For many people, retirement is synonymous with living out their golden years in a picturesque locale, far from the bustle of their past work lives. Whether it be a sandy beach or a mountain cabin, there are several considerations to keep in mind before settling into retirement.
Proximity to loved ones often ranks high on the list of must haves for retirees looking for their next home, but other factors such as access to good health care as well as senior support in a given town are important influencers as well.
While the perception of Florida as a retiree's haven is well known, a new study from Caring.com said that fiction is far from fact. The Sun Belt is no longer the best place for retirees, and the study's findings show this by examining which states offer affordable and quality health care, long-term care and other senior perks.
Using data pertaining to cost and quality of care for residents over 55 and over 100,000 senior care center ratings, Caring.com shed new light on which states today's retirees should consider.
Spoiler alert: You might want to pack some snow boots.
10. Wisconsin
Wisconsin ranked eighth in the country for quality of life and health care, and its access to long-term care options and support for seniors and family caregivers sealed its spot among the top 10 places to grow old.
Still, its cost of senior care is a little inflated: $48,000 for assisted living and $50,000 per year for a home health aide. But hey, there is the added bonus if you love cheese and football.
9. Nebraska
The Cornhusker State is a great place for retirees grow old, as it ranked high on quality of life, health care, and well-being indexes, and it's known for its quality of care for seniors and support of family caregivers.
Also, it's pretty affordable care, as the cost of assisted living ($43,500) and a home health aide ($53,000) are near the national average.
8. South Carolina
The only southern state to make Caring.com's list, South Carolina was the fifth cheapest in terms of elder care.
With an average cost of $37,500 for assisted living care and $42,000 for a home health aide, retirees can enjoy affordable access to health care while enjoying the beachfront towns.
7. Hawaii
Who wouldn't want to call the sandy beaches of Hawaii home?
The state scored the highest marks in the country on support for family caregivers, and did equally well for quality of LTC and senior support. Still, the popular vacation destination gets pricey quickly — $48,000 for assisted living facilities and $56,000 for an in-home nurse.
6. Colorado
While known for its natural beauty and access to countless outdoor activities, Colorado didn't rank quite as high for seniors due to a slightly higher cost of care.
On average, assisted living and home health aides cost about $50,000 per year.
5. Oregon
Oregon is quickly becoming a destination for many Americans, not just seniors.
One study said Oregon was the most popular state to move to in 2015, and apparently, retirees agree. While it ranked highly on quality of life, health care studies, and long-term care, Oregon finds itself in the middle spot on Caring.com's list due to an elevated cost of care: $50,000 on average for an assisted living community and $51,000 for a home nurse.
4. Alaska
Out of all 50 states, Alaska was the highest rated quality of life and health care for seniors, and didn't do too badly in terms of access to long-term care and senior support.
That said, the state boasts the most expensive senior care in the nation, running an average of $68,000 per year for assisted living and a whopping $281,000 for an in-home nurse.
3. Minnesota
With neighboring Canada just a border away, Minnesota doesn't offer the year-round warmness of the Sun Belt, but it did rank number three in terms of health care and overall quality of life for seniors.
However, the cost of care was a little more expensive than the national average, coming in at $42,000 per year for assisted living and $57,000 for a home health aide.
2. Iowa
Cornfields aren't in short supply in Iowa and neither is affordable senior care.
It also ranked in the top 10 in the nation for quality of life and health care for residents over 55.
1. South Dakota
With just more than 853,000 residents, the home of Mount Rushmore was the best place to call home for those wanting to enjoy their retirement.
South Dakota outranked all other 49 states in terms of quality of life, health care, and financial categories. South Dakota's cost of senior care was near the national average ($36,000 per year for assisted living, and $52,000 for an in-home health aide), and the state enjoyed one of the highest combined well-being indexes for those over 55.
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