10 Best Independent Living Communities in Sparta, IL

Independent Living

For many seniors, the financial burden of home ownership and the upkeep of the property might deter them from enjoying an otherwise independent life. Independent Living Communities offer a good remedy. Meals, recreational activities and housekeeping duties are taken care of while you are unencumbered to use your time as you wish. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy an opportunity to be among peers, in a community with others of similar age groups and interests. Typically comprised of a private living area and a full kitchen, these communities offer residences with many of the amenities of apartment life but without 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 differ between communities, a number of residences allow cats and dogs as well. Nursing and health care services can always be arranged for with independent care providers if desired. There are a variety of costs and advantages to consider while selecting an independent living community. It is important to figure out if these services are covered in the service plan: parking, laundry, move-in fee, housekeeping, field trips, initial assessment fee, private phone, and transportation. The benefits and amenities that pertain to independent living include laundry service, golf course, fitness center & swimming pool, private rental hall, concierge services, transportation, game/TV room, and healthcare center.

Demographics and Values

Of the population of Sparta 46.1% have a high-school diploma, 16.7% have a college degree, and 5.7% have a graduate degree. Sparta has a population density of 150 people per square mile. The current population of Sparta consists of 4,083 people and in total the Sparta metro area has a population of 4,341. In Sparta, 10.7% are widowed, 15.9% have some form of disability, 9.8% do not have health insurance, and 61.4% participate in the labor force. Racially, the population of Sparta is 79.3% white, 0.6% Hispanic, 1.1% mixed race, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 1.4% Asian, 0.3% other or not specified, 0.0% Native American, and 17.9% black. In Sparta, 9.6% of the population are veterans of the United States military. Out of the total city population, 51.4% are female and 48.6% are male. The median age of Sparta is 43 years old.

Cost of Living

The overall cost of living can be the major influence when determining what care option fits best. Per month, the median rent in Sparta is around $606 per month and the median home value in Sparta is around $80,116. The rent burden for Sparta is around 14.2% of the average monthly income.

State Information

An overview of Illinois

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. 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. Overall, Illinois ranks 35th out of all states in quality of life and 22nd in healthcare. Residents of Illinois enjoy its natural beauty which ranks 43rd in the United States.

Social demographics of the state

In Illinois, 34% of the population attend some form of religious service and there are 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. The median age in the state is 38, and 29% of the population is over the age of 55. In the last presidential election 56% of Illinois residents voted Democrat and 39% voted Republican. The state of Illinois ranks 10th in the country for diversity, and the state is considered LGBTQ friendly.

State-wide weather information

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. The average humidity across the state is 71%. Humidity levels tend to reach their peak in the month of December at around 78%. 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. During the summer, the average temperature in Illinois is 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. The average temperature in the winter falls 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. 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 bird’s foot violet, black eyedSusan, blazing star, and angelica. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the big brown bat, the eastern red bat, the American black bear, or the coyote. The state animal of Illinois is the white-tailed deer.