68 Independent Living near Facilities Watseka, IL. Page 2

Independent Living

For those who would prefer to live primarily without personal care assistance but wish for the convenience of having housekeeping maintained by professionalls, an Independent Living Community could be the perfect choice. You or your loved one may continue to use their free time as they wish while their food is cooked by a professionall chef, housekeeping and laundry duties are handled by staff, and social activities are organized and scheduled. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy the opportunity to live among peers, surrounded by others of similar ages and interests. 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 differ between communities, many residences allow cats and dogs as well. Nursing and health care services may always be arranged for with independent care providers as desired. There are an assortment of benefits and expenses to balance while deciding on an independent living community. It is important to figure out if these services are included in your plan: initial assessment fee, cable TV, meals, utilities, laundry, transportation, internet access, and housekeeping. The benefits and amenities associated with independent living include security guards, golf course, private rental hall, community activities, restaurant-style dining hall, beauty salon & barber shop, concierge services, and healthcare center.

Cost of Living

The location where a community is based might have a major impact on the total price. Cost of living can be a major factor when selecting which care option is best for you or your loved one. The rent burden for Watseka is about 17.8% of the average monthly income. Watseka has a median home value of about $80,001 and the median cost of rent is about $726 per month.

Demographics and Values

Based on gender, 56.9% are female and 43.1% are male. The median age of Watseka is 44 years old. Demographically, Watseka is 0.5% mixed race, 4.5% other or not specified, 91.2% white, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.0% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 3.4% black, and 6.2% Hispanic. Of the population of Watseka 43.9% have a high-school diploma, 2.3% have a graduate degree, and 10.9% have a college degree. Out of the total population of Watseka, 9.5% do not have health insurance, 20.7% have some form of disability, 21.7% live in poverty, and 58.0% participate in the labor force. Watseka has a population density of 615 people per square mile. The current population of Watseka consists of 4,732 people and in total the Watseka metro area has a population of 4,919. In Watseka, 9.0% of the citizens are veterans of the United States military.

State Information

An overview of Illinois

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. Illinois is ranked 35th in quality of life and 22nd in healthcare. Based on natural beauty, Illinois ranks 43rd in the nation. 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.

Social demographics of the state

In the most recent presidential election, 39% of Illinois residents voted Republican and 56% voted Democrat. In terms of diversity, Illinois ranks 10th in the nation and is considered LGBTQ friendly. Thirty-four percent of Illinois residents regularly attend a religious service from one of the state’s 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

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. 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. 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. 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%. The highest monthly average humidity rating is 78% in the month of December. 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, aromatic aster, and bee balm. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the American black bear, the eastern red bat, the coyote, or the American pygmy shrew. The state animal of Illinois is the white-tailed deer.