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May 11, 2020

Why Colorado and Utah Were Named Best Places to Retire in 2019

U.S. News & World Report identified important factors that influence a state’s suitability for retiring in and created a ranking system to show which states are the best places to retire. The Ridge Senior Living has two communities in Utah and one community in Colorado. Both states ranked in the top 10 best states for aging in 2019, according to U.S. News & World Report. The rankings determine “which states are most effectively serving their senior citizens by keeping them healthy, financially secure and involved in their communities. States are scored relative to each other in 12 factors that average into one overall score.” The lower the number, the higher the rank.

seniors hiking in the mountains

What Makes Colorado So Great?

Colorado was ranked the fourth best state to retire in by U.S. News & World Report in 2019. With the beautiful Rocky Mountains to hike and rivers to kayak, it came in No. 2 in Physical Activity. Colorado is known for its lifestyle of outdoor recreation. It ranked No. 3 in Health, meaning Coloradoans are some of the healthiest people in the country. Other categories it performed well in are Medicare Quality and Life Expectancy.

The full spectrum of categories and Colorado’s rankings are as follows:

POPULATION 65 AND OLDER — 46

LIFE EXPECTANCY — 9

MEDICARE QUALITY — 6

NURSING HOME QUALITY — 12

COST OF CARE — 26

HEALTH — 3

MENTAL DISTRESS — 22

ABLE-BODIED — 12

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY — 2

PRIMARY CARE — 22

COST OF LIVING — 34

LOW UNEMPLOYMENT — 14

If you’re considering moving to The Ridge Pinehurst in Denver, expect your fitness regimen to include outdoor recreation. Look forward to being surrounded by a culture that promotes healthy, clean living. And you’ll have the privilege of enjoying Colorado’s stunning natural beauty every day. If Colorado has caught your attention, read more about why it’s one of the best places to retire in the U.S.

A nature photo of Utah's Red Rock Country

And What About Utah?

Utah was ranked the seventh best state to retire in by U.S. News & World Report in 2019. Another beautiful state known for its generous amounts of sun and natural landscape being a point of attraction, Utah ranked No. 5 in physical activity. Many people come from across the nation to see the fascinating rock formations and canyons in Utah’s five national parks. Utah also ranked high in Medicare Quality, Cost of Care, Life Expectancy, and Nursing Home Quality.

The full spectrum of categories and Utah’s rankings are as follows:

POPULATION 65 AND OLDER — 50

LIFE EXPECTANCY — 9

MEDICARE QUALITY — 6

NURSING HOME QUALITY — 9

COST OF CARE — 7

HEALTH — 10

MENTAL DISTRESS — 9

ABLE-BODIED — 20

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY — 5

PRIMARY CARE — 42

COST OF LIVING — 24

LOW UNEMPLOYMENT — 12

The Ridge has two communities in Utah: The Ridge Cottonwood in Holladay, and The Ridge Foothill in Salt Lake City. You can expect the highest-quality care in either of these communities at an affordable cost, easily ranking it as one of the best places to retire in 2020.

An exterior, aerial photo of The Ridge Senior Living

So Why Should I Move to The Ridge Senior Living?

If you’re wondering where to retire, look no further than The Ridge Senior Living’s three communities in two of the best states to retire in. Colorado and Utah ranked well in three of the same categories, Physical Activity, Medicare Quality, and Life Expectancy. The Ridge communities would provide the highest-quality care and lifestyle no matter where we were located, but it doesn’t hurt that we’re in two of the most beautiful states in the country, ranked in the top 10 best places to retire  by U.S. News & World Report. Explore our website to learn more about our communities and what makes them the best senior living communities in two of the best states to retire in the U.S..