52 Independent Living near Facilities West Columbia, SC. Page 3

Independent Living

If you would benefit from the convenience of having your chores managed while living at your own pace, consider an Independent Living Community. Daily needs such as meal planning and housekeeping are taken care of, which provides seniors more opportunities to live life as they see fit. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy an 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 differ between communities, many residences allow cats and dogs as well. Nursing and health care services may always be arranged for with independent care providers if desired. There are an assortment of benefits and expenses to consider while selecting an independent living community. It is important to figure out if these amenities are covered in your care plan: private phone, transportation, parking, utilities, wellness program, field trips, move-in fee, and internet access. The benefits associated with independent living include golf course, laundry service, community activities, healthcare center, fitness center & swimming pool, private rental hall, transportation, and security guards.

Cost of Living

Cost of living can be a major factor when selecting which community works for you or your loved one. Monthly, the median price for rent in West Columbia is around $737 and the median price for a home for West Columbia is about $131,784. The rent burden for West Columbia is about 16.6% of the average monthly income.

Demographics and Values

Of the population of West Columbia 25.5% have a high-school diploma, 30.3% have a college degree, and 10.4% have a graduate degree. Based on gender, 49.8% are male and 50.2% are female. The median age of West Columbia is 39 years old. In West Columbia, 14.9% have some form of disability, 18.0% live in poverty, 16.6% do not have health insurance, and 63.6% participate in the labor force. Demographically, West Columbia is 2.3% other or not specified, 11.4% Hispanic, 17.3% black, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 1.8% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 4.1% mixed race, and 74.4% white. The current population of West Columbia consists of 17,265 people. West Columbia has a population density of 765 people per square mile. In West Columbia, 9.4% of the citizens are veterans.

State Information

An overview of South Carolina

In terms of resources, South Carolina has a cost of living index of 98.3, a grocery index rating of 101.9, and a housing index rating of 85.1. These index ratings are based on a system where 100 is considered the national average and anything below 100 is considered less expensive than the national average. 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. The natural beauty of South Carolina is ranked 34th in the nation. In total, South Carolina has 71 general hospitals and 189 health centers that provide care for 5,147,823 citizens. The three highest ranked hospitals in South Carolina are GHS Greer Memorial Hospital, Bon Secours-st Francis Xavier Hospital, and Roper Hospital.

Social demographics of the state

The state has a median age of 40 and 31% of its population being over the age of 55. In terms of diversity, South Carolina ranks 24th in the nation. In the last presidential election 41% of South Carolina residents voted Democrat and 55% voted Republican. In terms of religion, 47% of South Carolina residents attend religious services among the 8,051 different congregations that are available in the state. 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

The average air quality index rating in South Carolina is 35.3 AQI. The highest seasonal air quality index rating occurs in the month of April with a rating of 42.6 AQI. The average humidity across the state is 69%. Humidity levels tend to reach their peak in the month of August at around 72%. The average monthly precipitation for the state of South Carolina is around 4.10 inches. The average amount of precipitation peaks during the month of August at around 7.64 inches. 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 average temperature in the winter falls 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. 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 devil’s walking stick, sweet birch, shadblow serviceberry, and butterfly weed. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the southern fox squirrel, the wild hog, or the manatee. The state animal of South Carolina is the white-tailed deer.