7 Best Independent Living Communities in Kankakee, IL

Independent Living

For seniors who wish to live primarily without personal assistance but wish for the advantage of having housekeeping handled by professionalls, an Independent Living Community may be the perfect option. Occupants can use their free time as they wish while their meals are prepared by a professionall chef, housekeeping and laundry duties are taken care of by staff, and social activities are scheduled and organized. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy the opportunity to live among peers, surrounded by others of similar ages and backgrounds. Within the individual units, residents have access to a private living space and a full kitchen, and can even live with a partner if they choose. While policies vary between locations, numerous residences allow pets as well. Nursing and health care services can always be arranged for with independent care providers if desired. There are a variety of expenses and benefits to consider while deciding on an independent living community. It is important to determine if these services are covered in the care plan: internet access, transportation, wellness program, utilities, parking, cable TV, meals, and housekeeping. The benefits that pertain to independent living include golf course, private rental hall, security guards, community activities, concierge services, laundry service, restaurant-style dining hall, and game/TV room.

Cost of Living

The total cost of care for a community is affected by the neighborhood in which it is located. The rent burden for Kankakee is about 18.9% of the average person’s monthly income. Per month, the median cost of rent in Kankakee is around $815 per month and the median home value in Kankakee costs around $85,037.

Demographics and Values

Kankakee has a population density of 674 people per square mile. In Kankakee, 8.4% of the citizens are veterans. In terms of education, 5.0% have a graduate degree, 33.6% have a high-school diploma, and 12.2% have a college degree. Based on gender, 50.3% are female and 49.7% are male. The median age of Kankakee is 35 years old. Racially, the population of Kankakee is 1.1% Asian, 1.9% mixed race, 39.4% black, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.9% Native American, 53.5% white, 3.2% other or not specified, and 18.3% Hispanic. In Kankakee, 11.6% do not have health insurance, 32.1% live in poverty, 21.2% have some form of disability, and 56.4% participate in the labor force.

State Information

An overview of Illinois

There are 199 hospitals and 383 health centers that service a population of 12,696,123. The three highest ranked hospitals in Illinois are Sherman Hospital, Sam Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Centralia, and And Midwestern Region Medical Center. Based on natural beauty, Illinois ranks 43rd in the nation. 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. The quality of life enjoyed by the average Illinois citizen is ranked 35th nation-wide. Additionally, Illinois is ranked 22nd by standards of healthcare.

Social demographics of the state

During the latest presidential election, 39% voted for the Republican candidate while 56% voted for the Democratic candidate. The median age in the state is 38, and 29% of the population is over the age of 55. In terms of diversity, Illinois ranks 10th in the nation and is considered LGBTQ friendly. 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.

State-wide weather information

The average temperature in the summer rises to around 73F. Over the summer months the average high temperature peaks at around 91F during the month of July. The average low summer temperature is around 53F in the month of June. During the winter, the average temperature in Illinois drops to around 28F. The average high winter temperature is around 49F in the month of February. The average low temperature during the winter drops to around 10F in the month of January. The average air quality index rating in Illinois is 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 monthly precipitation for the state of Illinois is around 3.33 inches. The most precipitation occurs in May with an average of 6.02 inches of precipitation a month. Illinois experiences an average humidity rating of about 71%. Humidity levels tend to reach their peak in the month of December at around 78%. 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 angelica, bird’s foot violet, black eyedSusan, and viola pedata. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the eastern red bat, the American pygmy shrew, the big brown bat, or the coyote. The state animal of Illinois is the white-tailed deer.