You can get quality elder care but be prepared to pay for it
If you live in a state with high-quality care for older Americans, chances are the cost of it isn't so great. Data in a new report by Caring.com shows that seven of the top 10 states for quality elderly care also rank in the bottom 20 for the cost of those services.

Study shows that even states with excellence in care rank in the bottom 20 on cost.

If you live in a state with high-quality care for older Americans, chances are the cost of it isn't so great. Data in a new report by Caring.com shows that seven of the top 10 states for quality elderly care also rank in the bottom 20 for the cost of those services. "There's a trade-off," said Tim Sullivan, Caring.com vice president. "In some states, the quality of care is high, but so are the costs." Coming in first for quality of care is Washington, yet it ranks 38th for cost. Alaska, which ranks right behind the Evergreen State, comes in last place in the expense column. Rounding out the top three for quality is Oregon, which ranks 39th when it comes to price.

The best and the worst Top Five Bottom Five 1. Utah 46. Wyoming 2. Iowa 47. North Dakota 3. South Carolina 48. New York 4. Washington 49. Indiana 5. Nebraska 50. West Virginia

Source: Source: Caring.com

Conversely, some states have low costs but their quality is lacking. For example, Alabama has the least-expensive care but ranks 44th for quality. Additionally, the Northeast showed generally higher costs and lower quality scores in the report. The study used various statistics including nursing home costs, in-home care prices and elderly well-being assessments to arrive at its rankings. First overall is Utah, followed by Iowa, South Carolina, Washington and Nebraska. The bottom five include Wyoming, North Dakota, New York, Indiana and West Virginia. The differences in cost for various services can be stark. For instance, the average annual cost of nursing home care in Alaska is $281,415 compared with $63,875 in Utah, according to a 2015 study by Genworth Financial. Sullivan said that given the varying levels of quality and care offered across the country, it's important to start giving thought to options long before elder care services are needed.

Quality at a cost State Quality Ranking Cost Ranking Overall Ranking Washington 1 38 4 Alaska 2 50 16 Oregon 3 (tie) 39 10 Californa 3 (tie) 36 7 Hawaii 5 46 (tie) 14 Minnesota 6 35 11 Utah 7 14 1 Iowa 8 (tie) 17 2 Colorado 8 (tie) 32 (tie) 9 Montana 10 30 12

Source: Source: Caring.com

On average, an American turning 65 today will spend $138,000 in future long-term care costs, according to the Health and Human Services Department. Such services include help with daily activities like bathing and eating, which about 50 percent of people will eventually need. In general, Medicare, which most people register for at age 65, does not cover long-term care. For retirees who do end up needing such services, the costs can be eye-popping. The average yearly cost of a nursing home is $82,000, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Home-based care, depending on the level of services needed, can hit more than $3,000 a month. So can the cost of an assisted-living facility.

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