Where Mer Rouge residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Mer Rouge, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Mer Rouge. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Mer Rouge
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Mer Rouge
1 in 6 adults have COPD (17.4%), about twice the Louisiana rate. 1 in 11 adults have had a stroke (8.8%), about twice the Louisiana rate. Heart disease is also above the state: 14.3%, vs 7.5% across Louisiana. In all, Mer Rouge runs above Louisiana on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 34% of residents are 65 or older (Louisiana 17%), and COPD, stroke and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Mer Rouge
45.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.2% across Louisiana. Among those 65 and older, 33.9% have lost all their teeth (Louisiana 18.1%). Mer Rouge’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
More Mer Rouge adults get no exercise
45.1% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 30.3% across Louisiana. 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 Louisiana figure falls outside Mer Rouge’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Mer Rouge adults…
Mer Rouge runs above LA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Mer Rouge is an older town: 34% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Louisiana. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Mer Rouge as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Mer Rouge adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks 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.
Care in and near Mer Rouge
1 community health center in Mer Rouge, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Mer Rouge; ≈ 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 Mer Rouge adults are doing
About the same as Louisiana on each measure.
2 in 5 Mer Rouge 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
35.5% of Mer Rouge adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Mer Rouge 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 Mer Rouge adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Mer Rouge
Why doesn’t Mer Rouge have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Mer Rouge.
What hospital is closest to Mer Rouge?
Morehouse General Hospital in Bastrop, 7.1 miles in a straight line from Mer Rouge’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 Mer Rouge?
3 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Communihealth Services Mer Rouge Family Practice & Behavioral Health Center in Mer Rouge, 0.1 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Mer Rouge.
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.