10 Best Independent Living Communities in Bloomington, IL

Independent Living

An Independent Living Community allows residents the chance to continue to live their active lives while guaranteeing their essential needs are being fulfilled. Basic tasks such as meal planning and housekeeping are handled by staff and a calendar of recreational and leisure activities is provided, allowing residents an opportunity to use their time as they wish, free from daily responsibilities. 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. Typically comprised of a private living area and a full kitchen, these communities offer residences with many of the amenities of apartment life but with none of the hassle. Guests can be invited over and entertained, and more time can be spent with them with the basic maintenance of daily tasks out of the way. While policies vary between locations, many residences allow cats and dogs as well. If medical or nursing support is desired, residents may always utilize the services of private health care professionalls. There are a variety of expenses and advantages to balance when deciding on an independent living community. It is important to figure out if these services are included in your plan: utilities, meals, cable TV, wellness program, laundry, private phone, field trips, and parking. The amenities associated with independent living include beauty salon & barber shop, laundry service, game/TV room, restaurant-style dining hall, transportation, private rental hall, golf course, and healthcare center.

Demographics and Values

In Bloomington, 7.0% of the population are veterans of the United States armed forces. Bloomington is considered very friendly to members of the LGBTQ+ community. In terms of education, 16.9% have a graduate degree, 24.0% have a high-school diploma, and 47.7% have a college degree. Demographically, Bloomington is 0.2% Native American, 1.5% other or not specified, 7.9% Asian, 77.5% white, 6.1% Hispanic, 10.7% black, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, and 2.3% mixed race. The current population of Bloomington is growing at a rate of 0.001%. Bloomington has a population density of 1,108 people per square mile. In Bloomington, 68.9% are nonbelievers. In terms of Christian denominations, out of the total population of Bloomington 11.1% practice another Christian faith, 7.9% practice Catholicism, and 4.1% are Methodists. In terms of non-Christian denominations in Bloomington, out of the total population 0.4% practice Judaism, 0.3% practice an Eastern religion, and 0.4% practice Islam. In terms of crime, Bloomington has 5.5 violent crimes per 1000 residents and 35.8 property crimes per 1000 residents. During the previous presidential election, 35.2% voted Republican, 58.5% voted Democrat, and 6.2% voted for a third party candidate in McLean county. Based on gender, 51.3% are female and 48.7% are male. In Bloomington, 15.2% of the population are over the age of 55, 9.2% are over the age of 60, 4.1% are over the age of 70, and 3.4% are over the age of 80. The median age of Bloomington is 34 years old. In Bloomington, 4.9% do not have health insurance, 5.1% consider themselves widows, 13.3% live in poverty, and 10.3% have some form of disability.

Regional Climate and Weather Information

Climate and weather is a significant factor in choosing which location is the right fit for your family. Monthly, Bloomington receives around 4 inches of precipitation. The most precipitation usually falls in June with an average of 6 inches in a month. For snowfall, Bloomington receives on average 17.20 inches of snow. On average, the humidity level for Bloomington is around 60%. Humidity levels are highest in December at approximately 66%. Bloomington has a humid subtropical type of climate. During the summertime, Bloomington is about 74F. The low summer temperature falls to roughly 62F during June. The summer high peaks at roughly 86F in July. In the wintertime, the temperature in Bloomington falls to about 33F. The high winter temperature is roughly 44F in the month of December. The low winter temperature will rise to roughly 22 F in the month of January. The average air quality index rating in Bloomington is around 44.5. The average AQI conditions are rated as good. This means that there is no health advisory associated with the air quality for this destination. The air quality index rating is at its max in December at about 58.7. 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.

Cost of Living

The cost of care for a community is determined by the community in which it is located. Bloomington has a cost of living index of around 90.4 and a grocery-price index of 90.7. These index ratings are based on a spectrum where 100 is the national average and anything lower than 100 is cheaper than said average. The rent burden for Bloomington is about 15.0% of the average person’s monthly income. Bloomington has a median home value of around $164,285 and the median cost of rent is about $1,088 per month per month.

Local Hospitals and Health Care Providers

Proximity to medical communities is an important factor in deciding the most suitable care option for you or your loved one. In total, there are 3 hospitals located in Bloomington which offer emergency services and other healthcare. The top hospitals that service Bloomington include Iu Health Bloomington Hospital, Monroe Hospital, and Bloomington Meadows Hospital.

State Information

An overview of Illinois

Based on natural beauty, Illinois ranks 43rd in the nation. There are 199 general hospitals and 383 health centers that provide care for 12,696,123 Illinois residents. Sherman Hospital, Sam Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Centralia, and And Midwestern Region Medical Center are among the top three highest ranked hospitals in the state. In terms of resources, Illinois has a cost of living index of 95.7, a grocery index rating of 94.2, and a housing index rating of 87.2. 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. Overall, Illinois ranks 35th out of all states in quality of life and 22nd in healthcare.

Social demographics of the state

In Illinois, 34% of the population attend some form of religious service and there are 12,453 different congregations. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-2%, Muslim-<1%, and Buddhist-<1%, with the most common Christian denominations consisting of Evangelical Protestant-20%, Mainline Protestant-16%, and Historically Black Protestant-7%. In Illinois there are 518 masonic lodges. In the last presidential election 56% of Illinois residents voted Democrat and 39% voted Republican. In Illinois, 29% of the population is over the age of 55. The median age in the state is 38. In terms of diversity, Illinois ranks 10th in the nation and is considered LGBTQ friendly.

State-wide weather information

The average humidity across the state is 71%. Humidity levels tend to reach their peak in the month of December at around 78%. The average temperature in the winter falls to around 28F. The average high winter temperature is around 49F in the month of February. In the winter months, the average low temperature falls to around 10F during the month of January. The average temperature in the summer rises to around 73F. The average high summer temperature is around 91F in the month of July. In the summer, the average low temperature drops to around 53F during the month of June. On average, Illinois has an air quality index rating of around 37.7 AQI. The highest seasonal air quality index rating occurs in the month of May with a rating of 54.5 AQI. The average amount of precipitation peaks during the month of May at around 6.02 inches. The average monthly precipitation for the state of Illinois is around 3.33 inches. While residents of Illinois mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in Illinois can include floods, earthquakes (moderate), and and tornados.

Wildlife to be found in Illinois

The state of Illinois has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of aromatic aster, blazing star, bird’s foot violet, and angelica. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the cougar, the American black bear, the American pygmy shrew, or the coyote. The state animal of Illinois is the white-tailed deer.