Allegheny counties rank in top 10 for retirement

A recent report from SmartAsset.com looked at a variety of factors, including tax burden, number of medical centers, number of recreation centers and number of retirement centers, to try to determine the best places for people to retire in Pennsylvania. In the top 10 among Pennsylvania’s 67 counties? Cambria County and Blair County, right in the Pennsylvania Alleghenies. 

According to the report, Cambria County has 1.18 medical centers per 1,000 people; 0.4 recreation centers per 1,000 people; and 0.13 retirement communities per 1,000 people. While Blair County ranked one spot behind Cambria County, it still offers 1.61 medical centers per 1,000 people; 0.42 recreation centers per 1,000 people; and .09 retirement communities per 1,000 people.

This puts both Blair and Cambria County easily on par with other counties to the east and west that might be associated with more resources and amenities for residents. In the statewide ranking, Cambria County ranked seventh and Blair County ranked eighth. 

Of course, to those who’ve long lived in or visited the Alleghenies, this comes as no surprise. While Cambria and Blair County might’ve ranked in the top 10, the entire region has a robust number of senior care and retirement communities, with the industry growing to serve ever-increasing demand. 

For example, in Belleville, in Mifflin County, Valley View Retirement Community is expanding this year to meet the needs for memory care in central Pennsylvania. 

“Our personal experience shows that, instead of moving to a warmer state or moving to be near their grown children, many seniors want to come home to a place that they love. We have many residents who moved back — some from Hawaii, Florida, overseas — to what they call ‘God’s country’ and see mountains and cornfields and beautiful sunsets.”

“As senior care providers, we have an obligation to know the needs and preferences of those we serve today or will serve in the future,” said Valley View CEO Nicole Sarver. “…People are living longer than they were 50 years ago, and many need care during the later seasons of life. A big push has been for more wrap-around, in-home services that are created for people who desire to stay at home. Even with local growth in home and community-based services, we still see strong interest in and demand for the services we provide.”

There are many reasons for this growth in demand and a lot of it has to do with the region itself. 

As Sarver said, “Our personal experience shows that, instead of moving to a warmer state or moving to be near their grown children, many seniors want to come home to a place that they love. We have many residents who moved back — some from Hawaii, Florida, overseas — to what they call ‘God’s country’ and see mountains and cornfields and beautiful sunsets.”

Did you retire in the Alleghenies or do you plan to? Let us know why! sophia@affinityconnection.com