10 Best Independent Living Communities in Longwood, FL

Independent Living

An Independent Living Community provides residents the opportunity to continue to live an active life while ensuring their care requirements are being fulfilled. Residents may continue to live their lives as they wish while their food is cooked by a professionall chef, housekeeping and laundry duties are taken care of by staff, and recreational activities are organized and scheduled. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy the opportunity to be among peers, surrounded by others of similar ages and interests. Residents’ quarters consist of private living spaces, each with their own kitchen. The independence of apartment life is still enjoyed, offering an opportunity to entertain guests and visitors in a private and personal setting. While policies vary between communities, a number of residences allow pets as well. If medical or nursing care is desired, residents may always utilize the services of private health care professionalls. There are an assortment of benefits and expenses to balance while choosing an independent living community. It is important to figure out if these amenities are covered in the care plan: utilities, Waiting list deposit, private phone, internet access, transportation, meals, parking, and field trips. The conveniences that pertain to independent living include concierge services, fitness center & swimming pool, security guards, healthcare center, game/TV room, restaurant-style dining hall, community activities, and golf course.

Demographics and Values

In Longwood, 7.5% are widows, 64.9% participate in the labor force, 13.3% have some form of disability, and 14.5% live in poverty. In terms of education, 7.3% have a graduate degree, 26.1% have a college degree, and 30.5% have a high-school diploma. Based on gender, 47.5% are male and 52.5% are female. The median age of Longwood is 44 years old. In Longwood, 7.6% of the people are veterans. Racially, the population of Longwood is 14.7% Hispanic, 81.1% white, 2.3% mixed race, 0.5% Native American, 3.4% Asian, 2.6% other or not specified, 10.1% black, and 0.1% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian. Longwood has a population density of 1,061 people per square mile. The total population of Longwood consists of 15,061 people.

Cost of Living

The overall cost of living is a major influence when choosing which location works for your loved one’s needs. The median home value in Longwood costs around $163,726 and the median price for rent is around $1,088 a month. The rent burden for Longwood is about 19.3% of the average monthly income.

State Information

An overview of Florida

The state of Florida has a cost of living index of 98.9 where a score of 100 is the national average, and anything below 100 is considered less expensive than the national average. The state has a grocery index rating of 104.0 and a housing index rating of 95.4. There are 218 general hospitals and 108 health centers that provide care for 21,626,797 Florida residents. The top three hospitals in the state are considered to be St. Joseph’s Hospital, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, and Jupiter Medical Center. Residents of Florida enjoy its natural beauty which ranks 21st in the United States. Florida is ranked 13th in quality of life and 29th in healthcare.

Social demographics of the state

In terms of diversity, Florida ranks 8th in the nation and is considered LGBTQ friendly. Thirty-five percent of Florida residents regularly attend a religious service from one of the state’s 15,611 different congregations. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-3%, Muslim-<1%, and Buddhist-<1%, with the most common Christian denominations consisting of Evangelical Protestant-24%, Mainline Protestant-14%, and Historically Black Protestant-8%. In Florida there are 290 masonic lodges. The state has a median age of 42 and 34% of its population being over the age of 55. During the latest presidential election, 49% voted for the Republican candidate while 48% voted for the Democratic candidate.

State-wide weather information

On average, the humidity rating for Florida is around 75%. The highest monthly average humidity rating is 78% in the month of September. On average, Florida has an air quality index rating of around 37.0 AQI. The average air quality index rating peaks in the month of April with a rating of around 47.9 AQI. The most precipitation occurs in June with an average of 11.50 inches of precipitation a month. On average, the state receives 4.54 inches of precipitation a month. During the winter, the average temperature in Florida drops to around 60F. The average high winter temperature is around 79F in the month of February. The average low temperature during the winter drops to around 36F in the month of January. During the summer, the average temperature in Florida is around 82F. Over the summer months the average high temperature peaks at around 95F during the month of July. The average low summer temperature is around 66F in the month of June. While residents of Florida mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in Florida can include hurricanes and floods.

Wildlife to be found in Florida

The state of Florida has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of blackjack, saw palmetto, water oak, and a wide variety of palms. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the six species of sea turtle, the shortnose sturgeon, the wild turkey, or the mockingbird. The state animal of Florida is the Florida panther.