5 Best Independent Living Communities in Carroll, IA

Independent Living

If you or your loved one desire the peace of mind of having many of your frequent tasks handled while living life at your own pace, you might want to consider independent living. Basic needs such as meal planning and housekeeping are handled by staff and a calendar of recreational and social activities is maintained, allowing residents an opportunity to use their time as they choose, 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 consisting of a private living area 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, a number of residences allow cats and dogs as well. If medical or nursing support is desired, residents may always utilize the services of independent health care professionalls. There are a number of expenditures and advantages to consider while determining an independent living community. It is important to figure out if these amenities are covered in your care plan: utilities, internet access, transportation, parking, field trips, move-in fee, Waiting list deposit, and cable TV. The conveniences that pertain to independent living include restaurant-style dining hall, fitness center & swimming pool, golf course, transportation, security guards, beauty salon & barber shop, game/TV room, and community activities.

Cost of Living

Cost of living is a big influence when deciding what care choice fits best. The median monthly price for rent in Carroll is about $706 and the median value for a house for Carroll is $137,412. The rent burden for Carroll is about 12.3% of the average person’s monthly income.

Demographics and Values

In Carroll, 7.8% of the people are veterans of the United States armed forces. Carroll has a population density of 665 people per square mile. The current population of Carroll consists of 9,758 people and in total the Carroll metro area has a population of 9,874. Of the population of Carroll 34.4% have a high-school diploma, 26.6% have a college degree, and 7.5% have a graduate degree. Out of the total city population, 51.9% are female and 48.1% are male. The median age of Carroll is 41 years old. Racially, the population of Carroll is 0.0% Native American, 1.0% mixed race, 0.0% Asian, 95.6% white, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.6% other or not specified, 0.9% Hispanic, and 2.8% black. Out of the total population of Carroll, 12.3% have some form of disability, 10.2% live in poverty, 67.4% participate in the labor force, and 9.1% are widowed.

State Information

An overview of Iowa

The state of Iowa has 120 hospitals and 75 health centers, providing care to a population of 3,168,703. The three highest ranked hospitals in Iowa are Mercy Hospital, St. Lukes Hospital, and And Mercy Medical Center – Cedar Rapids. The quality of life enjoyed by the average Iowa citizen is ranked 14th nation-wide. Additionally, Iowa is ranked 20th by standards of healthcare. The state of Iowa has a cost of living index of 91.8 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 95.9 and a housing index rating of 79.6. Residents of Iowa enjoy its natural beauty which ranks 32nd in the United States.

Social demographics of the state

The median age in the state is 38, and 30% of the population is over the age of 55. Thirty-six percent of Iowa residents regularly attend a religious service from one of the state’s 5,107 different congregations. The top three Christian denominations in the state are Evangelical Protestant-28%, Mainline Protestant-30%, and Historically Black Protestant-2%. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-<1%, Muslim-<1%, and Buddhist-<1%. In Iowa there are 289 masonic lodges. In terms of diversity, Iowa ranks 43rd in the nation and is considered LGBTQ friendly. During the latest presidential election, 51% voted for the Republican candidate while 42% voted for the Democratic candidate.

State-wide weather information

During the winter, the average temperature in Iowa drops to around 22F. During the winter, the average high temperature peaks at around 40F during the month of February. In the winter months, the average low temperature falls to around 4F during the month of January. During the summer, the average temperature in Iowa is around 72F. The average high summer temperature is around 88F in the month of July. In the summer, the average low temperature drops to around 55F during the month of June. On average, the state receives 2.93 inches of precipitation a month. The average amount of precipitation peaks during the month of July at around 6.46 inches. On average, the humidity rating for Iowa is around 72%. The highest monthly average humidity rating is 78% in the month of December. On average, Iowa has an air quality index rating of around 41.2 AQI. The highest seasonal air quality index rating occurs in the month of May with a rating of 53.8 AQI. While residents of Iowa mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in Iowa can include floods and earthquakes (high).

Wildlife to be found in Iowa

The state of Iowa has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of bunchberry, dryflower, twinleaf, and cinnamon ferns. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the bison, the black wolf, the elk, or the bear. The state animal of Iowa is the eastern goldfinch.