Bismarck Ranked Third for Successful Aging | Video

KFYR-TV | 7/31/2012

We don`t usually think of Bismarck as a prime retirement destination, but perhaps we should. A study released today by the Milken Institute ranks the capital city third in the nation among 259 small cities for successful aging.

The only small cities that ranked higher were Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Iowa City, Iowa.

What does all that mean? Well, the institute looked at 78 different factors that most affect a senior`s quality of life. They found that Bismarck has great health care, a low crime rate, and a good economy, all of which amount to a good quality of life.

But advocates say we shouldn`t just rest on our laurels.

"I think that what this does is challenge policy makers and others in positions of making decisions about the future of our community, and actually that is all of us, to continue to explore this. To continue to look for ways that we can be a community where people age successfully. We certainly want to maintain the quality of life for all of our citizens and maintaining it for those who are aging helps us to do that," said AARP State Director Janis Cheney.

Surveys indicate that the vast majority of people want to remain in their home communities when they retire, and many of them also want to continue working well into their late 60s or early 70s. The survey measured qualities in communities that help people to do that.

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