Best Cities for Successful Aging

Provo, Utah, and Sioux Falls topped the list of the best U.S. communities to live for senior citizens.

The results are based on a recent study by the Milken Institute, "Best Cities for Successful Aging", released on Tuesday, that considered 78 factors that affect senior citizens' quality of life. Some of the key factors includes affordability, safety, health, financial security, and transportation. Job prospects was one of the considered criteria as many seniors opt to do some kind of work for engagement and money during their retirement years.

The study found Provo-Orem, Utah, topping the list of the country's 100 most populous metropolitan areas. The city mainly got to the top for its success in terms of wellness and conditions for finances, employment and education. Sioux Falls was rated first among 259 smaller cities because of its senior-friendly programs like Medicare and state's policies of funding the seniors.

Madison, Wisconsin, Omaha, Nebraska and Boston are other major cities that were termed good for the aged to live in. Small town names that featured on the top were Iowa, Bismarck, North Dakota, and Columbia, Missouri.

"The question wasn't 'what's the best place to retire,' but what areas have the best amenities in the future," Ross DeVol, chief research officer at the Milken Institute and co-author of the study told Reuters.

There was almost no city from the Sunbelt region of the southern and southwest United States in the list inspite of its popularity with retirees. Employment is a serious concern in that region which could be the reason for its lagging behind. But still, Gainesville and Florida managed to squeeze among the top names of smaller metropolitan areas.

The study also revealed the best cities for people over the age of 80, when access to health services, public transportation and cost of living are the main factors considered. Boston beat all major cities in this regard. Among smaller communities, Iowa City earned the top spot for its specialized units for geriatric, hospice, and Alzheimer's services.

The study has been well received by one and all.

The CEO of LeadingAge, a national non-profit group for senior care providers, that wasn't involved in the Milken study told USAToday; "I think the novelty of this is if communities, cities take this seriously, it'll make them think about their city, their community through an aging lens."