If you are looking to retire or spend your golden years in Evergreen Colorado then you will be pleasantly surprised that Colorado is one of the best states for aging. I am a local resident of Evergreen and will share with you a first account of what local health resources exist in our community and what Evergreen has to offer for our population of residents 65 years and older.
According to US News Rankings, Colorado is the best state for aging. The criteria for determining this is based on available healthcare, local economic health, tax breaks, and local community involvement. Colorado has made it a priority to support its older residents especially when the nation as a whole is aging rapidly which presents challenges to take care of the 65 and older population.
Colorado has one of the healthiest populations of residents,
65 and older than any other state.
According to statistics, Colorado has some of the best Medicare and nursing home quality in the nation. Colorado’s older population is growing at a faster rate than many other states. According to the US Census Bureau, Colorado had a population of 10.9 percent. In 2016 the percentage of residents 65 and older increased to 13.4, which is still lower than the national average of 15.2. It is estimated that by 2030, the 65 and older population will increase to 1.27 million, a 77 percent increase from 2015. This growth is most likely attributed to the high quality Colorado offers and as a result more residents are staying rather than migrating to other states as they age.
Nursing Home Quality
When it comes to nursing home quality, Colorado earned the ranking of #6 which is an important factor when determining which state is the best for aging.
Active Lifestyle
Colorado as a state encourages an active lifestyle which contributes to overall better health for its residents and especially for seniors. According to the CDC, 88% of older residents incorporate physical activity on a monthly basis. Only Washington and California rank better in the category of activity.
Evergreen has a large community of active seniors that enjoy hiking, biking, golf, motorcycle riding, skeet shooting, off-road 4×4 as well as a variety of volunteer activities. Another major benefit of living in Evergreen is the outdoor amenities such as Evergreen Lake or the 8+ open space parks with thousands of acres at your fingertips.
Evergreen Assisted Living
Colorado ranks in the middle when it comes to assisted living facility costs which average $4,900 per month. Controlling affordability is challenged by the growth in metro areas such as Denver, where the cost of housing has increased considerably in recent years. Colorado is a highly desirable place to live and work for many young people which drives up the demand for affordable housing.
Evergreen has three assisted living facilities to choose from.
- Elk Run Assisted Living
- Life Care Center of Evergreen
- Green Ridge Meadows (Subsidies low-rent apartments)
Helping Seniors Stay In Their Home Longer
Colorado’s leadership has worked to circumvent this issue by working to incentivize it’s 65 and older population by helping residents stay in their homes longer by offering tax breaks. Residents 65 and older who have lived in their homes for 10 years or more are eligible for the tax break. Colorado also further helps its elderly population stay in their residents by offering lower property tax rates than most other states.
Economic Health
Colorado has a strong and fast-growing economy which creates a demand for experienced workers. This demand helps to keep its seniors from being pushed out of the workforce. Colorado has an unemployment of just 2.5 percent, for seniors 65 and older. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average is 3.8 percent.
Colorado has a lot to offer for all ages. It’s beauty and abundance of outdoor activities attracts people to live here and stay here. These same qualities may also attract more people to retire in Colorado. Many 65 and older residents may be also following the population of younger residents in an effort to be with their grandchildren.
Community
Being a part of a community is an integral part of aging healthily. People who have a sense of belonging tend to be more happy and healthy. Colorado has a very active group of seniors and that is a contributing factor in overall health and happiness.
The Evergreen Newcomers Group is a great way to get involved with other seniors and meet new people in the Evergreen area to do life with.
The Evergreen Newcomers Group is a great way to get involved with other seniors.
COLORADO HEALTH RANKINGS
# 1 Most Active State United health Foundation , 2016
# 1 Least Obese State United health Foundation , 2016
# 5 State for Quality for Health Care US News & World Report , 2017
# 6 State for Longest Life Expectancy 24/7 Wall St , 2017
# 2 Lowest State with Prevalence of Hypertension
# 3 Lowest State with Prevalence of Diabetes
US News Ranked Colorado #9 for Health Care in the US
& #5 in the US for Health Care Quality.
Colorado is bucking a national trend toward obesity and physical inactivity, once again earning it a spot as the nation’s 8th-healthiest state in an annual ranking released Tuesday by United Health Foundation.
The Centennial State came out on top as the state with the lowest percentage of obese adults (21.3 percent) and the lowest percentage of adults who have not participated in physical activity in the past 30 days (16.2 percent).
Because of adults’ higher rates of physical activity and lower rates of obesity, Colorado also recorded a decrease in the number of adults with diabetes, from 7.4 percent of the population to 6.5 percent — the lowest number in the country, according to the study.
And it showed a 13 percent decrease in the number of preventable hospitalizations, from 43.7 per 1,000 Medicare beneficiaries to 38.2. Though Beauchamp couldn’t pinpoint exactly why that number is falling, he noted that states with good numbers primary-care physicians show similar drops.
The statistics, including Colorado’s ranking second in the country for the lowest number of cardiovascular deaths per capita, are reflective of other surveys that have placed Colorado near the top of healthy states.
https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2014/12/09/colorado-is-a-top-10-healthiest-state-united.html
According to CBS News
The top 10 healthiest states:
- Massachusetts
- Hawaii
- Vermont
- Utah
- Connecticut
- Minnesota
- Colorado
- New Hampshire
- Washington
- New York
Evergreen air quality is 92. (The US average is 58.)
This is based on new measures of hazardous air pollutants from the EPA, called the National Air Toxics Assessment. This analysis models respiratory illness and cancer risk down to the zip code level, providing better detail and insight than the previous analysis based solely on results from air monitoring stations.
Evergreen water quality is 89. (The US average is 55.)
Note that this is a measure of Watershed quality, not the water that comes from your faucet. The EPA has stated that a healthy watershed is closely related to drinking water quality. The EPA has a complex method of measuring watershed quality using 15 indicators such as pH, chemicals, metals, and bacteria.
Evergreen Superfund Index is 93. (The US average is 87.)
The EPA’s Superfund program is responsible for cleaning up some of our nation’s most contaminated land. Our index is based on the number of active Superfund sites (over 15,000 in the United States), with particular attentin paid to those on the National Priorities List which pose the greatest health danger.
There are 193 physicians per 100,000 population in Evergreen. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Evergreen Health Facilities:
St. Anthony’s Health Center
https://www.centura.org/locations/st-anthony-health-center-evergreen
Arapaho Peak Health Center
http://www.arapahoepeakhealth.com/
Mount Evans Home Health Care & Hospice
Mount Evans Home Health Care and Hospice
Contact an Evergreen Colorado Real Estate Agent
Shad Philips – Certified Mountain Area Specialist 303-218-6926
To learn more about any Evergreen Colorado homes for sale or to receive email notifications when homes are listed for sale in Evergreen Colorado, call 303-218-6926 or contact an Evergreen Colorado REALTOR®.
You might also like
