Most older Americans want to remain in their homes, and though that might be a difficult goal in many states, New Jersey is not one of them. The Garden State ranked as the third-best state for aging in place, according to the senior living technology business Seniorly.
A record 4.2 million Americans will turn 65 in 2025 – and nearly 75% of them say they want to stay in their homes rather than move to a senior living facility. Besides the familiar surroundings and comfort of home, aging in place is becoming even more appealing as healthcare technology and telehealth services continue to advance. It also means remaining independent, connected and in control of their lives.
The San Francisco-based company analyzed 10 factors in the 50 states and Washington, D.C., to determine the best states for aging in place in 2025. Seniorly looked at data pertaining to seniors’ risk of isolation; home health care quality; home health aide availability; emergency care timeliness; smart home adoption; housing costs; road safety; local walkability; food delivery access; and weather hazards. Seniorly analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; Census Bureau; Housing and Urban Development; and others to compile its list.
New Jersey attained its No. 3 ranking based on its the average walk score of 59 (No. 2) for its biggest cities; 31.6% of home health agencies have a 4.5- or 5-star CMS rating (No. 4); and 30.1% of people use smart home technology to interact with household equipment via the internet (No. 6).
Among other key findings for aging in place in the Garden State: 41.8% of seniors live alone (Rank: 17 (tie); seniors per home health or personal care aide: 16 (Rank: 12 (tie); seniors involved in fatal car crashes: 11.5 per 100,000 drivers (Rank: 9).
Monmouth County’s Division on Aging, Disabilities and Veterans Services and SCAN (Senior Citizens Activity Network) recently launched the “Successful Aging in Place” video series, aimed at helping Monmouth County seniors make informed decisions about aging successfully in their own home.
It’s not totally rosy for those aging in place in New Jersey because of population density and high costs. The median wait time between emergency-room arrival and departure is 185 minutes (Rank: 43) and homeowners ages 65 and above who spend more than 30% of their income on housing is 35.3% (Rank: 51), the highest percentage in the nation.
Florida, long a destination for retirees, ranks last on the list. The 10 best states are mostly in the West: Utah, North Dakota, New Jersey, Idaho, Texas, Nebraska, California, New Mexico, Kansas, and Washington.
