10 Best Independent Living Communities in West Springfield, MA

Independent Living

An Independent Living Community provides residents the opportunity to live active lives while assuring their fundamental needs are being fulfilled. Residents may continue to live their lives as they see fit while their meals are prepared 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 an opportunity to be 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 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 locations, numerous residences allow pets as well. If medical or nursing support is desired, residents may always enlist the services of independent care providers. There are a number of expenditures and benefits to consider when deciding on an independent living community. It is important to figure out if these services are covered in the care plan: cable TV, housekeeping, private phone, wellness program, move-in fee, parking, transportation, and meals. The benefits and amenities associated with independent living include golf course, security guards, private rental hall, laundry service, beauty salon & barber shop, restaurant-style dining hall, healthcare center, and concierge services.

Demographics and Values

West Springfield has a population density of 1,351 people per square mile.

State Information

An overview of Massachusetts

In total, Massachusetts has 78 general hospitals and 129 health centers that provide care for 6,941,273 citizens. The top three hospitals in the state are considered to be Cape Cod Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and New England Baptist Hospital. Overall, Massachusetts ranks 8th in quality of life and 2nd in healthcare compared to other US states. Out of a national average of 100, Massachusetts has a cost of living index rating of 134, a grocery index rating of 114, and a housing index rating of 170. The natural beauty of Massachusetts is ranked 26th in the nation.

Social demographics of the state

In terms of diversity, Massachusetts ranks 16th in the nation and is considered very LGBTQ friendly. In Massachusetts, 30% of the population is over the age of 55. The median age in the state is 39. In the most recent presidential election, 33% of Massachusetts residents voted Republican and 60% voted Democrat. Twenty-three percent of Massachusetts residents regularly attend a religious service from one of the state’s 4,200 different congregations. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-3%, Muslim-<1%, and Buddhist-<1%, with the most common Christian denominations consisting of Evangelical Protestant-9%, Mainline Protestant-10%, and Historically Black Protestant-2%. In Massachusetts there are 27 masonic lodges.

State-wide weather information

During the winter, the average temperature in Massachusetts drops to around 28F. During the winter, the average high temperature peaks at around 45F during the month of January. In the winter months, the average low temperature falls to around 7F during the month of December. During the summer, the average temperature in Massachusetts is around 68F. Over the summer months the average high temperature peaks at around 85F during the month of July. The average low summer temperature is around 50F in the month of June. The most precipitation occurs in May with an average of 6.10 inches of precipitation a month. On average, the state receives 4.04 inches of precipitation a month. The average air quality index rating in Massachusetts is 38.9 AQI. The highest seasonal air quality index rating occurs in the month of May with a rating of 47.5 AQI. The average humidity across the state is 71%. The highest monthly average humidity rating is 71% in the month of December. While residents of Massachusetts mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in Massachusetts can include hurricanes, earthquakes (moderate), and and tornadoes.

Wildlife to be found in Massachusetts

The state of Massachusetts has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of eastern red cedar, butterfly weed, American linden, and eastern hemlock. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the blue flag, the cut leaf coneflower, the cardinal flower, or the spotted geranium. The state animal of Massachusetts is the woodchucks.