Best States for Elderly Care Access: A Comprehensive Study Reveals Top Rankings

Navigating the threshold of my new senior status at age 60 triggered some reflections on my health and care provisions. While I personally am retired with full medical benefits via the Veteran’s Administration, what might it look like if that wasn’t the case? The sudden realization that things can swiftly change health-wise brings a mix of contemplation and whimsy. A recent study caught my attention, delving into the intricate landscape of elderly care accessibility across states. The findings—a quirky yet surprisingly insightful exploration—shed light on this pertinent subject. Curious about where each state stands in terms of providing elderly care, I stumbled upon this amusingly random study, triggering thoughts on my own circumstances and whether I’m well-positioned for the future.

A recent comprehensive study conducted by SonderCare, a provider of home hospital beds, shed light on the best states providing access to elderly care in America. The study assessed various metrics including nursing home availability, respite facilities, occupancy rates, and costs to determine the overall ‘Care Score’ for each state…my state is kinda suspect!!!

The states offering the best access to elderly care according to the study

Rank	State	‘Care score’ (out of 100)
1.	Iowa	70.67
2.	Oklahoma	66.06
3.	Missouri	63.34
4.	Louisiana	59.95
5.	South Dakota	58.25
6.	Kansas	57.02
7.	Montana	56.67
8.	North Carolina	53.49
9.	Wisconsin	53.46
10.	Nebraska	53.07

Iowa Secures Top Spot: Highest Care Score of 70.67 out of 100

Iowa emerges as the leading state, boasting an impressive Care Score of 70.67 out of 100. With 412 nursing homes and 112 respite facilities per 100,000 residents, Iowa ranks favorably in terms of availability. Notably, its nursing homes maintain a 71% occupancy rate, offering affordable monthly rates averaging $6,874 for a semi-private room and $7,452 for a private room. However, the state showcases a 10% deficiency rate in its nursing homes, slightly higher than the national average of 6%.

Oklahoma Takes Second Place: Care Score of 66.06 out of 100

Securing the second spot, Oklahoma demonstrates a Care Score of 66.06 out of 100. The state boasts 292 nursing homes per 100,000 residents but has a lower occupancy rate of 58%. Despite this, its affordable monthly costs of $5,475 for a semi-private room and $6,083 for a private room contribute to its higher ranking. Similar to Iowa, its deficiency rate slightly surpasses the national average at 7%.

Missouri and Louisiana Follow Suit in Top Rankings

Missouri stands third with a Care Score of 63.34, showcasing affordability with monthly costs of $5,262 for a semi-private room and $5,931 for a private room. However, it notably exhibits a deficiency rate below the national average at 2%.

Louisiana secures the fourth position, boasting affordable monthly costs of $5,759 for a semi-private room and $6,060 for a private room. Although its deficiency rate sits at 8%, slightly above the national average, the state achieves a commendable Care Score of 59.95 out of 100.

Observations on State Rankings and National Trends

South Dakota, Kansas, Montana, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Nebraska also feature in the study, presenting varying Care Scores and metrics influencing elderly care access.

Kyle Sobko, CEO of SonderCare, highlighted the increasing importance of elderly care, considering the significant growth in the aging population over the years. Sobko emphasized the importance of states ensuring quality care, with statistics showing a 17.3% population increase over 65 in 2022 compared to 13.1% in 2010.

The study provides critical insights into states’ performances, emphasizing low deficiency rates nationally at an average of 0.06%. Surprisingly, Alaska emerges as the most expensive state for elderly care, with private nursing home costs reaching a staggering $31,512 monthly—more than $16,300 above the second-costliest state, Connecticut.

For more information on the study, and access to the full ranking report, please visit SonderCare’s website.

*Note: Methodology details were sourced from SonderCare’s research methodologies and publicly available data.*

Featured Image by Kampus Production

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Tags: AARP, Elderly Care, Elderly Care Access, Health, medical care, senior citizens

About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.