10 Best Independent Living Communities in Santa Fe, NM

Independent Living

For seniors who would like to live primarily without personal assistance but wish for the benefit of having chores and housekeeping maintained by professionalls, an Independent Living Community may be the perfect choice. Occupants may use their free time as they see fit while their food is cooked by a professionall chef, housekeeping and laundry duties are handled by staff, and recreational activities are scheduled and organized. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy an opportunity to live among peers, surrounded by others of similar ages and interests. Within the individual units, residents have access to a private living space and a full kitchen, and can even live with a companion if they choose. While policies vary between communities, many residences allow cats and dogs as well. If residents decide they would like to enlist the services of independent medical providers, they may always do so. There are an assortment of advantages and expenditures to keep in mind while determining an independent living community. It is important to figure out if these services are included in the service plan: field trips, internet access, Waiting list deposit, transportation, move-in fee, initial assessment fee, utilities, and cable TV. The luxuries that pertain to independent living include fitness center & swimming pool, game/TV room, laundry service, concierge services, beauty salon & barber shop, golf course, restaurant-style dining hall, and private rental hall.

Local Hospitals and Health Care Providers

Access to hospitals can be a major factor in selecting the most suitable senior community. In total, there are 3 hospitals located in Santa Fe which offer emergency services and other healthcare. The top hospitals that service Santa Fe include Christus St Vincent Regional Medical Center, Santa Fe Phs Indian Hospital, and Presbyterian Santa Fe Medical Center.

Demographics and Values

Of the population of Santa Fe 20.8% have a graduate degree, 22.8% have a high-school diploma, and 42.0% have a college degree. In terms of crime, Santa Fe has 3.5 violent crimes per 1000 residents and 37.9 property crimes per 1000 residents. In Santa Fe, 5.8% are widows, 15.1% live in poverty, 62.3% participate in the labor force, and 13.8% have some form of disability. Santa Fe has a population density of 619 people per square mile. The current population of Santa Fe is growing at a rate of 0.004%. In terms of non-Christian denominations in Santa Fe, out of the total population 0.8% practice Judaism, 0.8% practice an Eastern religion, and 0.3% practice Islam. In terms of Christian denominations, out of the total population of Santa Fe 49.3% practice Catholicism, 2.8% practice another Chrisitan faith, and 1.6% are Baptists. In Santa Fe, 38.3% are nonbelievers. Based on gender, 47.6% are male and 52.4% are female. The median age of Santa Fe is 43 years old. In Santa Fe, 33.9% of the population are over the age of 55, 14.4% are over the age of 60, 8.4% are over the age of 70, and 4.4% are over the age of 80. In Santa Fe, 7.3% of the people are veterans of the United States military. Santa Fe is considered friendly to members of the LGBTQ+ community. Demographically, Santa Fe is 7.8% other or not specified, 0.9% black, 84.8% white, 2.1% Native American, 3.0% mixed race, 0.1% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 54.7% Hispanic, and 1.3% Asian. In the previous presidential election, 8.8% voted for a third party candidate, 20.1% voted Republican, and 71.1% voted Democrat in Santa Fe county.

Cost of Living

The overall cost of living is a motivating factor in choosing which community is best for you or your loved one’s needs. Santa Fe has a cost-of-groceries index of around 96.2 and a cost-of-living index of 121.4. Index scores are founded on a scale where 100 is considered the national average and any amount over 100 is considered more expensive than said average. The sales tax in Santa Fe is 5.13%.

Regional Climate and Weather Information

The humidity, air quality, and air temperature of a location may have a profound influence on the health of your family member. The average air quality index rating in Santa Fe is approximately 46.5. The average air quality conditions are rated as good. The air quality index rating reaches its max in December at approximately 64.4. During this time, the average air quality conditions are rated moderate. This means that those who are unusually sensitive should consider limiting the amount of time spent on outdoor exertion. On average, Santa Fe has a humidity level of around 37%. Humidity levels reach their peak during the month of August at around 45%. Santa Fe has an oceanic/ warm-summer humid continental type of climate. Monthly, Santa Fe measures approximately 1 inches of precipitation. The most precipitation normally occurs in July with an average of 2 inches in a month. Santa Fe experiences an average of 26.20 inches of snow in a year. During the summer months, the air temperature in Santa Fe is around 72F. The low summer temperature drops to about 53F in June. The summer high temperature is at around 90F in June. In winter months, the average temp falls to roughly 34F. The peak winter temperature is around 52F during the month of February. The low winter temperature is roughly 20 F during the month of January.

State Information

An overview of New Mexico

Based on natural beauty, New Mexico ranks 23rd in the nation. Out of a national average of 100, New Mexico has a cost of living index rating of 93, a grocery index rating of 93, and a housing index rating of 101. There are 47 general hospitals and 137 health centers that provide care for 2,097,463 New Mexico residents. Christus St Vincent Regional Medical Center, Lovelace Medical Center, and Presbyterian Espanola Hospital are among the top three highest ranked hospitals in the state. Overall, New Mexico ranks 46th in quality of life and 34th in healthcare compared to other US states.

Social demographics of the state

In terms of diversity, New Mexico ranks 6th in the nation and is considered LGBTQ friendly. In terms of religious values, 36% of New Mexico’s population regularly attend some form of service and there are in total 2,447 different congregations. 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-23%, Mainline Protestant-14%, and Historically Black Protestant-1%. In New Mexico there are 57 masonic lodges. In the last presidential election 48% of New Mexico residents voted Democrat and 40% voted Republican. In New Mexico, 31% of the population is over the age of 55. The median age in the state is 38.

State-wide weather information

During the summer, the average temperature in New Mexico is around 71F. Over the summer months the average high temperature peaks at around 98F during the month of June. In the summer, the average low temperature drops to around 36F during the month of June. During the winter, the average temperature in New Mexico drops to around 36F. During the winter, the average high temperature peaks at around 65F during the month of February. In the winter months, the average low temperature falls to around 2F during the month of January. New Mexico experiences an average humidity rating of about 46%. Humidity levels tend to reach their peak in the month of August at around 56%. The average amount of precipitation peaks during the month of July at around 5.98 inches. On average, the state receives 1.22 inches of precipitation a month. On average, New Mexico has an air quality index rating of around 45.5 AQI. The highest seasonal air quality index rating occurs in the month of July with a rating of 61.7 AQI. While residents of New Mexico mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in New Mexico can include earthquakes (moderate) and floods.

Wildlife to be found in New Mexico

The state of New Mexico has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of arizona cypress, yucca, aspen trees, and spruce-fir. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the kangaroo rats, the coyotes, the elk, or the cougars. The state animal of New Mexico is the roadrunner.