10 Best Independent Living Communities in Highland, NY

Independent Living

Many seniors may be physically and mentally capable of living without assistance, but cost of owning a home and the upkeep of daily tasks and chores might be a deterrent to living an independent lifestyle. Independent Living Communities provide a good alternative. Basic needs such as meal preparation and housekeeping are handled by staff and a calendar of recreational and leisure activities is maintained, allowing residents the autonomy to use their time as they see fit, free from daily responsibilities. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy an opportunity to be among peers, in a community with others of similar ages and backgrounds. Typically consisting of a private living area 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 more time can be spent with them with the basic maintenance of daily tasks out of the way. While policies differ between communities, a number of residences allow cats and dogs as well. If residents decide they would like to utilize the services of private health care providers, they always have the option. There are a variety of expenditures and advantages to consider when deciding on an independent living community. It is important to determine if these services are included in your plan: move-in fee, housekeeping, laundry, private phone, transportation, utilities, field trips, and initial assessment fee. The benefits and amenities associated with independent living include security guards, healthcare center, laundry service, beauty salon & barber shop, private rental hall, golf course, community activities, and fitness center & swimming pool.

Cost of Living

The community in which a senior care community is located will have a major influence on the overall price. The total cost of living can be a motivating factor when determining which care choice meets the needs of your family. Highland has a median home value of $227,462 and the median cost of rent is about $1,633 per month. The rent burden for Highland is around 23.6% of the average monthly income.

Demographics and Values

In Highland, 5.4% of the citizens are veterans of the United States military. Based on gender, 51.2% are female and 48.8% are male. The median age of Highland is 41 years old. Demographically, Highland is 0.0% Native American, 3.1% mixed race, 6.1% black, 2.1% other or not specified, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 87.6% white, 15.8% Hispanic, and 1.0% Asian. The total population of Highland consists of 5,375 people. Highland has a population density of 442 people per square mile. In terms of education, 30.4% have a college degree, 10.0% have a graduate degree, and 30.2% have a high-school diploma. In Highland, 13.9% live in poverty, 4.3% do not have health insurance, 60.6% participate in the labor force, and 7.4% are widowed.

State Information

An overview of New York

Residents of New York enjoy its natural beauty which ranks 24th in the United States. There are 205 general hospitals and 496 health centers that provide care for 19,493,819 New York residents. The three highest ranked hospitals in New York are Hospital For Special Surgery, Albany Memorial Hospital, and And Northern Duchess Hospital. The quality of life enjoyed by the average New York citizen is ranked 25th nation-wide. Additionally, New York is ranked 13th by standards of healthcare. In terms of resources, New York has a cost of living index of 135.7, a grocery index rating of 114.8, and a housing index rating of 204.4. 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.

Social demographics of the state

The state has a median age of 39 and 30% of its population being over the age of 55. Twenty-nine percent of New York residents regularly attend a religious service from one of the state’s 14,110 different congregations. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-7%, Muslim-2%, and Buddhist-<1%, with the most common Christian denominations consisting of Evangelical Protestant-10%, Mainline Protestant-11%, and Historically Black Protestant-5%. In New York there are 72 masonic lodges. The state of New York ranks 5th in the country for diversity and the state is considered very LGBTQ friendly. In the last presidential election 59% of New York residents voted Democrat and 37% voted Republican.

State-wide weather information

During the summer, the average temperature in New York is around 68F. Over the summer months the average high temperature peaks at around 86F during the month of July. The average low summer temperature is around 48F in the month of June. The average temperature in the winter falls to around 25F. During the winter, the average high temperature peaks at around 25F during the month of December. The average low temperature during the winter drops to around 2F in the month of January. The average monthly precipitation for the state of New York is around 3.54 inches. The most precipitation occurs in October with an average of 6.10 inches of precipitation a month. On average, New York has an air quality index rating of around 34.2 AQI. The average air quality index rating peaks in the month of May with a rating of around 44.5 AQI. On average, the humidity rating for New York is around 71%. Humidity levels tend to reach their peak in the month of December at around 77%. While residents of New York mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in New York can include floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and and earthquakes (moderate).

Wildlife to be found in New York

The state of New York has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of bluets, canada anemone, sneezeweed, and smooth white beardtongue. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the black bear, the gray fox, the American marten, or the moose. The state animal of New York is the beaver.