10 Best Independent Living Communities in Decatur, GA

Independent Living

If you or your loved one would benefit from the peace of mind of having your chores handled while living the way you wish, consider an Independent Living Community. Occupants may continue to live their lives as they see fit while their meals are cooked by a professionall chef, housekeeping and laundry duties are handled by staff, and recreational activities are scheduled and organized. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy the opportunity to be among peers, in a community with others of similar ages and backgrounds. Within the individual units, residents have access to their own private living space and a full kitchen, and can even live with a companion if they prefer. While policies vary between communities, a number of residences allow pets as well. Nursing and health care services can always be arranged for with private care providers as desired. There are a number of costs and benefits to balance when choosing an independent living community. It is important to learn if these amenities are covered in the plan: Waiting list deposit, move-in fee, internet access, cable TV, transportation, meals, wellness program, and private phone. The benefits and amenities that pertain to independent living include laundry service, security guards, healthcare center, transportation, concierge services, golf course, beauty salon & barber shop, and community activities.

Regional Climate and Weather Information

Weather, particularly air quality and moisture, is a big influence in deciding which city is right for your loved one. On average, the humidity rating for Decatur is approximately 70%. The average humidity levels are highest in the month of August at roughly 74%. In the summer, Decatur is around 79F. The low summer temperature is roughly 66F during June. The summer high peaks at roughly 93F in August. In the wintertime, the average air temperature drops to roughly 46F. The highest winter temperature will rise to approximately 58F in the month of February. The low winter temperature is roughly 35 F during the month of February. Decatur has a humid subtropical type of climate. Monthly, Decatur measures around 7 inches of precipitation. The most rain historically falls in July with an average of 13 inches in a month. For snowfall, Decatur receives an average of 1.50 inches of snow. The average air quality index rating in Decatur is around 41.8. The average AQI conditions are rated as good. The air quality index score reaches its peak in the month of June at around 47.4.

Demographics and Values

In terms of education, 71.7% have a college degree, 37.4% have a graduate degree, and 10.5% have a high-school diploma. In terms of non-Christian denominations in Decatur, out of the total population 1.0% practice Judaism, 1.0% practice an Eastern religion, and 1.9% practice Islam. In Decatur, 51.6% are nonbelievers. In terms of Christian denominations, out of the total population of Decatur 11.6% practice another Christian faith, 10.0% are Baptists, and 9.8% practice Catholicism. During the last presidential election, 16.2% voted Republican, 4.7% voted for a third party candidate, and 79.1% voted Democrat in DeKalb county. In terms of crime, Decatur has 1.7 violent crimes per 1000 residents and 23.0 property crimes per 1000 residents. In Decatur, 6.4% of the population are veterans of the United States military. Decatur is considered neutral to members of the LGBTQ+ community. The current population of Decatur is growing at a rate of 0.079%. The total population of Decatur consists of 23,832 people. Decatur has a population density of 2,074 people per square mile. Based on gender, 57.7% are female and 42.3% are male. The median age of Decatur is 36 years old. In Decatur, 19.5% of the population are over the age of 55, 7.7% are over the age of 60, 4.6% are over the age of 70, and 3.7% are over the age of 80. Out of the total population of Decatur, 8.4% have some form of disability, 15.6% live in poverty, 69.6% participate in the labor force, and 5.1% do not have health insurance. Demographically, Decatur is 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 68.9% white, 0.6% Native American, 0.6% other or not specified, 4.1% Asian, 21.7% black, 3.8% Hispanic, and 4.0% mixed race.

Local Hospitals and Health Care Providers

Proximity to hospitals can be an important factor when selecting the best senior community for you or your loved one. The top hospitals that service Decatur include Emory Decatur Hospital and Georgia Regional Hospital Atlanta. In total, there are 2 hospitals located in Decatur which offer emergency services and other healthcare.

Cost of Living

The location where a community is based could have a huge impact on the cost of care. The total cost of living can be a motivating factor when selecting which care option works for your loved one’s needs. Decatur has a cost-of-living index of 168.2 based on an average rating of 100, where any amount higher than 100 is considered costlier than the average. Decatur has a grocery-price index of about 92.6. Monthly, the median rent in Decatur is $2,101 per month and the median value of a house in Decatur is $422,112. The rent burden for Decatur is about 18.2% of the average person’s monthly income.

State Information

An overview of Georgia

There are 151 general hospitals and 251 health centers that provide care for 10,626,983 Georgia residents. Adventhealth Gordon, Wellstar Paulding Hospital, and And Piedmont Columbus Regional Northside are among the top three highest ranked hospitals in the state. Based on natural beauty, Georgia ranks 20th in the nation. In terms of personal well-being, Georgia ranks 39th in healthcare and 17th in quality of life compared to other states. The state of Georgia has a cost of living index of 91.2 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 96.9 and a housing index rating of 73.8.

Social demographics of the state

In the most recent presidential election, 51% of Georgia residents voted Republican and 46% voted Democrat. In terms of religion, 42% of Georgia residents attend religious services among the 12,292 different congregations that are available in the state. The top three Christian denominations in the state are Evangelical Protestant-38%, Mainline Protestant-12%, and Historically Black Protestant-17%. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-<1%, Muslim-<1%, and Buddhist-<1%. In Georgia there are 622 masonic lodges. In terms of diversity, Georgia ranks 13th in the nation. The state has a median age of 37 and 26% of its population being over the age of 55.

State-wide weather information

The most precipitation occurs in August with an average of 8.46 inches of precipitation a month. On average, the state receives 4.17 inches of precipitation a month. On average, Georgia has an air quality index rating of around 37.8 AQI. The average air quality index rating peaks in the month of March with a rating of around 43.9 AQI. Georgia experiences an average humidity rating of about 71%. Humidity levels tend to reach their peak in the month of August at around 75%. During the winter, the average temperature in Georgia drops to around 47F. During the winter, the average high temperature peaks at around 70F during the month of February. The average low temperature during the winter drops to around 24F in the month of January. During the summer, the average temperature in Georgia is around 79F. The average high summer temperature is around 95F in the month of July. The average low summer temperature is around 57F in the month of June. While residents of Georgia mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in Georgia can include hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and and earthquakes (moderate).

Wildlife to be found in Georgia

The state of Georgia has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of flowering quince, scaly-bark, red cedar, and sweetgum. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the copperhead snakes, the brown thrasher, the eastern diamondback, or the mockingbird. The state animal of Georgia is the north Atlantic right whale.