Best States for a Healthy Retirement

From Wall Street 24/7 Nov 15, 2017

After many years of working for a living, many Americans look forward to retirement. Typically around age 65, people have finished working, saving money, and raising their children, so their focus shifts to, among other things, staying healthy for their golden years.

As baby boomers age, senior retirees will become an increasingly larger part of the U.S. population. But not every state is an equally healthy place for senior citizens. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s report “The State of Aging and Health in America” breaks down the various factors that reflect health of senior citizens in the United States.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed the indicators considered in the CDC’s report. The indicators include behaviors that affect senior health such as smoking and healthy eating, preventative measures such as screening and vaccination, and health outcomes such as the prevalence of dementia and disability. We compared every U.S. state based on these key indicators of senior health to determine which states are the best, and which are the worst, for a healthy retirement.

2. Hawaii

> Pct. 65+ with a disability: 26.3%

> Pct. 65+ obese: 17.9%

> Flu vaccine in the past year, 65+: 61.2%

> Life expectancy: 81.2 years

Hawaii is not only a great place for vacation, but is also a great place for seniors to live permanently. Seniors in Hawaii are sick less often than those in any other state. The average Hawaii senior reports 3.9 unhealthy days per month, compared to the 5.3 day average reported by seniors across the country.

Hawaii seniors also have the lowest obesity rate in the country. Just 17.9% of Hawaii seniors are obese, compared to 27.5% nationwide. Also, just 7.6% of Hawaii’s 65 and older residents have ever been diagnosed with depression, just over half the nationwide share of 15.0% seniors diagnosed with depression.

read … WS247

KGI:  Hawaii ranks healthiest for retirees