116 Independent Living near Facilities Melrose Park, IL. Page 2

Independent Living

An Independent Living Community permits residents the chance to continue to live an independent lifestyle while ensuring their care requirements have been fulfilled. Basic tasks such as meal preparation and housekeeping are handled by staff and a calendar of recreational and leisure activities is maintained, allowing residents the autonomy to use their time as they see fit, free from daily obligations. 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 backgrounds. Within the individual units, residents have access to a private living space and a full kitchen, and can even live with a companion if they prefer. While policies differ between locations, numerous residences allow pets as well. If medical or nursing care is desired, residents may always utilize the services of independent health care professionalls. There are a number of benefits and costs to balance when determining an independent living community. It is important to figure out if these services are included in the care plan: private phone, internet access, meals, wellness program, field trips, Waiting list deposit, move-in fee, and housekeeping. The luxuries that pertain to independent living include fitness center & swimming pool, laundry service, healthcare center, game/TV room, community activities, concierge services, security guards, and transportation.

Demographics and Values

Out of the total city population, 52.0% are male and 48.0% are female. The median age of Melrose Park is 33 years old. Racially, the population of Melrose Park is 0.8% Asian, 0.4% Native American, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 1.3% mixed race, 57.6% white, 73.9% Hispanic, 6.3% black, and 33.5% other or not specified. Of the population of Melrose Park 12.0% have a college degree, 33.5% have a high-school diploma, and 3.8% have a graduate degree. The current population of Melrose Park consists of 25,197 people. Melrose Park has a population density of 2,295 people per square mile. In Melrose Park, 68.1% participate in the labor force, 5.2% consider themselves widows, 18.3% do not have health insurance, and 19.1% live in poverty. In Melrose Park, 3.4% of the people are veterans.

Cost of Living

The total cost of living is a motivating factor in deciding which location is the best fit for your loved one’s needs. Monthly, the median cost for rent in Melrose Park is about $1,299 and the median home value for Melrose Park costs around $173,122. The rent burden for Melrose Park is about 22.3% of the average person’s monthly income.

State Information

An overview of Illinois

The state of Illinois has a cost of living index of 95.7 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 94.2 and a housing index rating of 87.2. Based on natural beauty, Illinois ranks 43rd in the nation. The quality of life enjoyed by the average Illinois citizen is ranked 35th nation-wide. Additionally, Illinois is ranked 22nd by healthcare standards. 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.

Social demographics of the state

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. In the most recent presidential election, 39% of Illinois residents voted Republican and 56% voted Democrat. 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.

State-wide weather information

On average, the state receives 3.33 inches of precipitation a month. The most precipitation occurs in May with an average of 6.02 inches of precipitation a month. 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. 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. 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. 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 average air quality index rating peaks in the month of May with a rating of around 54.5 AQI. 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, bloodroot, black eyedSusan, and aromatic aster. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the American pygmy shrew, the cougar, the American black bear, or the eastern red bat. The state animal of Illinois is the white-tailed deer.