10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Meridian, MS

Meridian, Mississippi

Assisted Living

Assisted living communities have the luxury of a sense of community as well as individualized help. The services provided often involve support with the activities of daily life. Occupants may be kept under observation and assessment. In some cases, communities may provide respite, continuing care, or hospice. In Mississippi, the annual median cost for an assisted living community is around $42,291 . The state of Mississippi has specific statutes related to this type of community. The Mississippi Department of Health, Health communities Licensure and Certification certifies this type of community. This type of community is required to have a staff member on duty 24 hours a day. There must be one bath or shower for every 1 residents and one toilet for every 1 residents. Before a resident is accepted, they must go through a service plan screening to make sure their needs are going to be met. This screening includes a number of areas of interest such as Prospective residents must be given a thorough examination by a licensed physician or certified nurse practitioner, or physician assistant and A re-examination by a physician and/or nurse practitioner or physician assistant is required annually. Public assistance is available through Medicaid 1915(c) Assisted Living Waiver program. This community type has a number of provisions pertaining to medication assistance. These provisions include medication administration, physical act of handing an oral prescription medication to the resident, and physical act of handing liquids to resident to assist the resident in swallowing. This type of community is required to offer a number of services. These include referral to social services as needed, assistance with activities of daily living, laundry, and social activities . Staff members receive education in a variety of subjects. These include: new operators must spend 2 concurrent days with the licensing agency for training and mentoring and direct care staff must receive appropriate training on topics related to the care of the population being served. This community has a number of provisions concerning food and diet which include all special diets must be planned by a licensed dietician who visits the community at least once every 30 days, communities must provide at least three daily meals, meals must meet current recommended dietary allowances, and meals must meet the nutritional, social, emotional, and therapeutic needs of residents.

Demographics and Values

Meridian has a population density of 272 people per square mile. The current population of Meridian is shrinking at a rate of -0.016%. Demographically, Meridian is 60.3% black, 2.2% Hispanic, 0.8% other or not specified, 0.2% Native American, 36.9% white, 0.8% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, and 1.1% mixed race. In terms of education, 20.6% have a college degree, 8.3% have a graduate degree, and 27.9% have a high-school diploma. In terms of crime, Meridian has 5.1 violent crimes per 1000 residents and 39.6 property crimes per 1000 residents. In Meridian, 9.4% of the people are veterans. Meridian is considered very unfriendly to members of the LGBTQ+ community. In Meridian, 19.0% have some form of disability, 8.1% are widowed, 58.8% participate in the labor force, and 14.5% do not have health insurance. In terms of Christian denominations, out of the total population of Meridian 44.1% are Baptists, 9.9% are Methodists, and 9.9% practice another Christian faith. In Meridian, 27.5% are nonbelievers. In terms of non-Christian denominations in Meridian, out of the total population 0.1% practice Judaism, 0.0% practice an Eastern religion, and 0.4% practice Islam. Out of the total city population, 47.1% are male and 52.9% are female. In Meridian, 28.7% of the population are over the age of 55, 10.8% are over the age of 60, 5.6% are over the age of 70, and 4.8% are over the age of 80. The median age of Meridian is 36 years old. During the last presidential election, 60.1% voted Republican, 38.2% voted Democrat, and 1.7% voted for a third party candidate in Lauderdale county.

Local Hospitals and Health Care Providers

For many seniors, primarily those who have chronic diseases or those requiring long-term treatment, proximity to medical communities can be an important factor while choosing which community best meets you or your family’s needs. In total, there are 4 hospitals located in Meridian which offer emergency services and other healthcare. The top hospitals that service Meridian include Rush Foundation Hospital, Anderson Regional Medical Center, and Anderson Ram South.

Cost of Living

The overall cost of living can be a major influence when selecting which care choice is the best fit for your loved one. Meridian has a grocery price index of around 91.8 and a cost of living index of around 82.6. Index ratings are based on a system where 100 is the national average and anything beneath 100 is cheaper than the average. Monthly, the median price of rent in Meridian is about $580 and the median home value in Meridian costs around $81,933. The rent burden for Meridian is about 15.6% of the average person’s monthly income.

Regional Climate and Weather Information

The air quality, air temperature, and humidity of a location can have a significant influence on the health of your family member. During the summer, Meridian is about 81F. The low summer temperature is roughly 67F during the month of June. The summer high is at approximately 93F during the month of July. In the wintertime, the average air temperature falls to roughly 49F. The high winter temperature gets to approximately 64F in the month of February. The low winter temperature gets to roughly 35 F in the month of January. Meridian has a humid subtropical type of climate. The average air quality index rating in Meridian is approximately 38.0. The average AQI conditions are rated as good. The air quality index score reaches its max during the month of October at about 49.6. Monthly, Meridian measures around 5 inches of precipitation. The most precipitation normally happens in March with an average of 6 inches during the month. Meridian experiences an average of 0.60 inches of snow. On average, Meridian has a humidity rating of approximately 73%. Humidity ratings are highest during the month of July at about 76%.

State Information

An overview of Mississippi

Out of a national average of 100, Mississippi has a cost of living index rating of 86, a grocery index rating of 92, and a housing index rating of 70. Overall, Mississippi ranks 48th in quality of life and 50th in healthcare compared to other US states. Residents of Mississippi enjoy its natural beauty which ranks 11th in the United States. The state of Mississippi has 105 hospitals and 247 health centers, providing care to a population of 2,983,400. The three highest ranked hospitals in Mississippi are Baptist Memorial Hospital Union County, Beacham Memorial Hospital, and Ochsner Medical Center-hancock.

Social demographics of the state

In terms of religious values, 49% of Mississippi’s population regularly attend some form of service and there are in total 6,765 different congregations. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-<1%, Muslim-<1%, and Buddhist-<1%, with the most common Christian denominations consisting of Evangelical Protestant-41%, Mainline Protestant-12%, and Historically Black Protestant-24%. In Mississippi there are 604 masonic lodges. The median age in the state is 38, and 29% of the population is over the age of 55. During the latest presidential election, 58% voted for the Republican candidate while 40% voted for the Democratic candidate. In terms of diversity, Mississippi ranks 30th in the nation.

State-wide weather information

During the winter, the average temperature in Mississippi drops to around 46F. During the winter, the average high temperature peaks at around 67F during the month of February. In the winter months, the average low temperature falls to around 27F during the month of January. During the summer, the average temperature in Mississippi is around 80F. Over the summer months the average high temperature peaks at around 94F during the month of July. In the summer, the average low temperature drops to around 63F during the month of June. The most precipitation occurs in July with an average of 7.60 inches of precipitation a month. The average monthly precipitation for the state of Mississippi is around 4.85 inches. The average humidity across the state is 74%. The highest monthly average humidity rating is 76% in the month of July. On average, Mississippi has an air quality index rating of around 39.2 AQI. The highest seasonal air quality index rating occurs in the month of May with a rating of 49.3 AQI. While residents of Mississippi mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in Mississippi can include hurricanes, tornados, and and earthquakes (moderate).

Wildlife to be found in Mississippi

The state of Mississippi has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of Dutchman’s Breeches, Virginia Waterleaf, Wild Geranium, and Hepatica. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the Dove, the Cormorant, the Crow, or the Mountain Lions. The state animal of Mississippi is the White-tailed Deer.