Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domainWhere Welaka residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Welaka, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Welaka. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Welaka
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Welaka
1 in 6 adults have COPD (16.9%), more than twice the Florida rate. 1 in 13 adults have had a stroke (7.9%), about twice the Florida rate. Heart disease is also above the state: 15.2%, vs 7.5% across Florida. In all, Welaka runs above Florida on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 38% of residents are 65 or older (Florida 21%), and COPD, stroke and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Welaka
45.1% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.4% across Florida. Among those 65 and older, 21.6% have lost all their teeth (Florida 12.7%). Checkups ↓
More Welaka adults get no exercise
37.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 26.3% across Florida. Habits ↓
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 Welaka’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Welaka adults…
Welaka runs above FL on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Welaka is an older town: 38% 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 Welaka as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Welaka adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Everyday habits, side by side with Florida
Share of adults, with the Florida figure marked.
Care in and near Welaka
No hospital or community health center in Welaka 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 Welaka; ≈ 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).
How Welaka 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.
25.5% of Welaka adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Welaka 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 Welaka adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Welaka
Why doesn’t Welaka have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Welaka.
What hospital is closest to Welaka?
HCA Florida Putnam Hospital in Palatka, 11.0 miles in a straight line from Welaka’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Welaka?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Aza Health in Crescent City, 7.7 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Welaka.
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.