The 10 best states for access to elderly care revealed - and retirement capital Florida does NOT make the list

• A new study ranked states based on the number of nursing homes, occupancy rates and the cost of residency
• Some states charge tens of thousands of dollars more for care than others

A new study has revealed the ten best states for access to elderly care.

Florida is widely known as the retirement capital of the US, but it doesn’t even make the top ten in the surprising new research from hospital bedmakers SonderCare.

Claiming the top three spots are Iowa, Oklahoma and Missouri.

The study assessed states on the number of nursing homes per 100,000 residents, occupancy rates, cost and deficiencies – which are defined as problems that can impact the health and safety of residents.

SonderCare CEO Kyle Sobko, said: ‘This data provides a clear insight into which states currently offer the best access to elderly care and outlines the factors contributing to this.’

Iowa topped the list of the best place to access elder care

Rural Southern and Great Plains filled out the top ten in the study by SonderCare

Rural Southern and Great Plains states such as Iowa made up of the majority of the top ten in the study.

At the top of the list, with a score of 70.67 out of 100, is Iowa.

The state has 412 nursing homes and 112 respite facilities per 100,000 residents.

A private room in a nursing home costs just $7,452 a month on average.

Closely following Iowa is Oklahoma, with a score of 66.06 and Missouri with 63.34.

The remainder of the top ten is filled out by Louisiana (59.95), South Dakota (58.35), Kansas (57.02), Montana (56.67), North Carolina (53.49), Wisconsin (53.46) and Nebraska (53.07).

Meanwhile in last place was California with a rating of just 18.61.

The state’s poor rating is due to the high cost of a room – over $12,000 a month for a private room – and the high number of deficiencies in each home.

Also in the bottom five is Alaska, Connecticut, West Virginia and Hawaii.

Sobko said: ‘The most surprising finding from this study is that Alaska ranks  overwhelmingly as the most expensive state for elderly care, both semi-private and private.’

‘The cost of a room in a private nursing home in Alaska is $31,512 per month, this is more than $16,300 more than the second most expensive state, Connecticut.’

Missouri came in third for it’s cheap rooms and high quality care

Oklahoma came in second place behind Iowa

Florida, meanwhile, ranked at number 41 with a score of 26.85

And although it didn’t make the top ten, it is known as the country’s retirement capital for a reason.

It has no low tax burden, with no estate, inheritance or income taxes for retired Americans. Florida also has the lowest rate of poverty among people ages 65 and older in the US.

Alongside financial factors, it ranks highly for quality of life, with plenty of adult volunteer activities, theater companies, golf courses and country clubs.

Colorado, Virginia and Delaware offer similarly taxpayer-friendly conditions, with no estate or inheritance levies on seniors.

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