Mississippi Senior Living

The south has always been a wise choice for retirees looking for senior living options. Although the Sunshine State sees most of the retirement action, many quiet southern states, like Mississippi, are currently emerging as strong contenders in the retirement destination game.

Senior living in Mississippi is especially attractive for active seniors looking for a reasonable cost of living to fully enjoy their retirement years. The reasonable living options along the Gulf Coast is one of the top reasons people consider Mississippi senior living. Thanks to its gorgeous coast line and quaint small towns, Mississippi offers a tranquil lifestyle for seniors in one very beautiful environment. And with an abundance of senior living options filled with southern charm, it’s no wonder that Mississippi is known as The Hospitality State.

Mississippi Assisted Living Costs

The average cost for monthly senior independent living costs in Mississippi is $2,860, with a minimum cost of $2,340 and a maximum cost of $3,644. Prices can vary dramatically depending on location and care necessities. *From the SeniorHomes.com 2012 Independent Living Cost Survey. (http://www.seniorhomes.com/p/independent-living-costs/)

The organization responsible for certifying the assisted living sector in Mississippi is the Department of Health, Bureau of Health Facilities Licensure and Certification.

Retirement in Mississippi

Some might say that Mississippi is the new hotspot for retirees looking for reasonable rates as far as senior housing costs. The entire state is full of charming and lively towns that offer a variety of lifestyle options at very reasonable prices.

According to Best Places, Mississippi’s cost of living is 13.90% lower than the national average. In addition, Kiplinger classifies Mississippi as tax-friendly, which makes it a great retirement destination for senior living.

Did you know that…?

• Mississippi exempts Social Security benefits from state income taxes as well as all qualified retirement income from state income taxes.*www.kiplinger.com
• Mississippi seniors and disabled residents qualify for a homestead exemption on the first $75,000 of value. *www.kiplinger.com
• Mississippi is home to some of the cheapest property taxes in the nation.
• Mississippi has no inheritance tax or estate tax.

Best Mississippi Cities for Retirement

Mississippi is widely known for its down-home hospitality and the communities are especially welcoming to seniors. There are 21 certified retirement communities in Mississippi. One of the most well-known of those is Hattiesburg. This idyllic senior community is everything you imagine it to be: a quaint southern town with a very close community. In fact, Hattiesburg has been recognized as one of the “Top 100 Retirement Towns in America” by Where to Retire Magazine and Best Places to Retire by David Savageau.

College towns such as Oxford are also becoming more and more popular with the over 60 crowd. Mississippi is a big football state, so choose your team wisely! Biloxi, Vicksburg and Meridian are also great towns that offer a high standard of living, but at a reasonable cost.

Health Care in Mississippi

There are around 120 hospitals and Medical centers in Mississippi and four that meet high performance state standards.

Quick Medical Guide for Mississippi:

• A complete list of Mississippi hospitals and their rankings
•  Consumer Reports: Consumer Rated Hospitals in Mississippi

Activities for Seniors in Mississippi

Anyone looking to retire in Mississippi will be able to enjoy its beautiful beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, as well as its saltwater fishing grounds. The Mississippi Delta, which lies between the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers, boasts a distinctly southern identity and rich cultural heritage – not to mention terrific catfish. In fact, Mississippi’s humid and subtropical climate is conducive to all sorts of year round recreational activities, especially along the coast. This is why there is an abundance of senior living centers along the southern gulf coast, making the area number one for an active senior lifestyle.

While Mississippi may still be considered the “deep south”, that doesn’t mean that there’s no culture in the state. While it's true that life in Mississippi tends to run at a low pace, there are some major population areas, like its capital city, Jackson, that offer museums, strong theatre communities, etc.

Local Weather

Well, it shouldn’t be a surprise that it’s hot in Mississippi, very, very hot. The summers tend to be long, hot and humid, especially along the Gulf Coast. Although, the coastal areas do have a little bit of respite thanks to their proximity to the ocean.

The major issue with Mississippi’s location is that it lies perfectly in the path of major hurricanes that move northward from the Gulf of Mexico. In fact, two tornado alleys cross the state from the southwest to the northeast and as such, the coastline has been battered time and time again due to hurricanes like Camille and Katrina. See current Mississippi temperatures!

Sharp Seniors has 3 Senior Living Facilities in Mississippi

• 3 of them offer Senior Living
• 2 of them offer Assisted Living
• 1 of them offer Respite