10 Best Independent Living Communities in Council Bluffs, IA

Independent Living

Many seniors may be physically and mentally able to live without assistance, but the financial burden of home ownership might deter them from an independent lifestyle. Independent Living Communities offer a great alternative. Residents can live their lives as they wish while their food is prepared by a professionall chef, housekeeping and laundry duties are handled by staff, and recreational activities are scheduled and organized. 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 backgrounds. 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 there will be more time to spend with them with the basic maintenance of daily tasks out of the way. While policies differ between communities, many residences allow cats and dogs as well. If medical or nursing care is desired, residents may always utilize the services of private health care professionalls. There are a variety of expenditures and advantages to consider while determining an independent living community. It is important to figure out if these services are included in your plan: initial assessment fee, meals, Waiting list deposit, laundry, wellness program, transportation, parking, and utilities. The luxuries that pertain to independent living include golf course, game/TV room, community activities, beauty salon & barber shop, private rental hall, restaurant-style dining hall, healthcare center, and fitness center & swimming pool.

Cost of Living

The neighborhood where a care community is located might have a big impact on the cost of care. The total cost of living can be a major influence when selecting which location is the best fit for you or your loved one’s needs. The rent burden for Council Bluffs is around 17.6% of the average monthly income. The median monthly price for rent in Council Bluffs is about $914 and the median price for a home for Council Bluffs is approximately $115,670.

Demographics and Values

Out of the total city population, 49.1% are male and 50.9% are female. The median age of Council Bluffs is 37 years old. In Council Bluffs, 9.2% of the people are veterans. In terms of education, 34.9% have a high-school diploma, 18.0% have a college degree, and 6.0% have a graduate degree. Out of the total population of Council Bluffs, 7.9% do not have health insurance, 66.1% participate in the labor force, 15.6% have some form of disability, and 13.9% live in poverty. Demographically, Council Bluffs is 10.2% Hispanic, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 91.5% white, 2.5% mixed race, 0.5% Native American, 1.9% black, 0.8% Asian, and 2.8% other or not specified. Currently, the population of Council Bluffs consists of 62,316 people. Council Bluffs has a population density of 561 people per square mile.

State Information

An overview of Iowa

Iowa is ranked 14th in quality of life and 20th in healthcare. There are 120 hospitals and 75 health centers that service 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 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. Based on natural beauty, Iowa ranks 32nd in the nation.

Social demographics of the state

The state has a median age of 38 and 30% of its population being over the age of 55. In terms of religious values, 36% of Iowa’s population regularly attend some form of service and there are in total 5,107 different congregations. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-<1%, Muslim-<1%, and Buddhist-<1%, with the most common Christian denominations consisting of Evangelical Protestant-28%, Mainline Protestant-30%, and Historically Black Protestant-2%. In Iowa there are 289 masonic lodges. In terms of diversity, Iowa ranks 43rd in the nation and is considered LGBTQ friendly. In the last presidential election 42% of Iowa residents voted Democrat and 51% voted Republican.

State-wide weather information

The average amount of precipitation peaks during the month of July at around 6.46 inches. The average monthly precipitation for the state of Iowa is around 2.93 inches. The average temperature in the summer rises to around 72F. Over the summer months the average high temperature peaks at around 88F during the month of July. In the summer, the average low temperature drops to around 55F during the month of June. The average temperature in the winter falls 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. 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. On average, the humidity rating for Iowa is around 72%. Humidity levels tend to reach their peak in the month of December at around 78%. 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, tumblegrass, dryflower, and cinnamon ferns. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the lynx, the elk, the porcupine, or the coyote. The state animal of Iowa is the eastern goldfinch.