Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, Oakland, California is home to nearly 400,000 residents, 12.5 percent of whom are senior citizens. Oakland’s rich history and picturesque views are a major draw for retirees. The area is home to the USS Potomac, which was formerly FDR’s yacht and now acts as a floating history museum, as well as Lake Merritt, which is the largest saltwater lake in the U.S. Seniors can travel safely throughout Oakland and the San Francisco Bay Area via the city’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, which offers reduced fares for senior citizens. Oakland’s safest neighborhoods lie on the outer edge of the city and feature a variety of shops, services and other amenities.
To help seniors discover the most senior-friendly locations around the country, Caring.com conducted a new study, “The Best and Worst Places for Senior Living.” The Caring Senior Living Report analyzes and ranks 300 cities and 50 states on the quality of senior living in that area. The cities were graded using 46 metrics across five categories: Health Care, Senior Living & Housing, Affordability, Quality of life, and Transportation.