116 Independent Living near Facilities West Union, IA. Page 5

Independent Living

An Independent Living Community allows residents the ability to live their active lives while ensuring their basic needs have been fulfilled. Basic needs such as meal preparation and housekeeping are handled by staff and a calendar of recreational and leisure activities is provided, allowing residents an opportunity to use their time as they choose, free from daily obligations. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy the opportunity to live among peers, surrounded by others of similar age groups and backgrounds. Typically consisting of a private living space 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 there will be more time to spend with them with the basic maintenance of daily chores out of the way. While policies differ between communities, numerous residences allow pets as well. Nursing and health care services can always be arranged for with private care providers as desired. There are an assortment of expenditures and advantages to balance while deciding on an independent living community. It is important to learn if these services are covered in the care plan: transportation, field trips, cable TV, private phone, parking, meals, internet access, and utilities. The conveniences that pertain to independent living include laundry service, fitness center & swimming pool, community activities, concierge services, golf course, security guards, transportation, and healthcare center.

Demographics and Values

Out of the total city population, 48.2% are male and 51.8% are female. The median age of West Union is 40 years old. Out of the total population of West Union, 14.3% have some form of disability, 63.7% participate in the labor force, 9.4% consider themselves widows, and 16.0% live in poverty. In terms of education, 41.9% have a high-school diploma, 26.7% have a college degree, and 8.9% have a graduate degree. Demographically, West Union is 0.2% mixed race, 0.3% Native American, 92.7% white, 0.0% other or not specified, 2.1% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 4.7% black, and 0.7% Hispanic. In West Union, 9.4% of the people are veterans of the United States military. West Union has a population density of 326 people per square mile. Currently, the population of West Union consists of 2,346 people.

Cost of Living

The community where a care community is based could have a large influence on community price. Cost of living is a big influence in determining which location works for you or your loved one’s needs. Per month, the median rent in West Union is about $763 per month and the median home value in West Union is around $88,519. The rent burden for West Union is around 16.5% of the average person’s monthly income.

State Information

An overview of Iowa

In total, Iowa has 120 general hospitals and 75 health centers that provide care for 3,168,703 citizens. The three highest ranked hospitals in Iowa are Mercy Hospital, St. Lukes Hospital, and And Mercy Medical Center – Cedar Rapids. Based on natural beauty, Iowa ranks 32nd in the nation. Overall, Iowa ranks 14th in quality of life and 20th in healthcare compared to other US states. 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.

Social demographics of the state

In terms of religion, 36% of Iowa residents attend religious services among the 5,107 different congregations that are available in the state. 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 the most recent presidential election, 51% of Iowa residents voted Republican and 42% voted Democrat. In terms of diversity, Iowa ranks 43rd in the nation and is considered LGBTQ friendly. The state has a median age of 38 and 30% of its population being over the age of 55.

State-wide weather information

The average temperature in the summer rises to 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. 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. Iowa experiences an average humidity rating of about 72%. The highest monthly average humidity rating is 78% in the month of December. The average air quality index rating in Iowa is 41.2 AQI. The average air quality index rating peaks in the month of May with a rating of around 53.8 AQI. The most precipitation occurs in July with an average of 6.46 inches of precipitation a month. On average, the state receives 2.93 inches of precipitation a month. 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 twinleaf, bearberry, western beard-tongue, and tumblegrass. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the porcupine, the black wolf, the bear, or the gray wolf. The state animal of Iowa is the eastern goldfinch.