10 Best Independent Living Communities in Fort Smith, AR

Independent Living

For those who desire to live primarily without personal care assistance but would like the convenience of having chores and housekeeping handled by professionalls, an Independent Living Community could be the perfect option. Frequent needs such as housekeeping and the scheduling of social activities are taken care of, which provides residents more opportunities to live active lives as they wish. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy an opportunity to live among peers, in a community with others of similar age groups and backgrounds. Residents’ quarters consist of a private living space with their own kitchen. The independence of apartment life is still enjoyed, offering opportunities to socialize with guests and visitors in a private and personal setting. While policies vary between locations, numerous residences allow pets as well. Nursing and health care services may always be arranged for with independent care providers if desired. There are a variety of expenses and advantages to consider when determining an independent living community. It is important to determine if these amenities are covered in your care plan: initial assessment fee, transportation, meals, cable TV, utilities, laundry, field trips, and move-in fee. The amenities that pertain to independent living include golf course, game/TV room, restaurant-style dining hall, laundry service, healthcare center, beauty salon & barber shop, community activities, and transportation.

Cost of Living

The total cost of living can be a major factor when determining which community works for your loved one. Fort Smith has a sales tax of 6.50%. In Fort Smith, the cost-of-living index is 80.2 where a score of 100 is the national average, and any amount under 100 is less pricey than the average amount. Fort Smith has a grocery price index of 89.6.

Demographics and Values

During the last presidential election, 65.3% voted Republican, 27.6% voted Democrat, and 7.2% voted for a third party candidate in Sebastian county. In terms of non-Christian denominations in Fort Smith, out of the total population 0.1% practice Judaism, 0.5% practice an Eastern religion, and 0.5% practice Islam. In Fort Smith, 30.3% are nonbelievers. In terms of Christian denominations, out of the total population of Fort Smith 30.1% are Baptists, 11.5% practice another Christian faith, and 9.9% practice Catholicism. Based on gender, 48.7% are male and 51.3% are female. In Fort Smith, 25.7% of the population are over the age of 55, 10.9% are over the age of 60, 5.7% are over the age of 70, and 3.6% are over the age of 80. The median age of Fort Smith is 36 years old. Demographically, Fort Smith is 5.0% mixed race, 8.1% other or not specified, 18.8% Hispanic, 5.9% Asian, 9.6% black, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 70.4% white, and 1.0% Native American. In Fort Smith, 14.9% do not have health insurance, 58.4% participate in the labor force, 6.3% consider themselves widows, and 25.8% live in poverty. The current population of Fort Smith is shrinking at a rate of 0.000%. Fort Smith has a population density of 537 people per square mile. In Fort Smith, 7.7% of the people are veterans of the United States military. Fort Smith is considered very unfriendly to members of the LGBTQ+ community. In terms of education, 20.1% have a college degree, 30.1% have a high-school diploma, and 6.5% have a graduate degree. In terms of crime, Fort Smith has 8.9 violent crimes per 1000 residents and 51.2 property crimes per 1000 residents.

Regional Climate and Weather Information

For many, climate and weather are the most significant factors in selecting a care destination. Monthly, Fort Smith gets about 4 inches of precipitation. The most rain usually occurs in May with an average of 7 inches during the month. For snowfall, Fort Smith experiences an average of 4.10 inches of snow per year. During the summer months, the temperature in Fort Smith is about 83F. The summer high is at roughly 96F during July. The lowest summer temperature is roughly 69F during the month of June. In the wintertime, the average temperature falls to about 44F. The winter high is around 59F during the month of February. The low winter temperature will rise to roughly 29 F in the month of January. Fort Smith has a humid subtropical type of climate. On average, the humidity level for Fort Smith is around 70%. The average humidity levels reach their peak in the month of May at approximately 73%. On average, the air quality index rating in Fort Smith is around 39.4. The average air quality conditions are rated as good. The air quality index score reaches its highest during May at approximately 50.7. During this time, the average air quality conditions are rated moderate. This means that those who are unusually sensitive should consider limiting the amount of time spent on outdoor exertion.

Local Hospitals and Health Care Providers

Access to hospitals might be an important factor in selecting the most suitable retirement home for you or your loved one. In total, there are 2 hospitals located in Fort Smith which offer emergency services and other healthcare. The top hospitals that service Fort Smith include Mercy Hospital Fort Smith and Sparks Medical Center – Fort Smith.

State Information

An overview of Arkansas

The natural beauty of Arkansas is ranked 19th in the nation. Overall, Arkansas ranks 45th out of all states in quality of life and 49th in healthcare. There are 88 general hospitals and 130 health centers that provide care for 3,024,692 Arkansas residents. The top three hospitals in the state are considered to be Arkansas Heart Hospital, Llc, Arkansas Surgical Hospital, and And Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas. In terms of resources, Arkansas has a cost of living index of 88.4, a grocery index rating of 92.0, and a housing index rating of 73.9. These index ratings are based on a system where 100 is considered the national average and anything below 100 is considered less expensive than the national average.

Social demographics of the state

The state of Arkansas ranks 33rd in the country for diversity. In the last presidential election 34% of Arkansas residents voted Democrat and 61% voted Republican. The state has a median age of 38 and 30% of its population being over the age of 55. In terms of religion, 41% of Arkansas residents attend religious services among the 6,697 different congregations that are available in the state. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-<1%, Muslim-2%, and Buddhist-<1%, with the most common Christian denominations consisting of Evangelical Protestant-46%, Mainline Protestant-16%, and Historically Black Protestant-8%. In Arkansas there are 361 masonic lodges.

State-wide weather information

On average, Arkansas has an air quality index rating of around 38.8 AQI. The highest seasonal air quality index rating occurs in the month of July with a rating of 47.9 AQI. The average humidity across the state is 71%. Humidity levels tend to reach their peak in the month of May at around 73%. The average monthly precipitation for the state of Arkansas is around 4.23 inches. The most precipitation occurs in May with an average of 6.85 inches of precipitation a month. The average temperature in the summer rises to around 79F. Over the summer months the average high temperature peaks at around 95F during the month of July. In the summer, the average low temperature drops to around 60F during the month of June. During the winter, the average temperature in Arkansas drops to around 41F. The average high winter temperature is around 60F in the month of February. In the winter months, the average low temperature falls to around 22F during the month of January. While residents of Arkansas mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in Arkansas can include earthquakes (moderate) and tornadoes.

Wildlife to be found in Arkansas

The state of Arkansas has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of cypresses, hickory, orchid, and water oak. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the black bears, the bobwhite quail, the armadillo, or the white-tailed deer. The state animal of Arkansas is the white-tailed deer.