41 Independent Living near Facilities Afton, MN. Page 2

Independent Living

Independent Living Communities offer seniors a handy balance between an independent lifestyle and not having to concern themselves with the basic tasks of housekeeping and chores. Seniors may live their lives as they wish while their food is prepared by a professionall chef, housekeeping and laundry duties are taken care of by staff, and recreational activities are scheduled and organized. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy the opportunity to be 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 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 vary between locations, numerous residences allow pets as well. If medical or nursing assistance is desired, residents may always enlist the services of private care providers. There are a variety of costs and advantages to balance while deciding on an independent living community. It is important to learn if these amenities are included in your care plan: field trips, transportation, housekeeping, cable TV, internet access, private phone, meals, and laundry. The benefits associated with independent living include golf course, beauty salon & barber shop, healthcare center, transportation, security guards, fitness center & swimming pool, concierge services, and laundry service.

Cost of Living

The total cost of living is a major influence in determining which community is best for your family. Monthly, the median cost for rent in Afton is about $1,574 and the median home value for Afton costs around $432,520. The rent burden for Afton is around 17.0% of the average person’s monthly income.

Demographics and Values

Out of the total city population, 49.1% are female and 50.9% are male. The median age of Afton is 52 years old. In Afton, 6.8% of the citizens are veterans of the United States armed forces. Of the population of Afton 21.0% have a graduate degree, 16.4% have a high-school diploma, and 55.0% have a college degree. Out of the total population of Afton, 63.1% participate in the labor force, 2.8% do not have health insurance, 4.0% are widowed, and 11.9% have some form of disability. Demographically, Afton is 1.0% black, 1.4% mixed race, 93.2% white, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.0% Native American, 0.9% other or not specified, 3.4% Asian, and 3.4% Hispanic. Afton has a population density of 46 people per square mile. The total population of Afton consists of 3,010 people.

State Information

An overview of Minnesota

Overall, Minnesota ranks 3rd out of all states in quality of life and 10th in healthcare. Based on natural beauty, Minnesota ranks 3rd in the nation. In terms of resources, Minnesota has a cost of living index of 101.5, a grocery index rating of 106.7, and a housing index rating of 88.3. These index ratings are based on a system where 100 is considered the national average and anything above 100 is considered more expensive than said average. There are 140 hospitals and 61 health centers that service a population of 5,654,535. The three highest ranked hospitals in Minnesota are Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester, Mayo Clinic Health System – Red Wing, and Alomere Health.

Social demographics of the state

In Minnesota, 29% of the population is over the age of 55. The median age in the state is 38. Thirty-four percent of Minnesota residents regularly attend a religious service from one of the state’s 5,953 different congregations. The top three Christian denominations in the state are Evangelical Protestant-19%, Mainline Protestant-29%, and Historically Black Protestant-2%. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-<1%, Muslim-<1%, and Buddhist-<1%. In Minnesota there are 170 masonic lodges. The state of Minnesota ranks 27th in the country for diversity, and the state is considered LGBTQ friendly. During the latest presidential election, 45% voted for the Republican candidate while 46% voted for the Democratic candidate.

State-wide weather information

The average humidity across the state is 70%. The highest monthly average humidity rating is 80% in the month of December. The average amount of precipitation peaks during the month of June at around 5.59 inches. The average monthly precipitation for the state of Minnesota is around 2.37 inches. During the winter, the average temperature in Minnesota drops to around 13F. The average high winter temperature is around 33F in the month of February. In the winter months, the average low temperature falls to around -11F during the month of January. During the summer, the average temperature in Minnesota is around 67F. The average high summer temperature is around 86F in the month of July. In the summer, the average low temperature drops to around 42F during the month of June. The average air quality index rating in Minnesota is 34.5 AQI. The average air quality index rating peaks in the month of May with a rating of around 42.7 AQI. While residents of Minnesota mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in Minnesota can include floods and earthquakes (high).

Wildlife to be found in Minnesota

The state of Minnesota has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of balsam fir, tamarack, juniper, and black and white spruce. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the timber wolves, the peregrine falcons, the horned lark, or the red-winged blackbird. The state animal of Minnesota is the eastern timber wolf.