Best Cities for Successful Aging?

[IndianaJones]

The new Milken Institute "Best Cities for Successful Aging" 2017 report just came out - TV is ranked near the BOTTOM for "Small Metropolitan Areas" (249th out of 281) - pretty sad. The criteria/categories for judging rank were as follows: General Livability, Healthcare, Wellness, Financial Security, Education, Transportation and Convenience, Employment, Living Arrangements, Community Engagement. I am pretty aware of some of the reasons for the low rankings - what's your thoughts?

[graciegirl]

The new Milken Institute "Best Cities for Successful Aging" 2017 report just came out - TV is ranked near the BOTTOM for "Small Metropolitan Areas" (249th out of 281) - pretty sad. The criteria/categories for judging rank were as follows: General Livability, Healthcare, Wellness, Financial Security, Education, Transportation and Convenience, Employment, Living Arrangements, Community Engagement. I am pretty aware of some of the reasons for the low rankings - what's your thoughts?

What do you see as "the reasons for the low rankings?"

I am just guessing that the Milliken Institute has never been here.

Events >> Milken Institute (http://www.milkeninstitute.org/events/)

I found this contact number on this site. Perhaps a couple thousand of us happy villagers should call or email her;


Sarah Sandler
Director, Business and Program Development
(310) 570-4613
ssandler@milkeninstitute.org

[Paper1]

The new Milken Institute "Best Cities for Successful Aging" 2017 report just came out - TV is ranked near the BOTTOM for "Small Metropolitan Areas" (249th out of 281) - pretty sad. The criteria/categories for judging rank were as follows: General Livability, Healthcare, Wellness, Financial Security, Education, Transportation and Convenience, Employment, Living Arrangements, Community Engagement. I am pretty aware of some of the reasons for the low rankings - what's your thoughts?
I would like a more detailed look at the data used for there rankings, there may be merit in their findings or not.

[IndianaJones]

I would like a more detailed look at the data used for there rankings, there may be merit in their findings or not.

Here's a link to the study:
www.floridatrend.com/public/userfiles/news/pdfs/Best-Cities-for-Successful-Aging-2017.pdf

If you read it carefully, some factors were poorly ranked for TV - healthy lifestyle (excessive alcohol consumption/binge drinking), costly home ownership (median home price is high for national average), high rates of chronic disease (diabetes, obesity, heart disease, neurological diseases), low employment potential for 65+, long ER wait times, poor public transportation system, and so on. If you look at the bright side, there's excellent community involvement, low crime rate, bountiful recreation options, etc.
Remember, they AVERAGE things - of the supposed 114,000+ residents - how many are active? How many are healthy? How many are - etc., etc.

[IndianaJones]

What do you see as "the reasons for the low rankings?"

I am just guessing that the Milliken Institute has never been here.

Events >> Milken Institute (http://www.milkeninstitute.org/events/)

I found this contact number on this site. Perhaps a couple thousand of us happy villagers should call or email her;


Sarah Sandler
Director, Business and Program Development
(310) 570-4613
ssandler@milkeninstitute.org

Well, a "couple thousand" out of 114,000+ is part of the reason for the low rankings. Low activity levels, overall (not everyone who lives here is active), high obesity, heart disease and excessive alcohol consumption, high median sales price for homes, lack of inexpensive mass transit - and on and on - are all factors considered. Remember, it's an AVERAGE, weighted against other places. Perhaps if they only compared "Florida Retirement Communities" to TV, it would rank very high?

[graciegirl]

Here's a link to the study:
www.floridatrend.com/public/userfiles/news/pdfs/Best-Cities-for-Successful-Aging-2017.pdf

If you read it carefully, some factors were poorly ranked for TV - healthy lifestyle (excessive alcohol consumption/binge drinking), costly home ownership (median home price is high for national average), high rates of chronic disease (diabetes, obesity, heart disease, neurological diseases), low employment potential for 65+, long ER wait times, poor public transportation system, and so on. If you look at the bright side, there's excellent community involvement, low crime rate, bountiful recreation options, etc.
Remember, they AVERAGE things - of the supposed 114,000+ residents - how many are active? How many are healthy? How many are - etc., etc.


Seems fair...and so do you as I read all of your prior posts. Sorry for being overly defensive. I love it here and I don't drink. lol.

[IndianaJones]

Seems fair...and so do you as I read all of your prior posts. Sorry for being overly defensive. I love it here and I don't drink. lol.

Well, we all need to be more like you! Maybe the rankings would go up! :agree:

[rubicon]

People are surprised by the ranking of TV. Too many people who move here are caught up in the marketing and propaganda. So when life happens, a death, a golf cart accident , a home break in, etc they over react. Moving to The Villages doesn't afford you any more safety, security worry from illness, etc than any other place people retire to.

[dewilson58]

Oooooooooooooooooooo, just wait for the next ranking.


:popcorn:

[Polar Bear]

Yeah...that lack of jobs and public transit system make this place almost unbearable!!

Almost. :)

[TheDude]

there are some things I agree with. No place for education. healthcare doesn't seem to be very good. Public Transit doesn't exist. No airport (closer than Orlando) No really healthy places to eat. The weather is horrible in summer compared to many other places (it would be more bearable if on the coast). Wish the golf course pathways were accessible to everyone (it would be like parks for everyone) because some of the best of the villages is in the golf courses (people can play golf with others around, its a game). The is no food at the rec centers so if you go to the rec centers it is just for a club or activity (if they had donut shops with coffee it would be amazing, people would all come and just get together randomly which in the villages would happen. People could go there to read and have a cup of coffee. The services you need for upkeep (yard, pest, etc) is a racket and many seniors are taken advantage of.

However I do believe the security is better inside the bubble. Crime is a lot more rare than the other places. The place is very clean. The government seems to run smooth. When you meet a happy person in TV, and there are many, they are really nice (there are many grumpy snarly people also, its just how people are: see these forums). Grocery stores are easy to get to and stocked. Mail seems secure. People get up early for most part and many are active. Electric is cheap.

So, bottom of the ranking seems harsh. Its all about priorities. If you think safety is #1 then you would be hard pressed to find a better place with so many people. If you think cleanliness is a priority then you would be hard pressed to find a better with with so many people living here. Now if you think healthcare as a priority, then there are many places so much better (NYC is better but you give up safety and $$$ for the healthcare). If you think weather is a priority then if you are only going to be a snowbird, then its great here, but if you are year round, then there are a lot of better places. If travel is a priority then there are a lot of places that are better; try to get from Key West, Fort Myers or Miami by airplane to Orlando in the winter (they almost double the price of the flights out of Miami and not all non-stop. You can fly to NYC from Orlando for a cheaper price).

So, bottom, no. Top, no way. For the price, this place is top ten easy. For the activities (not education) this place is top ten easy.

All the above is IMHO. Please read through any typos.

[IndianaJones]

TheDude - Valid points, there are trade-offs. However, it is amazing to me that in a place with so many seniors, there's no reasonable transit system, in particular. With the number of accidents & impaired drivers (vehicles or golf carts) it seems like a no-brainer. And yes - I've noticed the ones on this forum who are mesmerized by TV.

[Polar Bear]

...Wish the golf course pathways were accessible to everyone (it would be like parks for everyone) because some of the best of the villages is in the golf courses (people can play golf with others around, its a game)...
I can accept all of your post as opinion and agree with much of it.

But the golf portion shows a complete lack of understanding of what goes on on a golf course. The danger to non-golfing walkers and the impact on golfers is not even close to acceptable.

[pauld315]

These cities were rated very heavily on health care and education. So, if you have a university with a medical school in your region and access to a large community college you are at a distinct advantage. I also think the ratings rely heavily on financial indicators which are much more meaningful in a "normal" multi-generational environment. IMO, Once again, TV is being dinged because it is a 55+ community and is large enough by itself to be ranked against multi generational communities. TV's own success has placed it into a survey where apples are being compared against an orange.

The state of Florida only had one region (Gainesville) make any of the top 20 lists yet Florida attracts more retirees than any other state in the country. Also, when I take a look at the Top 20 small metros I notice that most of them are in areas that I don't know anybody who wants to move to to retire. This survey is skewed to multi generational communities where unemployment statistics, availability of work etc are meaningful for their populations.

I don't know about you but I really have no desire to retire to Iowa City, Iowa or Sioux Falls, SD anytime soon !

[Cisco Kid]

Apparently cold weather was not a factor.

[ColdNoMore]

Apparently cold weather was not a factor.

Exactly! :oops:


I mean really, Fargo, ND and Fairbanks, AK...being toward the top? :ohdear:

Looking through the report and the criteria/weighting they applied, I can see how they reached their conclusions, but seriously question why they left out some pretty important things as we get older...such as weather/climate.

I also think they really missed the boat in the 'Transportation & Convenience' factors. While we don't have a public transportation system to speak of, by not taking into account our extensive and unique 'golf cart accessibility' system...we really were shortchanged in that category. :shrug:

But, as they say, 'the proof is in the pudding.'

Being the fastest growing 'metropolitan' (prior to 2013 we were considered a 'micropolitan' area) area for a number of years now, indicates that there are a heck of a lot of people that aren't using this study...to determine where they are choosing to age. :D

[IndianaJones]

Exactly! :oops:


I mean really, Fargo, ND and Fairbanks, AK...being toward the top? :ohdear:

Looking through the report and the criteria/weighting they applied, I can see how they reached their conclusions, but seriously question why they left out some pretty important things as we get older...such as weather/climate.

I also think they really missed the boat in the 'Transportation & Convenience' factors. While we don't have a public transportation system to speak of, by not taking into account our extensive and unique 'golf cart accessibility' system...we really were shortchanged in that category. :shrug:

But, as they say, 'the proof is in the pudding.'

Being the fastest growing 'metropolitan' (prior to 2013 we were considered a 'micropolitan' area) area for a number of years now, indicates that there are a heck of a lot of people that aren't using this study...to determine where they are choosing to age. :D

Amen to that! Certainly, as others posted, weather was definitely NOT a consideration (which is tremendously weird, to me, anyway). I think there's a separate factor of "livability/desirability" that should come into play. However, you have to admit, TV does an incredible job of marketing to the right audience. I have been surprised at the number of complaints about TV since I've been here - it's almost like they didn't look at anything else or anywhere else, and are now here to "point out the shortcomings". So it goes - you can't please all the people, etc. Thanks, great points!:agree:

[IndianaJones]

These cities were rated very heavily on health care and education. So, if you have a university with a medical school in your region and access to a large community college you are at a distinct advantage. I also think the ratings rely heavily on financial indicators which are much more meaningful in a "normal" multi-generational environment. IMO, Once again, TV is being dinged because it is a 55+ community and is large enough by itself to be ranked against multi generational communities. TV's own success has placed it into a survey where apples are being compared against an orange.

The state of Florida only had one region (Gainesville) make any of the top 20 lists yet Florida attracts more retirees than any other state in the country. Also, when I take a look at the Top 20 small metros I notice that most of them are in areas that I don't know anybody who wants to move to to retire. This survey is skewed to multi generational communities where unemployment statistics, availability of work etc are meaningful for their populations.

I don't know about you but I really have no desire to retire to Iowa City, Iowa or Sioux Falls, SD anytime soon !

Gainesville actually does have a remarkable number of retirees (I believe it's mostly due to a) the healthcare system and b) cost and c) access to the University amenities) - but, agreed, I don't know of many people choosing to move to and retire in Fargo, etc. However, they did apparently "weight" some factors in considering the 55+ phenomenon - but, as I stated below in a response to someone else, they didn't either weight it enough or consider livability/desirability. It might be a better study to evaluate, for example, all the "55+ communities" in the U.S., or at least in Florida. I'll ask - why not?

[2BNTV]

It might be a better study to evaluate, for example, all the "55+ communities" in the U.S., or at least in Florida. I'll ask - why not?

:agree:

A friend of mine took a statistics course in which the instructor said, "a chair has four legs and a horse has four legs". Therefore, a chair is the same as a horse?

Comparisons should be made to other 55+ communities.

TV seems to be the model other 55+ communities strive for. I'm sure there are people who will have negatives about TV community but put me in the camp of liking it here!

[Rapscallion St Croix]

I wouldn't give this much credence. Jackson, MS is in the top ten for comparable sized cities and yet...........Crime. Jackson, Mississippi, violent crime, on a scale from 1 (low crime) to 100, is 81. Violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The US average is 31.1.

[manaboutown]

IMHO where a person will successfully age depends on their wants and needs. One fellow I know at age 75 constantly takes college level courses as he has since he retired more than 10 years ago. He could care less about playing golf and weather is not that important to him but living near a great university is. An 84 year old man I know still exercises most every day at a gym (indoors), then plays tennis most afternoons (outdoors). He lives in Newport Beach so he can play tennis outside almost every day of the year. Others I know enjoy running, long walks, hiking or swimming and so want to live where they can enjoy these activities most of the time. To some people food is important and to others it is not. Some want to eat "healthy", others "gourmet" so they want to live where both restaurants and food stores offer the fare they seek. Some may have significant health issues so need live near a major hospital and various medical specialist practices. Others may remain healthy throughout their lives and only require occasional medical checkups and assistance.

All of these factors and many others bear on where any particular person can successfully age. One size does not fit all.