May is Older Americans Month, and a new report shows the Sunshine State is investing heavily in providing community support to help its older residents.

America's Health Rankings 2023 Senior Report from UnitedHealthcare ranked Florida 25th in health outcomes for people age 65 and older. Some noted challenges include a high prevalence of multiple chronic conditions and low rates of home health-care workers.

However, Dr. Michael Stockman, medical director of UnitedHealthcare, said strengths include lots of community support - home-delivered meals, active senior centers - because Florida spends about $154 per adult over age 60 on community support, compared with an average of $62 nationally.

"I guess on the sunny side of things in sunny Florida," he said, "is that they really have a high level of community support expenditures, which helps keeps seniors living in their homes."

The report puts Florida at 8% in terms of poverty among adults 65 and older. Florida is among 10 states that haven't expanded Medicaid. Officials at the Florida Department of Elder Affairs didn't follow up on a request for comment on the report's findings.

Stockman said keeping seniors active and involved with pursuits such as volunteering has helped combat the many problems triggered during the severe isolation of the pandemic. He said that's an area that appears to need improvement in Florida.

"We also see that the rate of volunteerism in Florida amongst Florida seniors is low," he said. "This is important because it helps reduce that social isolation, and it gives a sense of that meaning and purpose, and allows adults to learn new things."

The report said the early death rate among older Americans increased for the second consecutive year, breaking a long-term improvement trend. Since 2019, deaths among adults ages 65 to 74 rose 22% nationwide.

Oregonians have saved nearly $350 million for retirement through OregonSaves, a program allowing employees without workplace plans to automatically contribute to an individual retirement account.

Now, more than 60% of Oregon workers have access to a retirement savings plan, one of the highest rates in the country.

Bandana Shrestha, state director of AARP Oregon, said the group helped launch OregonSaves in 2017, the first program of its kind in the nation.

"It really is very wonderful that we were able to innovate and lead the country in a program that's so meaningful and so impactful," Shrestha emphasized. "I hope that people really take advantage of it."

Although more than 1 million private sector workers across the country have enrolled in state retirement savings programs, research shows nationwide one in five Americans over age 50 has no retirement savings.

Ryan Mann, executive director of the Oregon Treasury Savings Network, which oversees OregonSaves, said research shows people are 15 times more likely to save when it happens through a payroll deduction at their job.

"OregonSaves is attempting to fill that gap by providing a free way for employers to help their employees save," Mann explained. "Once they're enrolled in the program, an easy way for the workers to have it happen automatically."

Shresthra said retirement savings are not only important for individuals, they can also alleviate some of the financial pressures extended family or friends may feel who are providing care as people age, which can be costly.

"It gives you choices," Shresthra pointed out. "Both in terms of how you lead your life, but also how you are able to extend generosity and to give to your community, to your family. "

Research shows women, people of color and lower-wage workers are all less likely to have access to a traditional retirement account, and Mann said OregonSaves is designed to help close intergenerational wealth gaps. State residents can sign up and find more information at OregonSaves.com.

Pennsylvanians over age 50 are voicing concerns about the Department of Government Efficiency plans to cut 7,000 jobs from the U.S. Social Security Administration as part of its efforts to shrink the federal government and curb what it describes as waste and fraud.

More than one in five Pennsylvanians get monthly Social Security payments, according to AARP, almost 3 million people.

Nora Dowd Eisenhower, volunteer state president of AARP Pennsylvania, said all the changes have left many beneficiaries confused and worried about potential office closures, employee layoffs and reduced services.

"We are working to make sure that Americans receive the Social Security they have worked hard for and paid for over their entire working lives," Dowd Eisenhower emphasized.

Social Security benefits contribute almost $63 billion a year to Pennsylvania's economy through retirement, survivors and disability payments, according to AARP, all of which boost consumer spending, business sales, and job creation across the state.

Dowd Eisenhower pointed out the Social Security Administration had planned big changes to its phone services in March that would have caused delays and hassles but the decision was reversed this month after intense pushback. She noted AARP members have long been vocal about the need for better customer service from the Social Security Administration.

"Last year, four out of five older Americans, across party lines, supported increased funding for the Social Security Administration as a way to improve customer service," Dowd Eisenhower reported.

President Donald Trump's senior adviser Elon Musk claims Social Security could be cut by $500 billion to $700 billion without reducing benefits.

Dowd Eisenhower added AARP is urging Congress to make sure the Social Security Administration makes payments on time, as it has for nearly 90 years, and provides quality customer service by phone, online and in person.

Back-and-forth decisions on Social Security policies have created confusion, which may leave some Virginians more vulnerable to scams.

Last month, the Social Security Administration announced in-person or online appointments would be required to sign up for benefits, instead of customer support by phone. The decision has now been reversed.

Jim Dau, state director of AARP Virginia, said the changes give con artists room to come up with new scams. He noted they often start with a phone call, text or email about something "urgent." If you receive such communication saying it is from the Social Security Administration, Dau warns, it is a scam.

"This is the perfect kind of recipe for financial predators to step in and escalate Social Security scams to defraud beneficiaries of their money," Dau stressed. "Social Security scams are effective in this kind of environment -- where people are getting information from here, and bits of information from here -- where we are going to see more and more Social Security scams."

Trump's billionaire adviser Elon Musk has said Social Security has "massive" amounts of fraud, but a review by the Social Security Administration's Inspector General has found the agency has made improper payments less than 1% of the time.

More than 1.6 million Virginians receive Social Security benefits. Dau emphasized the monthly income is a lifeline to people across the Commonwealth. He added the administration's initial changes which would have required people to sign up for benefits in person would have negatively affected seniors.

"The prospect of having to go to an in-person meeting at your local Social Security office, hopefully get there on time at a point where the line isn't too long and you have a reasonable chance of actually seeing somebody that day," Dau outlined. "And of course, hopefully your Social Security office is open that day - or at all anymore."

The administration has announced lease terminations of nearly 4% of Social Security field offices. An analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities finds nine percent of Virginia seniors already live more than 45 miles from the nearest office.