9 Best Independent Living Communities in Hays, KS

Independent Living

If you want the peace of mind of having many of your frequent tasks taken care of while living at your own pace, you might want to consider an Independent Living Community. Occupants may use their free time as they see fit while their meals are cooked by a professionall chef, housekeeping and laundry duties are taken care of by staff, and social activities are organized and scheduled. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy the opportunity to live among peers, surrounded by others of similar ages and interests. 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 communities, numerous residences allow pets as well. If medical or nursing assistance is desired, residents may always enlist the services of private caregivers. There are a variety of advantages and costs to balance while selecting an independent living community. It is important to determine if these amenities are covered in the care plan: private phone, Waiting list deposit, housekeeping, field trips, meals, utilities, wellness program, and initial assessment fee. The luxuries that pertain to independent living include golf course, restaurant-style dining hall, transportation, security guards, private rental hall, healthcare center, beauty salon & barber shop, and concierge services.

Demographics and Values

Hays has a population density of 959 people per square mile. In Hays, 6.5% of the population are veterans of the United States military. Out of the total population of Hays, 5.4% are widows, 70.2% participate in the labor force, 11.1% have some form of disability, and 19.5% live in poverty. In terms of education, 39.2% have a college degree, 12.9% have a graduate degree, and 21.3% have a high-school diploma. Out of the total city population, 49.7% are male and 50.3% are female. The median age of Hays is 30 years old. Racially, the population of Hays is 0.2% Native American, 1.1% black, 1.8% Asian, 93.3% white, 5.7% Hispanic, 2.8% mixed race, 0.6% other or not specified, and 0.1% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian.

Cost of Living

The total cost of living is a big influence in deciding what community works best. Per month, the median rent in Hays is around $881 and the median home value in Hays costs around $166,854. The rent burden for Hays is about 14.3% of the average monthly income.

State Information

An overview of Kansas

The state of Kansas has a cost of living index of 89.7 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 91.9 and a housing index rating of 73.8. There are 144 general hospitals and 75 health centers that provide care for 2,912,321 Kansas residents. The three highest ranked hospitals in Kansas are University Of Kansas Hospital, Newton Medical Center, and Providence Medical Center. The quality of life enjoyed by the average Kansas citizen is ranked 22nd nation-wide. Additionally, Kansas is ranked 33rd by healthcare standards. Based on natural beauty, Kansas ranks 8th in the nation.

Social demographics of the state

In terms of religion, 37% of Kansas residents attend religious services among the 4,782 different congregations that are available in the state. The top three Christian denominations in the state are Evangelical Protestant-31%, Mainline Protestant-24%, and Historically Black Protestant-2%. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-<1%, Muslim-<1%, and Buddhist-<1%. In Kansas there are 279 masonic lodges. In the last presidential election 36% of Kansas residents voted Democrat and 57% voted Republican. The state has a median age of 37 and 29% of its population being over the age of 55. The state of Kansas ranks 25th in the country for diversity, and the state is considered LGBTQ friendly.

State-wide weather information

The most precipitation occurs in May with an average of 6.73 inches of precipitation a month. On average, the state receives 2.55 inches of precipitation a month. The average humidity across the state is 66%. The highest monthly average humidity rating is 72% in the month of December. The average air quality index rating in Kansas is 36.0 AQI. The average air quality index rating peaks in the month of July with a rating of around 46.4 AQI. The average temperature in the summer rises to around 76F. Over the summer months the average high temperature peaks at around 95F during the month of July. The average low summer temperature is around 54F in the month of June. During the winter, the average temperature in Kansas drops to around 32F. The average high winter temperature is around 53F in the month of February. The average low temperature during the winter drops to around 12F in the month of January. While residents of Kansas mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in Kansas can include tornadoes, floods, and and earthquakes (high).

Wildlife to be found in Kansas

The state of Kansas has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of pawpaw, bur oak, moonseed, and eastern red cedar. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the muskrat, the beaver, the skink, or the woodchuck. The state animal of Kansas is the American buffalo.