The Worst State To Live In For Senior Care, According To Research

According to the Administration for Community Living, someone 65 years old or older has an almost 70% chance of needing some kind of long-term care going forward. Of those, 20% may need long-term support for five years or longer. Additionally, Shortlister reports that approximately 12 million people in the United States receive in-home care, and more than 800,000 people around the country are living in assisted facilities.

(Read about the signs your loved one may need in-home senior care.)

With these figures in mind, choosing the right care for elderly loved ones is something that family members place a great deal of importance on. However, not every state is the same when it comes to the quality of care. A recent study published by Retirement Living revealed the discrepancies in senior care from state to state. While Hawaii ranked highest overall for excellent facilities and pristine air and water quality, Louisiana came in dead last, with some of the worst health care outcomes nationwide. 

There are a number of factors that contributed to the Bayou State's low ranking, according to the study. For one thing, there is a lack of doctors qualified to administer geriatric care, with only 22 registered doctors for every 100,000 elderly adults. Additionally, food insecurity among Louisiana's elders sits at 14%, the highest rate in the United States. When you factor in the fact that Louisiana is a state with poor quality of air and the second worst drinking water in the country, the state's low ranking is not at all surprising.

Louisiana also ranks among the lowest, alongside Mississippi, in caring for Medicare recipients (via Louisiana Illuminator). Despite the fact that the costs of Medicare are among the highest in the country, this does not translate to better care or outcomes for patients. Both Louisiana and Mississippi have the lowest life expectancies in the U.S., with the average coming in at around 65 years old. More troubling is the fact that many elderly recipients of Medicare in Louisiana are often prescribed medications that should be avoided, which can lead to confusion, falls, and a higher risk of dangerous bleeding. (Fall-related deaths are on the rise among seniors — and certain prescription drugs may be to blame.)

In addition to being a less-than-ideal state for senior care, research in other crucial considerations suggest that Louisiana may not be a great place to retire overall (via Bankrate). On top of healthcare, the state ranked badly in other major categories, including affordability and neighborhood safety. It also came in high in crime rates, for both property crime and violent crime. The number of tornadoes and hurricanes in Louisiana also meant that weather played a role in the state's low placement on the retirement scale.

While housing and utility costs in Louisiana are low — the average home costs about $209,000, per Zillow — insurance expenses can be extremely high. Car insurance rates average close to $4,000 per year, and home insurance rates continue to rise thanks to such factors as storm damage. The state also ranks poorly for healthcare, and although Social Security isn't taxed, withdrawals from retirement accounts are, making retirement in Louisiana a mixed bag for seniors.

(Here are some myths about aging you should stop believing.)