10 Best Independent Living Communities in Aiken, SC

Independent Living

If you or your loved one desire the convenience of having many of your frequent tasks taken care of while living at your own pace, think about the option of an Independent Living Community. Basic tasks 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 choose, free from daily responsibilities. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy an opportunity to live among peers, in a community with others of similar age groups and interests. Residents’ quarters consist of a private living space with their own kitchen. The independence of apartment life is still enjoyed, offering an opportunity to entertain guests and visitors in a private and personal setting. While policies differ between locations, a number of residences allow pets as well. If residents decide they would like to employ the services of independent health care providers, they may always do so. There are a variety of expenditures and advantages to balance when choosing an independent living community. It is important to learn if these services are included in your plan: field trips, laundry, cable TV, parking, private phone, meals, internet access, and initial assessment fee. The luxuries associated with independent living include restaurant-style dining hall, concierge services, game/TV room, community activities, golf course, fitness center & swimming pool, healthcare center, and beauty salon & barber shop.

Demographics and Values

Of the population of Aiken 44.3% have a college degree, 22.5% have a high-school diploma, and 19.1% have a graduate degree. Demographically, Aiken is 26.9% black, 2.1% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 68.5% white, 0.3% other or not specified, 2.2% Hispanic, 1.9% mixed race, and 0.0% Native American. Based on gender, 52.8% are female and 47.2% are male. The median age of Aiken is 47 years old. In Aiken, 7.4% do not have health insurance, 52.6% participate in the labor force, 12.9% have some form of disability, and 8.7% consider themselves widows. The total population of Aiken consists of 30,721 people. Aiken has a population density of 568 people per square mile. In Aiken, 11.2% of the citizens are veterans of the United States military.

Cost of Living

Cost of living can be the major factor when selecting what care option fits best. Aiken has a median home value of about $174,650 and the median cost of rent is around $766 per month per month. The rent burden for Aiken is around 13.0% of the average person’s monthly income.

State Information

An overview of South Carolina

There are 71 general hospitals and 189 health centers that provide care for 5,147,823 South Carolina residents. The three highest ranked hospitals in South Carolina are GHS Greer Memorial Hospital, Bon Secours-st Francis Xavier Hospital, and Roper Hospital. The state of South Carolina has a cost of living index of 98.3 where a score of 100 is the national average, and anything below 100 is considered less expensive than the national average. The state has a grocery index rating of 101.9 and a housing index rating of 85.1. Based on natural beauty, South Carolina ranks 34th in the nation. The quality of life enjoyed by the average South Carolina citizen is ranked 42nd nation-wide. Additionally, South Carolina is ranked 36th by standards of healthcare.

Social demographics of the state

In terms of diversity, South Carolina ranks 24th in the nation. In South Carolina, 31% of the population is over the age of 55. The median age in the state is 40. In the most recent presidential election, 55% of South Carolina residents voted Republican and 41% voted Democrat. In South Carolina, 47% of the population attend some form of religious service and there are 8,051 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-35%, Mainline Protestant-16%, and Historically Black Protestant-15%. In South Carolina there are 658 masonic lodges.

State-wide weather information

South Carolina experiences an average humidity rating of about 69%. The highest monthly average humidity rating is 72% in the month of August. The average air quality index rating in South Carolina is 35.3 AQI. The average air quality index rating peaks in the month of April with a rating of around 42.6 AQI. During the winter, the average temperature in South Carolina drops to around 46F. The average high winter temperature is around 66F in the month of February. The average low temperature during the winter drops to around 26F in the month of January. During the summer, the average temperature in South Carolina is around 79F. Over the summer months the average high temperature peaks at around 95F during the month of July. The average low summer temperature is around 59F in the month of June. The most precipitation occurs in August with an average of 7.64 inches of precipitation a month. The average monthly precipitation for the state of South Carolina is around 4.10 inches. While residents of South Carolina mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in South Carolina can include hurricanes, earthquakes (moderate), tornadoes, and and floods.

Wildlife to be found in South Carolina

The state of South Carolina has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of shadblow serviceberry, butterfly weed, blue wild indigo, and common yarrow. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the manatee, the southern fox squirrel, or the wild hog. The state animal of South Carolina is the white-tailed deer.