10 Best Independent Living Communities in Indianola, IA

Independent Living

Independent Living Communities offer seniors a handy balance between an independent lifestyle and not having to worry about housekeeping. Daily needs such as the scheduling of social activities and meal planning are taken care of, which permits occupants more free time to live their lives as they see fit. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy an opportunity to live among peers, in a community with others of similar ages and interests. Typically consisting 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 chores out of the way. While policies vary between communities, a number of residences allow pets 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 benefits to keep in mind when deciding on an independent living community. It is important to figure out if these services are covered in your service plan: meals, move-in fee, private phone, transportation, internet access, utilities, field trips, and cable TV. The benefits and amenities that pertain to independent living include concierge services, healthcare center, beauty salon & barber shop, restaurant-style dining hall, transportation, game/TV room, laundry service, and fitness center & swimming pool.

Cost of Living

The total cost of living is a major influence in deciding which community is the best fit for your family. The rent burden for Indianola is about 17.8% of the average person’s monthly income. The median home value in Indianola costs around $155,066 and the median price for rent is about $1,086 per month a month.

Demographics and Values

In Indianola, 8.9% of the population are veterans of the United States military. Demographically, Indianola is 0.0% black, 96.5% white, 0.5% Asian, 2.4% Hispanic, 0.5% other or not specified, 0.2% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 2.1% mixed race, and 0.2% Native American. Out of the total city population, 54.2% are female and 45.8% are male. The median age of Indianola is 35 years old. In Indianola, 14.9% have some form of disability, 10.2% live in poverty, 68.3% participate in the labor force, and 7.4% consider themselves widows. The current population of Indianola consists of 15,447 people and in total the Indianola metro area has a population of 15,990. Indianola has a population density of 545 people per square mile. Of the population of Indianola 31.7% have a high-school diploma, 11.2% have a graduate degree, and 29.8% have a college degree.

State Information

An overview of Iowa

There are 120 hospitals and 75 health centers that service 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. Residents of Iowa enjoy its natural beauty which ranks 32nd in the United States. 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. Overall, Iowa ranks 14th out of all states in quality of life and 20th in healthcare.

Social demographics of the state

The state of Iowa ranks 43rd in the country for diversity, and the state is considered LGBTQ friendly. The state has a median age of 38 and 30% of its population being over the age of 55. During the latest presidential election, 51% voted for the Republican candidate while 42% voted for the Democratic candidate. In Iowa, 36% of the population attend some form of religious service and there are 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.

State-wide weather information

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%. 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. 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. In the winter months, the average low temperature falls to around 4F during the month of January. 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 Arrowgrass, western beard-tongue, prickly pear cactus, and pink lady’s slipper. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the gray wolf, the black wolf, the mountain lion, or the bear. The state animal of Iowa is the eastern goldfinch.