A new study has ranked Connecticut among the best states in the nation for active seniors, with 80% of its senior population in good or excellent health and 82% of the population living within a half-mile of a park.
The study, released by the California-based Seniorly Resource Center, reviewed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Center for Disease Control and the Census Bureau to determine how the 50 states did in each of six categories: physical activity, health status, life expectancy at age 65, park proximity, gym access, and golf course access.
“Across the U.S., some states make it easier than others for older adults to keep moving, whether that means strolling through a park, hitting the gym, or enjoying a round of golf with friends,” according to a written statement announcing the study results.
Some other findings for Connecticut: the ranking for physically inactive seniors is 30.1% (26th best), there are 98 gyms and fitness centers per 100,000 seniors (7th) and there are 24 golf courses and country clubs per 100,000 seniors (17th).
In terms of life expectancy, seniors in Connecticut are likely to live nearly 20 more years after age 65, second in the nation to Hawai’i (20.4) according to the study.
The top state is Colorado, which ranked the lowest physical inactivity rate among seniors at 20.9%, according to the study, with 80.7% of seniors saying they are in good health.
Ranking number two is North Dakota, followed by Utah, Washington, D.C., and Massachusetts.
“While they are wildly different in terms of culture, size and landscapes, these places offer strong opportunities for seniors to stay healthy and fit,” according to the article.
The 10 worst states are all in the Southeast of the country and are: West Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Indiana, and Georgia.
The worst ranked state is West Virginia, which did poorly across all six categories, with only 64.3% of seniors reporting they are in good health, and only 25.6% of people living within a half-mile of a park, the report states.. In Arkansas and Tennessee, only 67.5% and 69.6%, respectively, of older adults were reporting they were in good health or better, according to the study.
Seniors in those states also average three years lower life expectancy at age 65 than their counterparts in Connecticut.
According to the CDC, physical activity can lead to health benefits (lower blood pressure and better sleep), with regular physical activity helping prevent some chronic diseases — such as reducing the risk of dementia and heart disease.
Kathleen Sullivan, a spokeswoman for the state’s Department of Aging and Disability Services, has previously said older adults should take advantage of the resources available in their towns.
Senior centers offer meals, classes, exercise, and social activities while local libraries provide educational programs and events.