97 Independent Living near Facilities Westchester, IL. Page 4

Independent Living

Independent Living Communities provide individuals with a convenient harmony between an independent lifestyle and not having to worry about the basic tasks of housekeeping and responsibilities. Basic chores such as meal preparation and housekeeping are handled by staff and a calendar of recreational and leisure activities is maintained, allowing residents an opportunity to use their time as they wish, 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 ages and backgrounds. Typically comprised of a private living area and a full kitchen, these communities offer homes 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 chores out of the way. While policies differ between locations, many residences allow cats and dogs as well. If medical or nursing support is desired, residents may always enlist the services of independent care providers. There are an assortment of advantages and expenses to balance when deciding on an independent living community. It is important to figure out if these services are included in your plan: cable TV, internet access, move-in fee, private phone, initial assessment fee, housekeeping, Waiting list deposit, and wellness program. The benefits and amenities that pertain to independent living include game/TV room, security guards, transportation, fitness center & swimming pool, community activities, private rental hall, healthcare center, and laundry service.

Cost of Living

Cost of living is a big influence when choosing which location works for your family. The rent burden for Westchester is about 21.1% of the average monthly income. Westchester has a median home value of about $225,281 and the median cost of rent is about $1,401 per month per month.

Demographics and Values

Out of the total city population, 52.2% are female and 47.8% are male. The median age of Westchester is 45 years old. The total population of Westchester consists of 16,461 people. Westchester has a population density of 1,724 people per square mile. In Westchester, 65.0% participate in the labor force, 7.1% consider themselves widows, 5.3% live in poverty, and 6.8% do not have health insurance. Of the population of Westchester 23.3% have a high-school diploma, 16.5% have a graduate degree, and 40.9% have a college degree. Racially, the population of Westchester is 3.7% mixed race, 21.7% Hispanic, 3.7% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 7.3% other or not specified, 17.8% black, and 67.5% white. In Westchester, 6.8% 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. 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. Based on natural beauty, Illinois ranks 43rd in the nation. Overall, Illinois ranks 35th out of all states in quality of life and 22nd in healthcare. 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.

Social demographics of the state

The state of Illinois ranks 10th in the country for diversity, and the state 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. During the latest presidential election, 39% voted for the Republican candidate while 56% voted for the Democratic candidate. The median age in the state is 38, and 29% of the population is over the age of 55.

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. The average air quality index rating in Illinois is 37.7 AQI. The highest seasonal air quality index rating occurs in the month of May with a rating of 54.5 AQI. Illinois experiences an average humidity rating of about 71%. The highest monthly average humidity rating is 78% in the month of December. 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. The average low temperature during the winter drops to around 10F in the month of January. The average temperature in the summer rises to 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 aromatic aster, bird’s foot violet, black eyedSusan, and angelica. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the big brown bat, the American pygmy shrew, the coyote, or the eastern red bat. The state animal of Illinois is the white-tailed deer.