The city of Mauldin was recently recognized by the financial services company Bankrate as one of the top cities for senior living in the United States. The city was second only to Charlestown in South Carolina. Mauldin emerged as number 24 out of a possible 200 cities sampled by the survey. Another city in SC that made the cut is Greenville which came in at number 38.
What The Survey Looked At
When looking at the suitability of a city for senior living, the survey focused on several things that make a city ideal for such communities. These include the following.
Cost of Living
This refers to the average cost of living calculated based on everyday expenses. These would include housing costs, food costs, transport costs, and much more. The lower these costs are, the more ideal an area s for senior living. This is because residents of senior living communities will often see their savings reduced due to inflation rates. If an area has a cost of living, it means that the attrition rate of their savings is less than that of an area with a high cost of living. Of course, when assessing this parameter, the survey also looks at the quality of the housing and other amenities available. This is because such infrastructure could be low cost but at the same time be completely unsuitable for senior living.
Crime Levels
Another parameter that such studies look at is crime levels and especially violent crimes. This s because the demographic that uses senior living communities is especially vulnerable to crime, and the absence of such criminal behavior will boost the ratings of any town. This aspect also examines crimes on the property (burglaries, car break-ins, vandalism, and a lot more).
Healthcare Quality
One important aspect of senior living is the need for accessible and top-quality healthcare. While this is also covered under the affordability criteria, the very accessibility of healthcare is a factor in and of itself. Healthcare facilities must cover a wide spectrum of problems, and the availability of specialized expertise is also a factor.
Leisure Activities
Another factor that will be assessed when looking at the suitability of a city for senior living is how friendly the infrastructure is for members of senior lying communities. This includes the availability of parks, pedestrian pathways, sporting facilities, and much more. While these are generally available in most cities, they must be safe, accessible, and affordable. Ideally, such parks or sporting facilities might be community-run, making them accessible to all community members.
Closely related to this is also the availability of hotels and restaurants. While most senior living communities offer meals to their residents, people typically enjoy having a night out every now and then. The availability of restaurants is a large factor in assessing how suitable a location is for senior living. Ideally, an area should have multiple restaurants that offer a variety of cuisines. Shopping facilities, as well as the availability of financial services, are important as well.
