Senior Wellbeing Report

Growing older is a natural part of life, but it brings a unique set of challenges you may not have encountered in your younger years. As you age, new medical ailments can surface,
your social circle can shrink, and it can be challenging to maintain the same lifestyle you’ve been used to.

These challenges to health and lifestyle often require specialist support, such as social groups for seniors, accessible public facilities, and reasonable access to specialist healthcare and prescription drugs.

However, the availability of these services can vary significantly from place to place, leading to very different outcomes for seniors. Access to healthcare and appropriate medication will
vary depending on location and insurance status. At the same time, cultural differences can lead to considerable disparities in social support and the risk of isolation in old age.

To better understand how senior well-being changes from place to place, the team at Universal Drugstore has compared the healthcare, social support, and quality of life in different locations. This will allow us to reveal the best places for seniors in the U.S. and internationally.

1. Switzerland
   Senior Wellbeing Score: 8.52

   Switzerland is the best country for living in your later years, with a senior well-being score of 8.52. This beautiful alpine country at the heart of Europe is one of the wealthiest countries in the world per capita and is well-known for its excellent healthcare and healthy population.

   The country performed very highly across all factors, offering a brilliant quality of life with clean mountain air, excellent access to healthcare, and a healthy life expectancy of 60 of 19.5 years. This means the average elderly Swiss person can expect to reach the age of 79.5 in relatively good health, the fourth highest age after Japan, South Korea, and France.

2. Iceland
   Senior Wellbeing Score: 8.25

   Iceland has the second-highest senior wellbeing score of 8.25. This remote island nation between Norway and Greenland has a small population of 383,700 people. Smaller populations can breed strong social connections and make it more difficult for people to slip through the cracks, which could explain why Iceland has the highest social support rating for people aged 50+ at 97.93%.

   However, despite having the highest social support score and the best access to quality healthcare, Iceland has received a relatively low quality of life score of 58.0. This score is based on a wide range of factors, with Iceland performing particularly poorly for affordability, meaning older people may have to make financial sacrifices to get by.

3. Norway
   Senior Wellbeing Score: 8.04

   Norway takes third place with a senior well-being score of 8.04. This Scandinavian country performs well across all factors, providing a good experience for seniors in their later years. Healthy life expectancy at age 60 in the country is 18.5 years, meaning the average healthy 60-year-old could make it to 78.5.

   Norway's third-place finish means Northern Europe dominates the top three, while the only non-European countries in the top ten are Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. All top ten countries are wealthy and developed nations, many of which have socialized all or part of their healthcare systems.

The United States did not perform well, coming in 26th out of 38 countries with a senior well-being score of 3.78. However, the country performed best for social support for people aged 50+, earning the 16th highest score of 91.68%.

The United States tied with Italy for quality of life, with both countries receiving a score of 55.4 out of 100. However, the European nation performed better overall, with a senior well-being score of 5.34.

Known for its prohibitively expensive healthcare system, the United States performed relatively poorly regarding healthcare access and quality, taking 26th place with a score of 88.7 out of 100.

However, the United States’ worst performance was for healthy life expectancy for people aged 60. The average healthy 60-year-old in the country can expect to live another 16.4 years in good health, which only beats five other countries in our study.

This data shows much room for improvement in the United States regarding senior well-being. This is likely the result of socioeconomic factors, such as affordable medication and healthcare availability, a culture where walking is uncommon, driving is prioritized, and an abundance of unhealthy hyper-processed food options.

1. Wisconsin
   Senior Wellbeing Score: 8.62

   Wisconsin is the best state in the USA for senior well-being, with a score of 8.62. This midwestern state has the lowest poverty rate among seniors, at just 3.9%, making it a good place for local affordability. It also has a wide range of senior living facilities, with 21.52 per 100,000 people.

   The state also performed well for its social isolation risk, finishing in joint-ninth place alongside Iowa, scoring 37 out of 100. Wisconsin’s weakest factor was healthcare access, though it still earned 17th place, well into the top half of states.

2. Minnesota
   Senior Wellbeing Score: 8.21

   Minnesota earned a senior well-being score of 8.21, making it the second-best state for living in your later years. Minnesota performed well across most factors, with a low social isolation score of 35 and a very low senior poverty rate of 6.8%. There are also plenty of assisted living and retirement facilities in the state, with 15.86 per 100,000 people.

   Situated on the Eastern border of first-place Wisconsin, Minnesota’s strong performance suggests that there may be some cultural or regional impacts that make the area a great place for senior living. This appears even more likely considering that Iowa, which borders both states, took fifth place with a score of 8.01.

3. Vermont
   Senior Wellbeing Score: 8.11

   Vermont is the third-best state in the country for senior well-being, earning an overall score of 8.11. This densely forested New England state is known for its beautiful natural landscapes, clean mountain air, and relaxed atmosphere, making it an attractive destination for many senior citizens. 

   Vermont doesn’t top the charts for any individual factor but performs relatively well across the board. The state performs best when it comes to healthcare access, ranking fifth in the country, while it takes 11th place for both social isolation risk and the availability of senior living facilities.

1. Oklahoma
   Senior Wellbeing Score: 0.87

   Oklahoma recorded the worst senior well-being score in our study at just 0.87. The state recorded the second-highest poverty rate among seniors at 15.4%, with only West Virginia recording a higher rate.

   Oklahoma also performed poorly across all other factors, with just 4.14 senior living facilities per 100,000 people, a high social isolation risk score of 77 out of 100, and received the fourth lowest rank for healthcare access.

2. Mississippi
   Senior Wellbeing Score: 0.97

   Mississippi had the second-lowest senior wellbeing score of 0.97, narrowly avoiding the bottom spot. The state received the highest possible score of 100 for the risk of social isolation while also receiving the second-lowest rank for healthcare access. 

   Mississippi performed marginally better when it came to the number of senior living facilities, with 5.54 per 100,000 people, but the state’s very high rate of poverty among seniors, 14.9%, kept its overall score as one of the lowest.

3. Alabama
   Senior Wellbeing Score: 1.53

   Alabama came third from the bottom with a senior well-being score of 1.53. This southeastern state did not perform well in any category, with a social isolation risk score of 83 out of 100, a 13.8% poverty rate among seniors, and just 4.27 senior living facilities per 100,000 people.

   However, Alabama is just one of eight southern states featured in the bottom 10 locations for senior well-being in the United States. Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, and Kentucky all performed poorly, suggesting a clear difference in the quality of life for seniors between the northern and southern parts of the country. The only two states in the bottom 10 that aren’t southern are West Virginia and New York, both in the eastern United States.

While getting older can present numerous challenges, they do not have to stop us from enjoying our senior years. Aging is a natural part of life, so why shouldn’t you make the most of it and enjoy your golden years to their fullest?

Whether you face medical obstacles associated with old age, or you struggle to remain social, there are many ways to overcome these challenges. Here are just a few of the ways you can ensure a happy old age.

1. Join clubs and groups

   Staying socially active is incredibly important for maintaining good mental health. As you get older, it can be difficult to find opportunities to meet new people and experience a sense of community. By joining a club, you can ensure you get regular time with people who have similar interests, giving you a schedule to look forward to and the opportunity to build new friendships.

2. Find a hobby

   Finding a hobby is an excellent way to keep your mind active and engaged, especially once you’ve retired from work. The free time that retirees have is a blessing, allowing for new passions to be uncovered or for interest in old hobbies to be rekindled. There are a plethora of hobbies to choose from, but whatever your personal interests, it will give you a sense of direction and accomplishment the more you engage in it.

3. Stay physically active

   Staying physically active is incredibly important for our health, particularly in old age. This could include anything from going on long walks to enjoying a regular swim session or even maintaining a garden. Regular exercise has a range of health benefits and will help keep your body and mind in good shape for longer, allowing you to stay healthy well into old age.

   If you have conditions that prevent you from doing certain exercises, do not worry. Simply choose whatever activity you are comfortable with, as some activity is always better than none.

4. Build a support network

   Support networks are important for everyone in society, but when you reach your senior years they can become vital. One reason for this is that becoming socially isolated in old age is a known risk, as the everyday points of contact we have with work and friends gradually reduce. This is why it’s important to stay in regular contact with friends and family members, building them into your daily or weekly routine.

5. Keep on top of ailments

   One unfortunate part of getting older is an increase in the number of ailments we seem to pick up. While it's very easy to let these come and go, sometimes they will develop into something more serious. Therefore, it’s important to always look for a solution to medical problems as soon as they arise, preventing them from getting any worse. This includes following the advice of your doctors, taking the prescribed medication, and following any instructions they give you.

6. Reasonable budgeting

   We all hope to be able to retire in comfort and security, often putting a lot of effort into building a healthy retirement fund to support us in later life. However, the funds we gather for this do have a limit, so it’s important to plan ahead and try to keep to a budget for everyday spending. 

   That said, it’s equally important not to let your finances cause you worry or prevent you from enjoying life. Remember that you’re perfectly entitled to treat yourself and spend money on things that will bring you or your loved ones joy.

7. Fill your diary

   Having things to look forward to is crucial to maintaining a happy and positive frame of mind. We can all go through periods of sadness or feeling at a loss for what to do with ourselves, but with a little effort, this can be countered. Finding things to put in your diary can seem a little daunting if you’ve been stuck in a rut, but having even the smallest events planned can do wonders for your mental health. These can be anything, from family visits to club meetings, seeing a new movie, or going out for dinner.

8. Practice mindfulness

   Another way to ensure you make the most of your senior years is to practice mindfulness. This means pausing to take a moment away from your everyday thoughts and worries. You may stop and reflect on events and people around you or in your past, you may choose to sit somewhere peaceful and simply empty your mind, or you might even use a guided meditation to help you relax. However you practice mindfulness, it will help to keep you relaxed and positive-minded so you can enjoy your golden years.

We wanted to find out which countries and US states are the best for senior wellbeing. To do this, we collected data across a range of factors and combined them into a single, rankable score.

To compare countries, we made a list of OECD nations and collected data for the following factors:

• Healthcare access and quality, sourced from the European Commission
• Social support for people aged 50+, sourced from the OECD
• Quality of life scores, sourced from U.S. News
• Healthy life expectancy at 60, sourced from the World Health Organization

Data for these factors was then combined into a single equally weighted “Senior Wellbeing Score.” We used this score to rank the countries and revealed the highest-scoring locations as the best for senior well-being.

To compare US states, we made a list of all 50 states and collected data for the following factors:

• Social isolation risk, sourced from America’s Health Rankings by the United Health Foundation
• Healthcare access rank, sourced from U.S. News
• Senior living facilities per 100,000 people, combining the number of continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly in each state, sourced from the United States Census Bureau and normalized using the bureau’s own population data.
• The poverty level among people aged 65+, also sourced from the United States Census Bureau

Data for these factors was then combined into a single equally weighted “Senior Wellbeing Score.” We used this score to rank the states and reveal the highest-scoring locations as the best for senior well-being.