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Newsweek
3 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
These Are the Best and Worst States for Aging in Place
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new report from Seniorly ranked the best and worst states for aging at home for seniors, and Florida surprisingly earned the lowest spot of all. "These findings reinforce what we already know," one expert told Newsweek, "aging well isn't just about personal health; it's also about where you live and what resources that place can provide." As millions of Americans turn 65 this year, more and more are hoping to continue living in their homes rather than move to assisted living facilities or retirement homes. In 2025, a record 4.2 million Americans will reach senior age, and 75 percent of older Americans said they wanted to stay living in their own homes in a recent AARP survey. Why It Matters Many Americans hope to stay at home to maintain their independence and remain in the communities where they've already built support systems. However, not all locations make this easiest for seniors, as cost of living, transportation, and access to high-quality health care all play a role in whether a senior is able to successfully live outside of a retirement home. Shirley Gooding, a physical Therapy Aid, helps William Rexroat, a WWII Navy veteran exercise during a physical therapy session at the Quincy Veterans Home February 17, 2005, in Quincy, Illinois. Shirley Gooding, a physical Therapy Aid, helps William Rexroat, a WWII Navy veteran exercise during a physical therapy session at the Quincy Veterans Home February 17, 2005, in Quincy, To Know Best States Utah took the best state spot for aging in place, as only 35 percent of seniors live alone. They also have relatively good weather, with just 10.1 inches of rain and snow each year on average. The state also had a significant level of smart home tech use at 37 percent. The top 10 state list for seniors was as follows: Utah North Dakota New Jersey Idaho Texas Nebraska California New Mexico Kansas Washington Seniorly's list was compiled using data on home health care quality and availability, emergency care services, housing costs, road safety, walkability, weather hazards and more. They also took into account the risk of isolation, as roughly 43 percent of U.S. seniors live alone. The top states generally had short ER wait times, with North Dakota coming in at second place, as well as a high level of meal deliveries for older Americans. Home care quality also mattered, with 31 percent of New Jersey's agencies earning a 4.5 or 5-star rating. Worst States Meanwhile, the worst states for aging in places were as follows: Florida Kentucky North Carolina Georgia Alabama Tennessee Mississippi Vermont Oklahoma Hawaii Many retirees may be surprised to find Florida ranked the lowest for aging in place. This is because of its limited access to home health aides, with 50 seniors per available aide. Floridians also deal with high housing costs, with 30.7 percent of older homeowners spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing. The state also experiences high precipitation of 53 inches annually, which could heighten safety risks for seniors. The other Southern states ranked low struggled for different reasons. Kentucky had one of the highest rates of fatal car crashes involving seniors, at 28.2 deaths per 100,000 drivers. Meanwhile, seniors in North Carolina spent an average of 195 minutes in the emergency room, longer than nearly all other states. "What is definitely eye-opening is how many Southern states ranked near the bottom," Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. "These are states with historically high poverty rates and heavy reliance on social insurance programs." What People Are Saying Drew Powers, the founder of Illinois-based Powers Financial Group, told Newsweek: "Utah ranks first and Florida ranks last. Does that mean we should always retire in Utah and never in Florida? Not really. The bottom line is aging in place requires a network, and aging seniors need to be located where their network is located. Aside from being financially prepared for longevity, access to both skilled and non-skilled assistance is the key and is most likely to come from family and close friends." Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: "There's a clear relationship between income and aging outcomes. The wealthier the state, the more likely it is to support aging in place through quality care, better roads, and stronger support systems. These findings reinforce what we already know: aging well isn't just about personal health, it's also about where you live and what resources that place can provide." Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "What's most surprising about these rankings are how perceptions do not always equal reality with America's aging population. Florida has been for decades perceived as a haven for retirees; however, in the years following the pandemic, housing costs have risen dramatically and the state has been slow to adopt the home health measures other states have to better medically serve their communities." What Happens Next From 2025 to 2050, the number of people aged 65 and older is expected to skyrocket from 63.3 million to 82.1 million. "States like Utah benefit from more seniors being less alone and having more access to smart home features that assist in the aging process," Beene said. "At the end of the day, aging isn't just about saving some tax dollars. It's about the overall quality of life."
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania's nursing homes will not survive without Medicaid
Shirley Gooding, a physical Therapy Aid, helps William Rexroat, a WWII Navy veteran exercise during a physical therapy session at the Quincy Veterans Home February 17, 2005 in Quincy, Illinois. (Photo by) When COVID-19 first tore through our nursing homes five years ago, I'll never forget seeing the photo Shanrika Nelson, a certified nursing assistant and union member from Philadelphia, posted online. She wanted the public to see the makeshift PPE that she and her coworkers wore every day to protect their residents and themselves the best they could: a trash bag over her body. Led by caregivers' hard work and advocacy, we have made progress since the pandemic to fix and transform Pennsylvania's nursing home system. But now we are facing a new existential threat – potential – Medicaid cuts that will topple nursing homes still hanging by a thread. A new study shows that any cuts to Medicaid could lead to double the number of Pennsylvanians without health insurance. Not only does Medicaid provide comprehensive health and long-term care to 3 million residents in our Commonwealth, it funds over 60% of our nursing homes. I do not want to think about the future of our nursing homes without Medicaid. They likely won't have one. Our system is already unprepared for the number of Pennsylvanians growing older quickly. Talk to any nursing home worker: residents are arriving at facilities younger and with more demanding needs. High acuity, higher severity, and more psychiatric conditions. People are coming to our nursing homes sicker. It's often because they did not have access to high-quality, affordable health insurance and have had undiagnosed conditions for years. Rated one of the deadliest jobs in 2020, nursing homes saw caregivers leave for better-paying, less-dangerous, and less-stressful jobs. Those who stayed often work overtime or second jobs to pay the bills and cover their own medical debt. We fought for and won staffing ratios to ensure every resident receives quality care, but operators are still struggling to retain and recruit the skilled workforce needed. Simply put: we do not have the beds, workers, and training needed to care for Pennsylvanians in the immediate future. And proposed Medicaid cuts are putting nursing homes in danger now. April Chirdon, a CNA who's worked at the same facility in Cambria County for 17 years, is especially worried about rural nursing homes like hers. Much like in other rural communities, an overwhelming majority of her residents depend on Medicaid. It covers the cost of their care, from their caregivers' wages and benefits to the food they eat and lifesaving equipment like nebulizers and oxygen tanks. They don't have an alternative to this care: their families cannot afford to take care of them at home, or they don't have any family. If homes like April's are forced to shut down, where will all of the residents go? We need more funding, not less. We need more accountability, reforms, and teamwork to make every nursing home a fully staffed, safe, and dignified one. This system already relies on caregivers to buy supplies like toilet paper, shampoo, hand sanitizer, and favorite food items for residents out of their own pockets. Because the people in these homes are like family to them. This year, 7,000 nursing home workers have committed to use the power of their union negotiations for new contracts to show the public how much our communities rely on Medicaid, ensure public funding goes to care, and work with responsible operators to defend the resources we need to elevate care for all Pennsylvanians. Healthcare workers will never forget the pandemic and neither should we. Covid-19 showed us how important it is to listen to frontline caregivers sounding the alarm and protecting our loved ones. We need to listen to healthcare workers who are calling on Congress to defend Medicaid. We must stand up to these brutal cuts to our communities and our most vulnerable. Medicaid is a lifeline for so many Pennsylvanians and we – legislators, providers, community members, and workers – must protect it. Matthew Yarnell is President of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, the largest and fastest-growing union of healthcare workers in Pennsylvania, including over 8,000 nursing home workers. Yarnell was a certified nursing assistant in a long-term care facility and lives in Centre County, Pennsylvania.
