Colorado’s senior citizens are healthier than the state’s infants and children — a result of better health insurance and access to doctors, according to a study by the Colorado Health Foundation.
The non-profit foundation’s 2007 “Health Report Card” gave an A minus to senior care, but a C minus to the care given for infants and children. Adolescents fared a little better with a B minus. The trend underscores differences between systems of “care” and “health,” said Mark Wallace, executive director of the Weld County Health Department.
Senior citizen have federal Medicare insurance and tend to be under treatment for some condition, Wallace said.
But infants and children are facing issues such as women getting adequate prenatal care, child nutrition and immunizations.
Only 45.8 percent of the children in the state had primary-care providers and got consistent care, compared with 75.5 percent of senior citizens.
The ratings were based on state and national health care data and U.S. Census Bureau data.
Mark Jaffe: 303-954-1912 or mjaffe@denverpost.com
