Where Mermentau residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Mermentau, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Mermentau. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Mermentau
COPD, cancer and heart disease run high in Mermentau
1 in 8 adults have COPD (11.8%), vs 8.5% across Louisiana. 1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.2%), vs 7.5% across Louisiana. Heart disease is also above the state: 10.1%, vs 7.5% across Louisiana. In all, Mermentau runs above Louisiana on six of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 50% of residents are 65 or older (Louisiana 17%), and COPD, cancer and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Mermentau
50.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.2% across Louisiana. Among those 65 and older, 25.5% have lost all their teeth (Louisiana 18.1%). Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Mermentau, and more people treating it
48% of adults have high blood pressure (Louisiana 42.6%), but 82.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 78.8% 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 Louisiana figure falls outside Mermentau’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Mermentau adults…
Mermentau runs above LA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Mermentau is an older town: 50% 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 Mermentau as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Mermentau adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
Care in and near Mermentau
No hospital or community health center in Mermentau 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 Mermentau; ≈ 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 Louisiana
Share of adults, with the Louisiana figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Mermentau adults are doing
About the same as Louisiana on each measure.
1 in 3 Mermentau 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.
19.2% of Mermentau adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Mermentau 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 Mermentau adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Mermentau
Why doesn’t Mermentau have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Mermentau.
What hospital is closest to Mermentau?
Ochsner American Legion Hospital in Jennings, 6.0 miles in a straight line from Mermentau’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 Mermentau.
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.