Not one of the states that attract the most U.S. retirees rank in even the top half as among the healthiest states for senior adults.
If you want to retire to one of the healthiest states in America, then your choices won’t include Florida, Arizona, North Carolina, South Carolina or Nevada, which are the five states (in order) that attract the most retirees, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. In fact, only one state (Oregon) among the top 10 retirement destinations ranked in the top half among all states for senior health.
That’s one conclusion from the 2019 America’s Heath Rankings Senior Report, one of the most comprehensive studies on the health status of senior adults, both nationwide and state-by-state. The report ranks states based on 34 core measures of health including behaviors, community and environment, policy and clinical care. The report follows a World Health Organization model that defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
– World Health Organization
So which state is the healthiest for seniors? Pack your bags for the Aloha state! Hawaii takes top honors in this report.
Of the 34 ranking criteria, Hawaii finished No. 1 in healthy behaviors, No. 2 in health outcomes, and No. 3 in policy. Hawaii has the lowest rate of obesity among all states, at 19.8 percent of adults aged 65 and older, compared with 28.5 percent nationally. It also has the lowest death rate among 65 to 74-year-olds, good results for arthritis management, and the highest percentage of four and five-star nursing home beds. Even Hawaii has its health issues, with a high prevalence of excessive drinking among seniors, at 10.1 percent of adults aged 65 and older, compared with 7.4 percent nationally. Hospital deaths were also above average.
The top five states that are ranked healthiest for senior adults are shown below in this chart reprinted by permission from America’s Health Rankings.
Southern states generally fared poorly in the state rankings. Coming in dead last at No. 50 is Mississippi. The bottom five states are shown below, in a graphic from the report.
How the most popular retirement states rate
While none of the top five most popular retirement states ranked in the top half of the list, it’s also good to know that none ranked among the bottom five.
Florida, the No. 1 state by far where retirees move to, was the highest-rated Southern state at No. 29 out of 50 states. It ranked above average in clinical care (No. 22 out of 50 states) but low in behaviors at No. 34. Arizona, the No. 2 state where retirees migrate, ranked just two steps behind Florida at No. 31. Arizona ranked above average for clinical care (No. 21 out of 50 states) but rated low in “community and environment” (No. 41) and No. 37 for policy.
Here is a map of all 50 states, reprinted by permission from America’s Health Rankings.
Citing U.S. Census Bureau data, the AHR’s 2019 Senior Report notes that the senior (65 and over) population has grown 45 percent since 2000, from 35 million to 51 million. This number will continue to grow as more Baby Boomers reach age 65. The health status of this large group is important not only to seniors but to the entire nation.
The report also discussed nationwide trends in the health of senior adults. We covered that aspect of the report in a previous blog post which you can read here.
Conclusions
The AHR says its reports are intended to provide useful benchmarks for states to compare how they are doing versus other states and to identify areas that need improvement. Another reason is to stimulate discussion that will lead to better public policy and practices to improve senior health in America.
For retirees or those contemplating relocating for retirement to another state, the report’s conclusions are just one of many criteria to consider. Climate, recreational and lifestyle amenities, cost of living, taxation, and proximity to family and friends are all equally important considerations. Hawaii, the top-ranked state for health, has a very high cost of living and is not easily accessible to other parts of the United States. Utah, the No. 2 state, has a climate that may be too harsh to suit most retirees.
In addition, some of the report’s conclusions would not necessarily apply to senior adults retiring to a particular state. For instance, retirees relocating to popular Southern states like North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama will not necessarily adopt the poor health habits common among other residents of those states. Retirees who are middle or upper income will find excellent healthcare options even in the lowest-ranked states.
See our recent blog post on “11 Reasons to Consider Retiring to Florida” for a more comprehensive look at the benefits of moving to the Sunshine State.
Want better health?
Interested in more stories about health and wellness for senior adults? Check out these recent stories from This Retirement Life:
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