Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Forest residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Forest, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Forest. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Forest
Cancer and COPD run high in Forest
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.7%), vs 7.5% across Louisiana. 1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.4%), vs 8.5% across Louisiana. In all, Forest runs above Louisiana on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Forest is short on dental care and mental health care
Forest’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Fewer Forest adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Louisiana. 1 in 8 adults worry about keeping their housing, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Louisiana figure falls outside Forest’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Forest adults…
Forest runs above LA on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Forest
No hospital or community health center in Forest 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 Forest; ≈ 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).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
15.6% of Forest adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Everyday habits, side by side with Louisiana
Share of adults, with the Louisiana figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Forest adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
How Forest adults are doing
About the same as Louisiana on each measure.
1 in 3 Forest adults feel lonely. 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.
Forest 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 Forest adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Forest
Why doesn’t Forest have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Forest.
What hospital is closest to Forest?
West Carroll Memorial Hospital in Oak Grove, 5.5 miles in a straight line from Forest’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Forest.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Louisiana 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.