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The Best and Worst States to Retire in for Senior Citizens in Arizona

The age of retirement is either 65 or 67, depending on what year you were born. Many senior citizens in the U.S. choose to move to another state, while others choose to remain in their home state. There are many reasons to move to another state for retirement, whether it’s to be closer to family or for a reason as simple as the weather.

Arizona ranks 13 out of 50 when it comes to the best states to retire in. This isn’t a terrible rating, so is it better for seniors in Arizona to stay where they are, or look to another state for retirement?

Best States for Retirement

#1: Florida

If you ask a group of senior citizens which state they’d most like to retire in, the majority would probably say Florida— and with good reason. Based on many studies, Florida is considered the best state for seniors to retire in. More than 20% of the population is over 65 and the weather is pleasant for much of the year. If you don’t mind seasonal hurricanes, then Florida may be worth looking into for retirement

#2: Georgia

Georgia doesn’t see as many hurricanes as Florida, but it has pretty similar weather, making it another state that seniors choose to retire to. Its senior population isn’t as high as Florida’s, but neither is the cost of living.

#3: Michigan

Michigan may seem like the polar opposite of both Florida and Georgia, but it still ranks at number 3 on the list of best places to retire. This is mostly because Michigan is one of the most affordable states to live in, which is a big concern for retirees.

#4: Ohio

Ohio is another state that may not come to mind when thinking about retirement. Like Michigan, it can get pretty cold in the wintertime, but it’s also one of the more affordable states to live in.

#5: Missouri

Missouri is another state that has a very affordable cost of living. It sees pretty warm summers and cold winters— not as harsh as Ohio or Michigan.

Worst States for Retirement

The worst states to retire in typically have higher costs of living, harsher weather, and higher crime rates. The 10 worst states to retire in (as concluded by Bankrate) are:

  1. Alaska
  2. Maine
  3. California
  4. New Mexico
  5. Montana
  6. Vermont
  7. Maryland
  8. Connecticut
  9. Hawaii
  10. Washington

Alaska and Maine are pretty self-explanatory because they tend to have some of the coldest weather in the U.S. California and Hawaii may seem like nice states to retire in, but they have the second-highest and highest (respectively) costs of living in the entire country.

Taking Long-Term Care into Consideration

Unfortunately, not all senior citizens are able to live independently for the remainder of their lives. Some may be able to for a while, and as their health and memory decline, they may need to move into an assisted living facility.

Best and Worst States for Long-Term Care

According to MedicareGuide, California, Minnesota, Washington, Texas, and New York rank in the top five when it comes to the best states for long-term care. The rankings are based on cost, access, and quality of care, which is arguably the most important factor. The best states for retirement, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, and Missouri rank 23, 33, 27, 13, and 30, respectively. MedicareGuide lists the bottom five states for long-term care as Montana (51), Wyoming (50), South Dakota (49), Nevada (48), and Mississippi (47), based on the same metrics.

Arizona Long-Term Care

Arizona ranks 31 out of 51 (including the District of Columbia) for long-term care, so it’s in the bottom half. Its ranking for “best state to retire in” is much higher, assuming that retirees don’t need long-term care. Arizona has nearly 150 long-term care facilities, but many of the residents in these facilities are victims of elder abuse and neglect. Unfortunately, this is true for a lot of long-term care facilities in the U.S.

When it comes to retirement, senior citizens have a lot to take into consideration. The majority of seniors would like to, ideally, remain in their own homes. This is possible as long as they’re able to do so safely and comfortably, and it’s often the most cost-effective option as well. As for those seniors who may need long-term care in the future, both seniors and their families need to choose high-quality long-term senior care to ensure their safety and comfort.