Most American Seniors Live With Chronic Disease

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However, no state has met the target for physical activity, eating fruits and vegetables daily, and flu and pneumonia vaccines, and only three states -- Colorado, Hawaii, and New Mexico -- have met the target for lowering obesity.

In addition, more progress is needed in making sure older Americans get flu and pneumonia vaccinations. There also needs to be an effort to reduce hospitalizations for hip fractures, particularly among women, according to the report.

In terms of individual states, Minnesota, Oregon, California, Hawaii and Washington are doing the best in meeting national health care goals, Anderson said. Those at the bottom of the list include Mississippi, Georgia, and other southeastern states, she noted.

Anderson also said that one of the areas that is lagging behind in most places is physical activity. Older adults simply aren't getting enough, Anderson said. "If we can point to a critical area where people can benefit, it is physical activity," she said. "Physical activity can prevent functional decline, falls, and it may even improve cognitive health," she said.

The hidden threat to senior health is the epidemic of obesity, Anderson said. "Obesity can undermine all the other good things that are happening," she said.

Factors like obesity may be taking their toll: 80 percent of older Americans suffer from one chronic disease, and a full half of seniors are burdened by two chronic illnesses, the CDC report found.

One expert is concerned that while some goals are being met, others that are more difficult to achieve are not being addressed.

"It's a great achievement that we have identified areas to focus on and are measuring our progress toward achieving those goals," said Dr. Mike Steinman, an assistant professor of geriatrics at the University of California, San Francisco.

Steinman said the easier goals -- such as mammography and colorectal cancer screening -- have been achieved. "However, a lot of the more complex efforts, for example, preventing obesity, increasing people's fruit and vegetable intake and helping to maintain oral health, are not being met," he said.