10 Best Independent Living Communities in Chatham, IL

Independent Living

If you or your loved one would like the peace of mind of having many of your frequent tasks taken care of by professionalls while living at your own pace, you might want to consider an Independent Living Community. Food preparation, leisure activities and housekeeping responsibilities are handled for you while you are free to use your time as you prefer. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy the opportunity to live among peers, in a community with others of similar age groups and interests. Residents’ quarters consist of a private living space with their own kitchen. The independence of apartment life is still enjoyed, offering an opportunity to socialize with guests and visitors in a private and personal setting. While policies differ between communities, many residences allow pets as well. Nursing and health care services can always be arranged for with independent care providers as desired. There are a number of expenses and benefits to consider while determining an independent living community. It is important to learn if these amenities are covered in your plan: meals, internet access, field trips, transportation, utilities, cable TV, housekeeping, and initial assessment fee. The benefits and amenities associated with independent living include laundry service, transportation, concierge services, beauty salon & barber shop, restaurant-style dining hall, community activities, healthcare center, and golf course.

Demographics and Values

Demographically, Chatham is 2.6% Hispanic, 0.0% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 1.7% mixed race, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.4% other or not specified, 0.7% black, and 96.0% white. The current population of Chatham consists of 12,624 people. Chatham has a population density of 699 people per square mile. Out of the total population of Chatham, 9.8% have some form of disability, 73.6% participate in the labor force, 1.8% do not have health insurance, and 2.7% consider themselves widows. Of the population of Chatham 15.9% have a graduate degree, 17.9% have a high-school diploma, and 49.5% have a college degree. In Chatham, 8.1% of the population are veterans of the United States military. Out of the total city population, 52.2% are female and 47.8% are male. The median age of Chatham is 36 years old.

Cost of Living

Cost of living can be a big influence when selecting which care choice works best. Chatham has a median home value of around $185,450 and the median cost of rent is $1,233 per month per month. The rent burden for Chatham is around 16.2% of the average person’s monthly income.

State Information

An overview of Illinois

Out of a national average of 100, Illinois has a cost of living index rating of 96, a grocery index rating of 94, and a housing index rating of 87. Overall, Illinois ranks 35th in quality of life and 22nd in healthcare compared to other US states. In total, Illinois has 199 general hospitals and 383 health centers that provide care for 12,696,123 citizens. The three highest ranked hospitals in Illinois are Sherman Hospital, Sam Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Centralia, and And Midwestern Region Medical Center. Residents of Illinois enjoy its natural beauty which ranks 43rd in the United States.

Social demographics of the state

In the last presidential election 56% of Illinois residents voted Democrat and 39% voted Republican. Thirty-four percent of Illinois residents regularly attend a religious service from one of the state’s 12,453 different congregations. The top three Christian denominations in the state are Evangelical Protestant-20%, Mainline Protestant-16%, and Historically Black Protestant-7%. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-2%, Muslim-<1%, and Buddhist-<1%. In Illinois there are 518 masonic lodges. In terms of diversity, Illinois ranks 10th in the nation and is considered LGBTQ friendly. The state has a median age of 38 and 29% of its population being over the age of 55.

State-wide weather information

Illinois experiences an average humidity rating of about 71%. The highest monthly average humidity rating is 78% in the month of December. 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. During the summer, the average temperature in Illinois is 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. The average temperature in the winter falls to around 28F. During the winter, the average high temperature peaks at around 49F during the month of February. The average low temperature during the winter drops to around 10F in the month of January. The average amount of precipitation peaks during the month of May at around 6.02 inches. On average, the state receives 3.33 inches of precipitation a month. 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 tornadoes.

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 bee balm, bird’s foot violet, bloodroot, and aromatic aster. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the American black bear, the eastern red bat, the cougar, or the American pygmy shrew. The state animal of Illinois is the white-tailed deer.