Many older adults in the U.S. dream of growing old in their own homes instead of moving to a senior living facility. In fact, 75% of seniors say they would prefer to stay in their own homes as they age. This is called “aging in place.”
To find out which states are best and worst for aging in place, Seniorly (a senior living website) studied 10 key areas like home care services, emergency care, road safety, walkability, housing costs, and even weather.
The Big Surprise?
Florida — often called a retirement paradise — ranked last for aging in place.
Why?
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Too few home health aides (1 for every 50 seniors)
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High housing costs (30.7% of older adults spend over 30% of income on housing)
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Weather issues (53 inches of rain each year)
Florida did score well in a few areas. Fewer seniors live alone, and some home health agencies have high-quality ratings. But overall, it fell to the bottom of the list.
The Best State for Aging in Place: Utah
Utah came out on top thanks to:
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Low social isolation (fewer seniors live alone)
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Safer weather (only 10.1 inches of rain yearly)
Other top states for aging at home:
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North Dakota (#2)
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New Jersey (#3)
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Idaho (#4)
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Texas (#5)
So, while Florida might be great for sunny beaches and fun retirements, it may not be the best choice if you want to grow old comfortably at home.
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