Retirees are drawn to Florida for the sunshine and promise of an active later life, making it one of the top three states in terms of senior population. But a new report from the Humana Foundation reveals a far different reality for many older Floridians who struggle with mental health challenges that often go unaddressed, an issue that should be top of mind in Florida and beyond, and everywhere decisions shape the health of the communities we serve.
Nearly one in eight Florida seniors is diagnosed with depression, and one in 12 experiences frequent mental distress. Hospitalizations for mental disorders rose 16% from 2022 to 2024, and the suicide rate among older Floridians exceeds the national average. These figures point to a significant public health issue that could reach a crisis point in the coming years.
Florida’s older population is surging. With projections showing that one in three Floridians will be over 60 by 2050, the emotional well-being of older adults will increasingly shape the health and resilience of the state as a whole. Given seniors’ growing numbers and the substantial contributions they make as caregivers, volunteers and to Florida’s overall economy, it’s imperative that everyone in the state and beyond prioritize older adults’ mental health.
Addressing the emotional health of the senior population will require cross-sector efforts from multiple areas, and a critical step toward that end is making older adults a priority in mental-health planning.
Multiple factors affect the mental health of Florida’s seniors, including financial insecurity, debilitating health conditions and caregiving responsibilities. However, with one in four older Floridians living alone and many residing in rural areas, including in Orange County, social isolation and loneliness are chief among those contributors and are strongly linked to risks for both mental and physical health conditions.
Expanding screening for loneliness and depression among older adults, as well as utilizing data systems to assess and monitor mental health status, will help identify those in need. Investing in community organizations that offer in-person and virtual programs to foster and strengthen personal connections can significantly reduce social isolation and loneliness, which has been shown to improve seniors’ emotional health.
While Florida is not alone in facing a mental healthcare shortage, its lack of practitioners, especially those with geriatric expertise, is one of the worst in the country. The state ranks 43rd in the nation for access to a mental healthcare provider and has 240 federally designated mental health shortage areas, many of which are in rural and low-income areas.
There is no simple solution to overcoming the provider shortage, but greater access to care is both possible and essential. State agencies, the healthcare sector and the business community can be incentivized to expand mental health services for older adults, particularly in underserved communities. Evidence-based digital mental health tools, including telehealth programs, along with digital literacy training, can also help fill some care gaps.
Florida has so much to offer older adults, and, likewise, they are invaluable to the state. But with seniors’ well-being at risk, it’s critical to support their mental health needs — an issue that should remain a priority in Florida so the state and its older citizens can continue to thrive.
Tiffany Benjamin is the CEO of Humana Foundation. Dorothea Vafiadis is Senior Strategist for Healthy Aging with the National Council on Aging.