Mansfield, part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, is a suburban town of around 56,000 people. About 9% of Mansfield residents are seniors over age 65. With its typical north-central Texas climate, Mansfield enjoys mild winters, but during the summer the temperatures can reach highs in the 90s. Residents keep cool at places like Britton Park, which features a lake and boat ramp for fishing access, Joe Pool Lake and the Elmer W. Oliver Nature Park, which offers trails, kayaking and fishing along with an amphitheater for special events. Mansfield’s Senior Lifestyles program, appropriately named Young At Heart, hosts weekly social gatherings and activities. Programs including Spanish classes, retirement planning and free tax preparation are available for residents aged 55 and up.
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.