68 Independent Living near Facilities Wheeling, IL. Page 3

Independent Living

For seniors who would like to live primarily without personal assistance but would like the advantage of having daily tasks and responsibilities maintained by professionalls, an Independent Living Community may be the perfect fit. Basic chores such as meal planning and housekeeping are handled by staff and a calendar of recreational and leisure activities is provided, allowing residents the autonomy to use their time as they wish, free from daily obligations. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy an opportunity to be among peers, surrounded by others of similar age groups and interests. Typically comprised of a private living space 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 tasks out of the way. While policies differ between locations, a number of residences allow pets as well. If medical or nursing support is desired, residents may always enlist the services of private health care professionalls. There are a number of expenditures and benefits to keep in mind when determining an independent living community. It is important to figure out if these amenities are covered in the care plan: cable TV, Waiting list deposit, field trips, private phone, laundry, parking, initial assessment fee, and meals. The amenities that pertain to independent living include healthcare center, security guards, community activities, restaurant-style dining hall, beauty salon & barber shop, transportation, game/TV room, and private rental hall.

Demographics and Values

In Wheeling, 2.7% of the people are veterans of the United States military. Of the population of Wheeling 23.2% have a high-school diploma, 14.3% have a graduate degree, and 38.3% have a college degree. Wheeling has a population density of 1,716 people per square mile. The current population of Wheeling consists of 38,562 people. Racially, the population of Wheeling is 31.1% Hispanic, 0.4% Native American, 3.1% black, 15.8% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 14.4% other or not specified, 2.1% mixed race, and 63.8% white. Out of the total city population, 50.1% are male and 49.9% are female. The median age of Wheeling is 37 years old. In Wheeling, 8.7% have some form of disability, 73.2% participate in the labor force, 14.4% do not have health insurance, and 11.5% live in poverty.

Cost of Living

The total cost of living can be a motivating factor when choosing which destination works for you or your loved one. Wheeling has a median home value of $181,766 and the median cost of rent is around $1,290 per month. The rent burden for Wheeling is around 20.6% of the average person’s monthly income.

State Information

An overview of Illinois

Based on natural beauty, Illinois ranks 43rd in the nation. Out of a national average of 100, Illinois has a cost of living index rating of 96, a grocery index rating of 94, and a housing index rating of 87. 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. Illinois is ranked 35th in quality of life and 22nd in healthcare.

Social demographics of the state

The state has a median age of 38 and 29% of its population being over the age of 55. Thirty-four percent of Illinois residents regularly attend a religious service from one of the state’s 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. In the most recent presidential election, 39% of Illinois residents voted Republican and 56% voted Democrat. The state of Illinois ranks 10th in the country for diversity, and the state is considered LGBTQ friendly.

State-wide weather information

On average, the humidity rating for Illinois is around 71%. Humidity levels tend to reach their peak in the month of December at around 78%. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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, blazing star, bird’s foot violet, and black snakeroot. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the American black bear, the American pygmy shrew, the big brown bat, or the eastern red bat. The state animal of Illinois is the white-tailed deer.