Survey shows unmet social needs affect majority of Americans

More than two-thirds of Americans surveyed had at least one unmet social need in the past year and more than a quarter said an unmet social need has been a barrier to health, according to a report released in June by Kaiser Permanente. The survey, which defined social needs based on access to 19 possible items categorized under housing, transportation, food security, and social support, found that food insecurity was the most common source of stress, followed closely by social isolation.

Unmet social needs affect a broad swath of ages and income levels, according to the survey. Although young and low-income Americans were more likely to experience an unmet social need, 40% of families at the highest income level, defined as those earning $125,000 or more annually, reported at least one unmet social need in the past year.

Social needs and health are interconnected, according to Dr. Cynthia Telles, chair of the Kaiser Permanente Community Health Committee. “Health is holistic and issues like housing and food insecurity, or even access to transportation, can have a grave impact on both personal and community wellbeing,” Dr. Telles said in a press release discussing the report.

The survey suggests that Americans would agree with Dr. Telles. The vast majority indicated that social needs are important to overall health. Access to stable housing (89%) was rated as most important, followed by access to balanced meals (84%), reliable transportation (80%), and supportive relationships (72%).

The survey found that many Americans don’t know where to look for help. More than one-third said they wouldn’t be able to identify the best resources to address social needs, and a majority were uncertain of community resources available to them.

Americans want medical providers to help, the survey found. More than 9 in 10 Americans support medical providers evaluating social needs during visits, and if an unmet need were identified, 80% would want information from medical providers about community resources.

“Simply asking if you can afford your medicine, have you skipped a meal, or do you feel safe at home can be the beginning of addressing unmet needs for patients,” Dr. Telles said. “We have a responsibility and opportunity to connect people to the services that promote holistic health.”