungry" in this state (or nation) it's because of their OWN inaction. There are plenty of food banks, WIC and SNAP programs (all rife with fraud mind you) to feed everyone. Not going to the store or reaching out for assistance is YOUR fault. If you have children that you can't feed and you don't ask for help, then that's neglect and the kids need to be taken from you.

Second, of you live in a "food desert", then consider MOVING. This isn't going to fix itself and only YOU can make that change.

Finally, if you are "hungry" don't expect someone from the government to come and force-feed you or hand-deliver your food.

More liberal nonsense.

Anonymous said...

The news is not all bad. It has always been difficult to develop a healthy middle class in the plantation environment that is the State of Mississippi. A handful of lords and ladies do just fine, but young people looking for unlimited opportunity get the hell out. That never bothered the Mississippi power structure, since the permanent underclass, whether slave or free, has always kept them rich. But the outflow of young minds from Mississippi means that some people are actually making use of their educational opportunities.

Anonymous said...

"Mississippians getting older", doesnt that go without saying.

Anonymous said...

"....but young people looking for unlimited opportunity get the hell out."

Please list the 'limits on opportunities'.

And where is it that you go to find unlimited ones? California? Oregon? Idaho? Atlanta? Miami? New Orleans? Vermont? Massachusetts? Good luck with that.

Anonymous said...

I didn't post " limits on opportunities" but I can help you out 12:30 am.
Compare the number of jobs available to our graduates in any trade or profession with the number of jobs available. And, then compare the salaries offered in our State compared to other States.
And, as to where they are going? Try Nashville and Charlotte and Raleigh for starters. Those cities got the most graduates in my children's class.
Those who stayed were those whose families already had a business or practice in place here.
Our IHLs know where their alums are. See if they can provide you the information you seem to think doesn't exist.

Anonymous said...

"Compare the number of jobs available to our graduates in any trade or profession with the number of jobs available."

Let me see if I understand. What you just said is 'compare the jobs available to the number of jobs available'. I'll get back to you.

Anonymous said...

12:30 hasn't a clue just how far gone misssissippi is when it comes to jobs. You don't have to go to a 'liberal hellhole' to find more opportunity.

Anonymous said...

3:50....Why the hell are you still here? You have not a farkin' clue what jobs are available in this state, not to mention entrepreneurial opportunities. You think somebody is holding a golden-slipper for your sweet child out there somewhere in the land of OZ? Tell that kid to get off his ass and work for it like the rest of us have. Or he can procure a vagina hat and be really productive.

Anonymous said...

@ May 29, 2017 at 12:30 AM

Sadly to say - yes - you can go to the places you name and find more opportunity.

Mississippi is a depressing place. The tone here is negative. The people that live here hate it. The only reason why some stay, is because it's the only home they've ever known.

The legislature even tries to legislate morality - but yet preaches individual freedoms and liberty's - they are a walking contradiction. People don't know whether they are coming or going.

Then add in the manic weather, hot one minute - then storming 30 minutes later. LMAO!

It's bad when a majority of the citizens leave this state to have a good time somewhere else. Think about it?

Kid Rock said it best in his song - "Jackson, Mississippi"

"And when the sunshine showed
Her face I felt like I was ready to die
Went lookin' for a place to hide
A hole I could crawl inside

Long lines
Whiskey bottles
And the same old song
I smell death in the air
And I know it won't be long

And I could say I'm trying to change
But that's just another lie
Its been a day and a half
And I'm still high

And I feel like Jackson Mississippi
A river runnin'
Like Jackson Mississippi
A river runnin'
Like Jackson Mississippi
A river runnin through my viens

And when the daylight disappeared
I took a good look inside
Behind my pride
I sat down and cried

I know I'm not a fool
But I don't know what's wrong
Maybe its time to pack
And just move on

And I could say I'm trying to change
But that would just be a lie
I'm lookin' for some one to tell me why"

That is all of Mississippi in a nutshell



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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