For more than 150 years, public health has reshaped what’s possible in the United States — adding decades to life expectancy and dramatically improving quality of life. These achievements didn’t happen by accident. They were the result of community health workers, medical professionals, scientists and advocates pushing for policies grounded in evidence and focused on equity.

Yet too often, these once-unimaginable gains are taken for granted. National Public Health Week (NPHW) 2026 invites all Americans to renew their commitment to strengthening the systems, science, and community partnerships that keep us healthy.

Twenty-one percent of U.S. adults age 50 and older — that’s 24 million people — now live alone, without a spouse or partner or anyone else under the same roof. And their numbers are growing fast.

This extraordinary upswing in aging alone is unprecedented, says Elena Portacolone, a professor of sociology at the Institute for Health & Aging at the University of California, San Francisco. “It’s a reality check that times have changed. For many, it’s about living your own life, following what is important to you. But our social supports have not kept up with the needs of those aging alone.”

In 1950, just 9 percent of all U.S. adults lived by themselves. Now 1 in 5 Americans ages 50 to 54, about 1 in 3 ages 55 to 74 and half of those age 75-plus are aging on their own, according to U.S. Census data. By 2038, the majority of people age 80 and older — about 10 million — will be solo agers, Harvard University experts estimate.

In a perfect world, there’d be no need to make a care plan for later in life; but this world is far from perfect, and many older adults delay making decisions about care for when their needs change.

“Many people don’t want to talk about senior care because they don’t believe they need it or don’t believe they need it at the current time,” says Kelly O'Connor, editor of the Certified Senior Advisor Journal and vice president of strategic partnerships and growth at Society of Certified Senior Advisors, a Denver-based nonprofit that educates and certifies professionals who work with seniors.

Avoiding these conversations is understandable because most of us don’t love the idea of considering that one day, we won’t be able to take care of ourselves. But having these conversations early and often can help prevent a crisis situation.

Protect your independence with AI-powered fall detection. Compare wearable sensors for balance, senior gait analysis technology and contactless fall sensors to prevent injuries and stay safe aging at home.

Falling is scary. The good news is that AI-powered fall detection exists to reduce fears and risks associated with falling. Some fall prevention technologies help people respond to falls, whereas others help them avoid falls before they even happen. Older adults who take advantage of fall prevention technologies such as wearable monitoring devices, AI sensors, smart lighting and more, may be able to stay upright and safely navigate fall risks.

While anyone can be at risk for a fall or fall-related injury, older adults can be more vulnerable than others. Older adults with comorbidities or balance issues are particularly at risk. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among adults aged 65 and older, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A new study has ranked Connecticut among the best states in the nation for active seniors, with 80% of its senior population in good or excellent health and 82% of the population living within a half-mile of a park. 

The study, released by the California-based Seniorly Resource Center, reviewed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Center for Disease Control and the Census Bureau to determine how the 50 states did in each of six categories: physical activity, health status, life expectancy at age 65, park proximity, gym access, and golf course access. 

In terms of life expectancy, seniors in Connecticut are likely to live nearly 20 more years after age 65, second in the nation to Hawai’i (20.4) according to the study. 

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