Butler Countians live longer; golden years residents share their thoughts
Carole Brodmerkel will be 85 years old in March, an age she said she will reach because she filled many of her days with things she loved.
“First of all, I was kind to people. I could have been kinder, but you’ve got to have kindness,” said Brodmerkel, a resident at Magnolia Place of Saxonburg. “I bicycled all my life, I flew kites … I loved animals, I had cats and dogs and hamsters.”
Whether it be through her dedication to joy or good living habits, Brodmerkel has surpassed the average life span of a Pennsylvania resident, which is 78 years, as well as the average U.S. resident, which is 78.5 years Those numbers recently were updated using data from 2018 to 2020.
In Butler County, the average life span is 78.8 years, according to data from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a program of the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Where we rank
Quality of Life in Butler County:
In 2019, 15% of people reported having poor or fair health in the county.
The average Butler County resident reported 3.7 poor physical health days and 4.6 poor mental health days in the past 30 days.
In 2019, 6% of babies had low birth weights, under 5 pounds, 8 ounces, from 2014 to 2020.
About 17% of adults are smokers in Butler County, 31% of people are obese, 24% of adults reported no leisure-time physical activity, and 73% of adults reported they have regular access to exercise opportunities in 2019.
SOURCE: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
