These are the Best and Worst States for Seniors to Grow Old

Seniors that reside in Utah may relish in the fact that the state is considered the “best” state in which to age, according to Caring.com’s “2017 Best and Worst States to Grow Old” report.

The third-party senior care referral agent ranked states according to various factors, including senior living community reviews, nursing home costs and elderly well-being assessments. Caring.com differentiates its list from others by saying that it is based on factors that make a state “a healthy, affordable environment for the elderly.”

Utah not only outranked other states in the overall lineup—it excelled overall in quality of life, health care and cost. Elderly residents in the state have access to “high-quality care” that is far cheaper compared to the price that their peers pay in other states, according to Caring.com.

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In fact, the median annual rate for a one-bedroom unit in an assisted living community in Utah, for example, costs $36,000, compared to a national median annual rate of $43,200, according to Genworth’s 2015 Cost of Care Survey for the state.

The top 10 best states in which to age are…

1. Utah

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2. Iowa

3. South Carolina

4. Washington

5. Nebraska

6. Arizona

7. California

8. Idaho

9. Colorado

10. Oregon 

On the flip side, the state of West Virginia was given the title of “worst” state to age, coming in last in the ranks.

While affordable for the state’s elderly to live in, West Virginia’s older residents reported poor well being in various categories, including “coming in last for physical health, having a sense of purpose and having a decent social life,” according to Caring.com.

The top 10 worst states in which to age are… 

41. Rhode Island

42. Kentucky

43. Ohio

44. Mississippi

45. New Jersey

46. Wyoming

47. North Dakota

48. New York

49. Indiana

50. West Virginia

Written by Carlo Calma

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