72 Independent Living near Facilities Fort Madison, IA. Page 3

Independent Living

For seniors who would like to live primarily without personal assistance but wish for the convenience of having housekeeping maintained by professionalls, an Independent Living Community might be the perfect choice. You or your loved one may live their lives as they desire while their food is prepared by a professionall chef, housekeeping and laundry duties are taken care of by staff, and recreational activities are organized and scheduled. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy an opportunity to live among peers, in a community with others of similar age groups and backgrounds. 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 chores out of the way. While policies differ between locations, numerous residences allow cats and dogs as well. If residents decide they would like to enlist the services of private medical professionalls, they may always do so. There are a number of advantages and expenses to consider when determining an independent living community. It is important to determine if these services are covered in your service plan: move-in fee, internet access, Waiting list deposit, transportation, laundry, utilities, wellness program, and housekeeping. The benefits and amenities associated with independent living include fitness center & swimming pool, concierge services, beauty salon & barber shop, laundry service, security guards, restaurant-style dining hall, private rental hall, and community activities.

Cost of Living

Cost of living can be the motivating factor in deciding which community meets the needs of your loved one. The rent burden for Fort Madison is around 13.1% of the average monthly income. Monthly, the median rent in Fort Madison is $592 and the median value for a home for Fort Madison is approximately $80,574.

Demographics and Values

Of the population of Fort Madison 41.0% have a high-school diploma, 2.6% have a graduate degree, and 12.7% have a college degree. In Fort Madison, 15.6% live in poverty, 7.4% are widows, 17.8% have some form of disability, and 59.9% participate in the labor force. Currently, the population of Fort Madison consists of 10,326 people and in total the Fort Madison metro area has a population of 10,520. Fort Madison has a population density of 420 people per square mile. Demographically, Fort Madison is 3.7% mixed race, 0.2% Native American, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 92.4% white, 3.2% black, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% other or not specified, and 6.2% Hispanic. In Fort Madison, 11.7% of the people are veterans of the United States armed forces. Based on gender, 47.5% are female and 52.5% are male. The median age of Fort Madison is 43 years old.

State Information

An overview of Iowa

Overall, Iowa ranks 14th in quality of life and 20th in healthcare compared to other US states. The natural beauty of Iowa is ranked 32nd in the nation. Out of a national average of 100, Iowa has a cost of living index rating of 92, a grocery index rating of 96, and a housing index rating of 80. The state of Iowa has 120 hospitals and 75 health centers, providing care to a population of 3,168,703. Mercy Hospital, St. Lukes Hospital, and And Mercy Medical Center – Cedar Rapids are among the top three highest ranked hospitals in the state.

Social demographics of the state

During the latest presidential election, 51% voted for the Republican candidate while 42% voted for the Democratic candidate. In Iowa, 30% of the population is over the age of 55. The median age in the state is 38. Thirty-six percent of Iowa residents regularly attend a religious service from one of the state’s 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. The state of Iowa ranks 43rd in the country for diversity, and the state is considered LGBTQ friendly.

State-wide weather information

During the summer, the average temperature in Iowa is around 72F. The average high summer temperature is around 88F in the month of July. The average low summer temperature is around 55F in the month of June. During the winter, the average temperature in Iowa drops to around 22F. The average high winter temperature is around 40F in the month of February. The average low temperature during the winter drops to around 4F in the month of January. The average air quality index rating in Iowa is 41.2 AQI. The highest seasonal air quality index rating occurs in the month of May with a rating of 53.8 AQI. Iowa experiences an average humidity rating of about 72%. The highest monthly average humidity rating is 78% in the month of December. The average monthly precipitation for the state of Iowa is around 2.93 inches. The average amount of precipitation peaks during the month of July at around 6.46 inches. 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 western beard-tongue, dryflower, Arrowgrass, and bunchberry. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the elk, the bear, the bison, or the gray wolf. The state animal of Iowa is the eastern goldfinch.