Age may come with wisdom, but not necessarily with continued good health or wealth. For many seniors no longer able to live at home, healthy, wealthy and wise means looking for a nursing home that that is comfortable, clean, well-run and affordable.
SmartAsset has analyzed nursing home care in all 50 states and ranked the top 10.
To achieve that goal, SmartAsset examined nursing homes per 10,000 seniors; nurse staffing hours per resident per day; average fine amount incurred by nursing homes; percentage of long-stay residents with worsening health; percentage of short-stay residents with improvements in function; percentage of short-stay residents assessed and given the flu vaccine appropriately; and average cost of nursing home care.
It found that the best nursing home care was in the South and in the Midwest, and that none of the top 10 states with the best nursing homes were located in the Northeast. The two Northeastern states that came closest to being ranked among the best were New Hampshire and New Jersey, each tied at 16th.
According to Genworth Cost of Care Survey data, which SmartAsset used to determine 2018 nursing home costs in all 50 states, Alaska—ranked 36th overall—had the highest cost of nursing home care at $351,495. That's more than six times the cost in Oklahoma, which ranked 15th and had the lowest average annual cost in the study. Even in the least expensive states, nursing home care will run more than $50,000 per year, but cost is only one of several factors used to determine where seniors will find the best nursing home care for their retirement dolla, the report said.
Below, in ascending order, are SmartAsset’s top 10 states of 2019 with the best nursing home care.
10. Arizona (tied)
Arizona is popular with retirees for many reasons, and the state’s nursing home care is one of them. At $2,582, it has the fourth-lowest average fine amount of the study, while the average cost of nursing care is just $77,928 per year.
10. Alabama (tied)
Retirees will find warm weather, sandy beaches and plenty of golf courses in the Cotton State, but they’ll really appreciate Alabama’s low average cost of nursing care at just $75,347 a year.
9. Utah
At $73,000 a year, Utah has the eighth-lowest average cost of nursing home care in the study. The Beehive State also has the sixth-lowest rate of worsening health in long-stay residents, at 15.51%.
8. Missouri
Retirees can find low-cost housing in Missouri or short- or long-term nursing home care at an average yearly cost of $60,225—the third-lowest of the survey. The state has 5.19 nursing homes per 10,000 seniors.
7. Louisiana
Balmy breezes and low-cost living attract plenty of retired birdwatchers to the Pelican State's bayous, but if they need watching over themselves, there are 3.96 nursing homes per 10,000 seniors available in Louisiana, at an average yearly cost of $62,780.
6. Nebraska
Despite long, frigid winters, retirees living in the Cornhusker State can take comfort at any of the 5.15 nursing homes available per 10,000 seniors—the fourth-highest number of the study—at an average cost oft $82,855 per year.
5. California
Warm weather, great entertainment and inspiring culture are all reasons that retirees want to live in the Golden State. While there are only 2.17 nursing homes per 10,000 seniors, long-stay residents have the second-lowest rate of worsening health at 13.83%.
4. Minnesota
When the weather is warm, retired snowbirds find the living easy in Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes. And if seniors need nursing home care, they can look forward to a shorter stay at reduced cost since 74.34% of residents show functional improvement.
3. Mississippi
Warm weather, sunny skies and a slower pace of life attract retirees to Mississippi’s 13 adult communities. There are 4.40 nursing homes per 10,000 seniors in the Magnolia State, and only 1.49% of those who need long-stay care in one show depressive symptoms.
2. North Dakota
North Dakota offers retirees excellent health care that includes 7.10 nursing homes per 10,000 seniors, but they’ll pay a premium for that care at an average yearly cost of $132,320—the fifth most expensive in the study.
1. Arkansas
Arkansas is home to the rugged Ozark Mountains, as well as a growing community of retirees. The Land of Opportunity lives up to its nickname, with 4.63 nursing homes per 10,000 seniors, at an average yearly cost of $62,240—the fifth-lowest of the study.
The full report can be viewed here.
