Alignment Health’s 2026 Survey Reveals Growing Challenges for Seniors Aging in Place
Alignment Health’s fifth annual Social Threats to Aging Well in America survey has found that a significant majority of older Americans continue to face social, economic, and healthcare-related barriers that can affect their health, independence, and ability to access care.
The 2026 study, conducted by Alignment Health in partnership with Ipsos, found that 90% of seniors reported experiencing at least one factor affecting their health, well-being, independence, or access to healthcare. The findings suggest that the challenges associated with healthy aging are becoming increasingly complex, with aging-in-place difficulties, healthcare access barriers, inadequate support systems, and financial pressures continuing to affect older adults across the United States.
The survey highlights a growing concern for seniors who want to remain independent and safely live in their own homes. According to the research, challenges associated with aging in place increased by four percentage points compared with 2025. The results indicate that physical limitations, difficulties maintaining independence, and challenges associated with safely remaining at home are becoming increasingly important issues for older Americans.
At the same time, support gaps and economic pressures are also increasing, reinforcing the need for healthcare organizations and health plans to address the broader social factors that influence seniors’ ability to maintain their health.
“Our findings reinforce what older adults have been telling us for years: healthy aging is about much more than what happens during a doctor’s visit,” said Dr. Ken Kim, chief medical officer at Alignment Health.
According to Kim, the latest findings demonstrate that seniors continue to experience challenges related to maintaining independence, accessing healthcare, and managing financial pressures. These issues can influence health outcomes even when appropriate medical services are available.
The findings suggest that supporting healthy aging requires a broader approach that considers the circumstances surrounding seniors’ everyday lives.
Aging in Place Remains the Biggest Challenge
For the third consecutive year, seniors identified aging-in-place challenges, healthcare access, and economic instability as the three greatest threats to healthy aging.
Aging in place refers to the ability of older adults to remain safely and independently in their homes and communities while managing physical limitations and other challenges associated with aging.
In the 2026 survey, 68% of seniors reported aging-in-place challenges, making it the most commonly reported social barrier. This represents a four-percentage-point increase from the previous year.
The increase is significant because remaining at home is often an important priority for older adults. However, living independently can become more difficult when seniors experience mobility limitations, require modifications to their homes, lack adequate support, or encounter difficulties accessing essential services.
The survey indicates that these challenges are not isolated concerns. They can also have consequences for healthcare access.
Among seniors who reported skipping needed medical care during the past year, 34% cited aging-in-place challenges as a reason, representing a seven-percentage-point increase compared with 2025.
This connection suggests that difficulties maintaining independence can potentially prevent older adults from obtaining necessary medical attention.
Healthcare Access Continues to Be a Major Barrier
Healthcare access was another major concern identified by respondents.
The survey found that 62% of seniors experience barriers to accessing needed healthcare services. These barriers include difficulties finding appropriate care, obtaining appointments, and accessing healthcare providers.
For older adults managing ongoing healthcare needs, delays or difficulties in obtaining medical services can create additional challenges.
More than one-quarter of respondents, or 26% of seniors, said they had skipped needed medical care during the previous year.
Among those who skipped care, 57% identified access-related barriers as a reason.
These findings indicate that having healthcare services available does not necessarily guarantee that every senior can access them when they are needed. Factors such as appointment availability, transportation, physical limitations, and other social circumstances may influence whether an older adult ultimately receives care.
The results reinforce the importance of considering the practical barriers that can stand between seniors and the healthcare system.
Economic Pressure Adds to the Challenge
Financial concerns were also among the most significant threats to healthy aging.
The survey found that 54% of seniors experience economic instability, including concerns about the cost of healthcare and basic living expenses.
Medical expenses can create additional financial pressure for older adults, particularly when they are managing multiple healthcare needs.
The research found that 16% of seniors reported carrying medical debt, while 22% were uncertain about whether they would be able to cover future medical expenses.
Financial insecurity can affect more than a senior’s ability to pay medical bills. Rising costs associated with housing, utilities, food, transportation, and other essential needs can also influence the resources available for healthcare and wellness.
The findings therefore demonstrate how economic stability and healthcare access can be closely connected.
Growing Gaps in Social Support
The survey also identified an increase in the number of seniors reporting inadequate support systems.
According to the 2026 findings, 38% of seniors lack sufficient support, representing a four-point increase from 2025.
Support can take many forms, including assistance from family members, caregivers, friends, community organizations, and healthcare professionals.
For seniors attempting to remain independent, having reliable support can be particularly important. A lack of assistance may make it more difficult to manage everyday activities, attend appointments, obtain food, maintain a safe home environment, or respond to changing health needs.
The increase in reported support gaps suggests that social connections and practical assistance remain important components of healthy aging.
Mental Health Remains a Significant Concern
Mental health was another important issue identified by the research.
The survey found that 57% of seniors experienced stress or anxiety during the previous 12 months.
Mental and physical health are closely connected, and persistent stress or anxiety can affect an individual’s overall quality of life.
The finding also highlights why approaches to healthy aging cannot focus exclusively on physical healthcare. Emotional well-being, social connection, financial stability, and a sense of independence can all influence how seniors experience later life.
The survey examined nine social barriers to aging well: aging-in-place challenges, economic instability, healthcare access, transportation, lack of support, mental health, loneliness, cultural barriers, and food insecurity.
Together, these factors illustrate the range of circumstances that can influence an older adult’s ability to remain healthy and independent.
Seniors Want Benefits Beyond Traditional Medical Care
One of the most notable findings from the research was the level of interest seniors expressed in services designed to address social needs in addition to conventional healthcare.
The survey asked respondents which services and benefits they would be most likely to use if those offerings were available through their health plan.
The most popular option was personalized wellness recommendations based on an individual’s medical history and information shared with their health plan, selected by 59% of seniors.
This was followed by 24/7 access to doctors by phone or video, which 57% of respondents said they would use.
The findings suggest that seniors value healthcare services that provide greater convenience and personalization.
Food-related support was also highly valued. Nearly half of respondents said they would use help paying for groceries, while 47% expressed interest in fresh food delivery.
Food insecurity can have a direct effect on health, particularly among older adults who may have specific nutritional requirements or chronic conditions.
Other services also attracted substantial interest. Forty-three percent of seniors said they would use a personal medical safety alert system, while 42% expressed interest in memory exercises or other memory-care support.
These preferences indicate that seniors may see health plans as potential sources of assistance with a much broader range of needs than traditional medical appointments alone.
Regional Differences in Senior Priorities
The survey also identified differences in the services seniors value across individual states.
In particular, seniors surveyed in North Carolina and Nevada demonstrated greater interest in certain financial support services compared with seniors nationally.
In North Carolina, 52% of surveyed seniors said they would use assistance with rent, mortgage, or utility payments, compared with 44% nationally.
Similarly, 54% of surveyed seniors in North Carolina expressed interest in help paying for gas for their car, compared with 42% nationally.
Seniors surveyed in Nevada also reported elevated interest in these services. Fifty-four percent said they would use assistance with rent, mortgage, or utilities, while 49% expressed interest in help paying for gas.
The findings demonstrate that senior needs can differ considerably depending on local circumstances and economic conditions.
Demand for Aging-at-Home Support
North Carolina respondents also demonstrated particularly strong interest in services that could help them remain safely in their homes.
Half of surveyed seniors in the state, or 50%, said they would use home safety modifications if offered through their health plan. This compares with 39% of seniors nationally.
Memory-care support was also more popular among North Carolina respondents, with 54% expressing interest, compared with 42% nationally.
These results provide another indication of the importance seniors place on maintaining independence.
Home modifications and memory-care services can potentially help older adults remain in familiar environments while addressing some of the challenges that can make independent living more difficult.
The Broader Implications for Healthy Aging
Alignment Health’s 2026 survey paints a picture of aging in which medical care represents only one part of the equation.
While access to doctors, treatments, and healthcare services remains essential, seniors are also dealing with housing and home-safety concerns, transportation challenges, financial pressures, food access, social support gaps, and mental health needs.
The fact that 90% of respondents reported at least one social barrier demonstrates the widespread nature of these challenges.
The continued increase in aging-in-place difficulties is particularly noteworthy. As more seniors seek to remain independent, healthcare organizations and health plans may need to consider how services outside traditional medical care can help address the practical circumstances that affect their members.
The survey’s findings on skipped care also demonstrate why these issues matter. If physical limitations, financial concerns, transportation difficulties, or other social barriers prevent seniors from accessing medical services, improving healthcare availability alone may not fully resolve the problem.
Moving Toward a More Comprehensive Approach
The latest findings from Alignment Health and Ipsos highlight the importance of taking a more comprehensive view of healthy aging.
Seniors are seeking support that extends beyond traditional healthcare delivery. Personalized wellness guidance, virtual access to physicians, food assistance, safety technology, memory-care resources, and financial support are among the services respondents identified as potentially valuable.
At the same time, the needs of seniors vary across communities. The differences identified between North Carolina, Nevada, and the national survey population demonstrate that healthcare organizations may need to consider regional circumstances when developing benefits and support programs.
For Alignment Health, the annual survey provides an opportunity to track how social threats to healthy aging are changing over time.
The 2026 results show that challenges related to independence, healthcare access, economic stability, and social support remain significant—and in several areas are becoming more pronounced.
As the senior population continues to navigate an increasingly complex healthcare and economic environment, addressing these barriers may become an increasingly important part of supporting health, independence, and quality of life.
Ultimately, the survey reinforces a central message: healthy aging is influenced by far more than medical care alone. Helping seniors age well may require coordinated support that addresses healthcare access alongside the everyday social and economic factors that determine whether older adults can remain healthy, independent, and connected to their communities.
Source link: https://ir.alignmenthealth.com/
