Health Issues

Based upon recent projections over the next five years the population of Long Island will become both older and more diverse.  The specific health issues that affect these different groups will create a challenge to the health care delivery system unless proper strategies can be implemented. In accordance with the “Prevention Agenda Towards the Healthiest State 2008”, released by the NYS Department of Health, the LICHPS will initially focus on three pressing issues facing Long Island today, the aging population and cost effective chronic care management methods, health disparities in a suburban environment, and dissemination of healthy lifestyle best practices. The areas of focus were chosen in order to facilitate the proactive implementation of health policy that will positively impact the Long Island residents of tomorrow.

Senior Care: The over-65 population in the United States is expected to increase by almost 200% over the next 30 years, and seniors will account for approximately half of all health care expenditures.  Today, most frail seniors either do not qualify for long term nursing services or cannot afford assisted living. In addition, most seniors want to remain in their homes as they age: a 2000 survey by AARP indicates that 89 percent of respondents 55 or older want to stay in their current residence for as long as possible.  There is a clear need for the translation of best practices to “real life” settings in order for the elderly to be effective, as different implementation settings may include different subject selection and contextual factors from the original efficacy studies that documented the effective best practice.

LICHPS has developed a survey to currently assess the health and psycho-social needs of seniors on Long Island.  After issuing an RFP, LICHPS chose Stony Brook University Center for Survey Research to administer the survey on Long Island.

Check the Reports page for the Long Island Senior Needs Assessment Survey and other reports/data releases.