Where Gardner residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Gardner, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gardner. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gardner
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Gardner
1 in 7 adults have COPD (14%), about twice the Florida rate. 1 in 7 adults have heart disease (13.9%), about twice the Florida rate. Stroke is also above the state: 6.4%, vs 3.8% across Florida. In all, Gardner runs above Florida on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 45% of residents are 65 or older (Florida 21%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Gardner
48.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.4% across Florida. Among those 65 and older, 25% have lost all their teeth (Florida 12.7%). Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Gardner, and more people treating it
48.2% of adults have high blood pressure (Florida 36.6%), but 85.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 78.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Florida figure falls outside Gardner’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Gardner adults…
Gardner runs above FL on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Gardner is an older town: 45% of residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across Florida. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Gardner as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Gardner adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Care in and near Gardner
No hospital or community health center in Gardner itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Gardner; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Florida
Share of adults, with the Florida figure marked.
How Gardner adults are doing
About the same as Florida on each measure.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
19.5% of Gardner adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Gardner and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Gardner adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Gardner
Why doesn’t Gardner have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Gardner.
What hospital is closest to Gardner?
Desoto Memorial Hospital in Arcadia, 10.2 miles in a straight line from Gardner’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Gardner.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Florida figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.