10 Best Independent Living Communities in Park Forest, IL

Independent Living

For seniors who wish to live primarily without assistance but wish for the assistance of having daily tasks and responsibilities maintained by professionalls, an Independent Living Community might be the perfect choice. Basic chores such as meal planning and housekeeping are handled by staff and a calendar of recreational and social activities is maintained, allowing residents the autonomy to use their time as they see fit, free from daily responsibilities. 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. Typically consisting of a private living space 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 tasks out of the way. While policies vary between communities, many residences allow cats and dogs as well. If medical or nursing support is desired, residents may always enlist the services of private care providers. There are a number of advantages and expenditures to balance while choosing an independent living community. It is important to figure out if these amenities are covered in your plan: initial assessment fee, housekeeping, private phone, transportation, cable TV, wellness program, meals, and internet access. The luxuries associated with independent living include security guards, concierge services, golf course, game/TV room, community activities, fitness center & swimming pool, beauty salon & barber shop, and healthcare center.

Cost of Living

Cost of living can be the major factor when selecting what community works best. Park Forest has a median home value of around $59,581 and the median cost of rent is around $865 per month per month. The rent burden for Park Forest is around 17.8% of the average monthly income.

Demographics and Values

Based on gender, 46.2% are male and 53.8% are female. The median age of Park Forest is 39 years old. In Park Forest, 5.8% of the citizens are veterans of the United States armed forces. In Park Forest, 6.6% are widows, 61.7% participate in the labor force, 16.0% live in poverty, and 7.6% do not have health insurance. Demographically, Park Forest is 0.0% Native American, 6.2% Hispanic, 0.4% Asian, 3.3% mixed race, 28.1% white, 3.3% other or not specified, 64.9% black, and 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian. The current population of Park Forest consists of 21,682 people. Park Forest has a population density of 1,687 people per square mile. In terms of education, 26.7% have a college degree, 10.2% have a graduate degree, and 24.3% have a high-school diploma.

State Information

An overview of Illinois

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. 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. The natural beauty of Illinois is ranked 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 standards of healthcare.

Social demographics of the state

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 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 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. During the latest presidential election, 39% voted for the Republican candidate while 56% voted for the Democratic candidate.

State-wide weather information

The most precipitation occurs in May with an average of 6.02 inches of precipitation a month. On average, the state receives 3.33 inches of precipitation a month. During the winter, the average temperature in Illinois drops to around 28F. During the winter, the average high temperature peaks at around 49F during 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. 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. 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 bloodroot, blazing star, viola pedata, and aromatic aster. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the coyote, the American black bear, the American pygmy shrew, or the eastern red bat. The state animal of Illinois is the white-tailed deer.