We are all growing older, forever slowly but surely dying. Sorry things are so bleak; it's Monday and I'm irritated. But no matter how I feel, and no matter how scary my previous statement, it’s true – it turns out that some states are better for retirement than others. As you age, there are a lot of questions, worries, and things to consider; of course, some of those considerations include your geographic location, so hey, if you want to start planning for your retirement, here's something to do with it You point me in the right direction.
Caring.com has released state-by-state rankings detailing the best places to retire and is the top online resource for seniors and those who care for them. The website takes into account quality of life for those over 55, access to long-term care, quality of health care, support systems for seniors and caregivers, and ratings of more than 100,000 senior care providers across the country. Their sources include the Gallup Healthy Path Well-Being Index and the Long-Term Scorecard, comprehensive in-depth research curated by AARP, The Commonwealth Fund and the SCAN Foundation. I think the word you're looking for is "intense."
While, no, most people don't like to think about getting older, if you're one of the thousands of millennials moving out of the U.S., it might be helpful to take a look at these states, their quality of life ratings, and what they have to offer help. Major coastal cities and...other places. Maybe go to these places. It’s never too early to make plans for your later years, right?
Check out the top seven below, then head to Caring.com for the full list of the best places to grow old.
1. South Dakota
Prairie, Mount Rushmore, and wide open spaces—South Dakota leads the way in cost of living, quality, and access to health care. With a population of over 853,000 residents (well, not that many), South Dakota also has plenty of options for adventure seekers: the Badlands, the world's only corn palace (seriously), and the famous Deadwood of the Old West, as above Pictured (yes, just like the TV show).
2. Iowa
I grew up in the Midwest, and I feel like when I hear "Iowa," I think "corn," without sounding condescending. But there's more than just corn here (although there's certainly a lot of it): Iowa ranks in the top 10 nationally for quality of life for citizens over 55, is considered one of the safest states in the country, and has some seriously beautiful view.
3. Minnesota
Once I discovered that the Minnesota accent wasn't entirely exaggerated by the media, I fell even more in love with this very northern, very cold state. Minnesota has the highest quality of life and education in the country for all ages, not just seniors, and the highest quality of health care for seniors. Additionally, the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) are considered the creative hub of the Midwest, fostering a cool community of visual artists and theater professionals.
4.Alaska
If this were a beauty contest, Alaska would probably win. Considered by many to be the "last frontier," Alaska ranks first in the nation for quality of life and quality of health care for its seniors. On the other hand, the cost of senior housing is astronomical, which is why Alaska ranks fourth overall. Well, Alaska, you can’t win them all.
5. Oregon
My personal goal was to go to Oregon once I realized it had everything I thought of as a beautiful natural world: rocky beaches, vast stretches of coastline, eerie forests. Apparently I'm not alone: Oregon was one of the most popular states for immigrants in 2015. A high quality of life, quality health care, and a wealth of long-term options, along with Oregon's Death with Dignity Act, make it a very good place to be. Well, except for those being pushed out by gentrification.
6. Colorado
Okay, does anyone remember the early movie Catch and Release ? Probably not, but I loved it, and while the plot was a little, uh, heartbreaking, the setting—Colorado—was enough to keep me rewatching the movie every few years. Everyone looks rosy-cheeked and ready for a hike! The complete opposite of trolls, pale me! Turns out it's more than just Hollywood polish: Colorado is regularly ranked as the healthiest state in the United States.
7. Hawaii
Well, duh. I've never been to Hawaii because I never had enough money to go that far, but from the photos it looks awesome. The cost of living is pretty high and continues to rise (let’s be honest, Hawaii is an island and was never intended to support so many people at once, we all know it deep down), but the quality of life and support system for caregivers are among the highest in the country .
Please visit Caring.com for more information.
Image: Len Saltiel, Doug Kerr, Vincent Lock, pfly, Jeff Turner, donepicr /Flickr
