10 Best Independent Living Communities in Rensselaer, NY

Independent Living

For seniors who would wish to live primarily without assistance but wish for the assistance of having housekeeping maintained by professionalls, an Independent Living Community might be the perfect option. Basic chores such as meal planning and housekeeping are handled by staff and a calendar of recreational and social activities is maintained, allowing residents the autonomy to use their time as they see fit, free from daily obligations. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy the opportunity to live among peers, in a community with others of similar ages and backgrounds. Within the individual units, residents have access to their own private living space and a full kitchen, and can even live with a companion if they choose. While policies vary between communities, numerous residences allow pets as well. If residents decide they would like to enlist the services of independent health care providers, they may always do so. There are an assortment of expenditures and benefits to keep in mind when choosing an independent living community. It is important to determine if these services are covered in the plan: parking, utilities, Waiting list deposit, housekeeping, wellness program, field trips, transportation, and cable TV. The luxuries that pertain to independent living include beauty salon & barber shop, community activities, private rental hall, healthcare center, security guards, game/TV room, transportation, and concierge services.

Cost of Living

The total cost of living can be the motivating factor in choosing what community works for your family. The median home value in Rensselaer is around $125,832 and the median cost for rent is $974 a month. The rent burden for Rensselaer is around 16.7% of the average monthly income.

Demographics and Values

Out of the total city population, 49.2% are male and 50.8% are female. The median age of Rensselaer is 35 years old. In terms of education, 11.5% have a graduate degree, 25.2% have a college degree, and 33.6% have a high-school diploma. Out of the total population of Rensselaer, 15.3% live in poverty, 15.1% have some form of disability, 68.2% participate in the labor force, and 8.7% are widows. Demographically, Rensselaer is 5.9% Hispanic, 7.9% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 6.7% mixed race, 5.6% black, 77.1% white, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, and 2.5% other or not specified. The total population of Rensselaer consists of 9,264 people. Rensselaer has a population density of 1,125 people per square mile. In Rensselaer, 9.0% of the citizens are veterans of the United States armed forces.

State Information

An overview of New York

In terms of personal well-being, New York ranks 13th in healthcare and 25th in quality of life compared to other states. 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. Hospital For Special Surgery, Albany Memorial Hospital, and And Northern Duchess Hospital are among the top three highest ranked hospitals in the state. The state of New York has a cost of living index of 135.7 where a score of 100 is the national average, and anything above 100 is considered more expensive than the average. The state has a grocery index rating of 114.8 and a housing index rating of 204.4.

Social demographics of the state

During the latest presidential election, 37% voted for the Republican candidate while 59% voted for the Democratic candidate. In terms of religious values, 29% of New York’s population regularly attend some form of service and there are in total 14,110 different congregations. The top three Christian denominations in the state are Evangelical Protestant-10%, Mainline Protestant-11%, and Historically Black Protestant-5%. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-7%, Muslim-2%, and Buddhist-<1%. In New York there are 72 masonic lodges. In New York, 30% of the population is over the age of 55. The median age in the state is 39. The state of New York ranks 5th in the country for diversity and the state is considered very LGBTQ friendly.

State-wide weather information

During the summer, the average temperature in New York is around 68F. The average high summer temperature is around 86F in the month of July. The average low summer temperature is around 48F in the month of June. During the winter, the average temperature in New York drops 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 humidity across the state is 71%. Humidity levels tend to reach their peak in the month of December at around 77%. The average monthly precipitation for the state of New York is around 3.54 inches. The average amount of precipitation peaks during the month of October at around 6.10 inches. 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. 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 smooth white beardtongue, northern blueflag, bluets, and canada anemone. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the eastern cougar, the mink, the red fox, or the canada lynx. The state animal of New York is the beaver.