10 Best Independent Living Communities in Normal, IL

Independent Living

Independent Living Communities provide individuals with a handy harmony between an independent lifestyle and not having to worry about the upkeep of basic tasks and responsibilities. Basic needs such as meal preparation 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 see fit, free from daily responsibilities. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy an opportunity to live among peers, surrounded by others of similar ages and interests. Typically comprised of a private living area and a full kitchen, these communities offer homes 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 chores out of the way. While policies differ between communities, a number of residences allow cats and dogs as well. If residents decide they would like to enlist the services of independent medical providers, they always have the option. There are a number of benefits and costs to consider while selecting an independent living community. It is important to determine if these services are covered in your care plan: move-in fee, Waiting list deposit, laundry, wellness program, cable TV, housekeeping, transportation, and parking. The luxuries associated with independent living include restaurant-style dining hall, security guards, fitness center & swimming pool, beauty salon & barber shop, transportation, community activities, golf course, and private rental hall.

Cost of Living

The overall cost of care for a community is influenced by the destination where it is located. Normal has a median home value of about $165,469 and the median cost of rent is around $1,211 per month. The rent burden for Normal is about 16.5% of the average person’s monthly income.

Demographics and Values

Out of the total population of Normal, 8.2% have some form of disability, 4.3% do not have health insurance, 22.7% live in poverty, and 67.1% participate in the labor force. Out of the total city population, 47.5% are male and 52.5% are female. The median age of Normal is 24 years old. Of the population of Normal 20.8% have a high-school diploma, 49.2% have a college degree, and 17.9% have a graduate degree. Normal has a population density of 1,123 people per square mile. The total population of Normal consists of 54,284 people. Racially, the population of Normal is 0.3% Native American, 9.6% black, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.7% other or not specified, 4.4% Asian, 82.5% white, 5.3% Hispanic, and 2.6% mixed race. In Normal, 4.5% of the citizens are veterans of the United States armed forces.

State Information

An overview of Illinois

Residents of Illinois enjoy its natural beauty which ranks 43rd in the United States. Overall, Illinois ranks 35th in quality of life and 22nd in healthcare compared to other US states. 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. There are 199 general hospitals and 383 health centers that provide care for 12,696,123 Illinois residents. The top three hospitals in the state are considered to be Sherman Hospital, Sam Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Centralia, and And Midwestern Region Medical Center.

Social demographics of the state

The state of Illinois ranks 10th in the country for diversity, and the state is considered LGBTQ friendly. During the latest presidential election, 39% voted for the Republican candidate while 56% voted for the Democratic candidate. In terms of religious values, 34% of Illinois’s population regularly attend some form of service and there are in total 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. The state has a median age of 38 and 29% of its population being over the age of 55.

State-wide weather information

The average air quality index rating in Illinois is 37.7 AQI. The average air quality index rating peaks in the month of May with a rating of around 54.5 AQI. The most precipitation occurs in May with an average of 6.02 inches of precipitation a month. The average monthly precipitation for the state of Illinois is around 3.33 inches. Illinois experiences an average humidity rating of about 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. 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. 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, aromatic aster, and bee balm. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the American pygmy shrew, the big brown bat, the eastern red bat, or the coyote. The state animal of Illinois is the white-tailed deer.