10 Best Independent Living Communities in Rapid City, SD

Rapid City, South Dakota

Independent Living

Independent Living Communities provide seniors with a handy equilibrium between an independent lifestyle and not having to concern themselves with housekeeping. Daily needs such as meal planning and the scheduling of social activities are accounted for, which provides seniors more opportunities to live active lives as they desire. 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 interests. Typically comprised of a private living area and a full kitchen, these communities offer homes with many of the amenities of apartment life but without the hassle. Guests can be invited over and entertained, and more time can be spent with them with the basic maintenance of daily chores out of the way. While policies vary between locations, many residences allow pets as well. If medical or nursing care is desired, residents may always enlist the services of independent caregivers. There are an assortment of advantages and expenditures to balance when selecting an independent living community. It is important to learn if these services are included in your care plan: initial assessment fee, wellness program, cable TV, transportation, parking, meals, housekeeping, and move-in fee. The conveniences associated with independent living include private rental hall, golf course, security guards, healthcare center, transportation, game/TV room, community activities, and laundry service.

Cost of Living

Cost of living can be a motivating factor when determining what destination works best. When it comes to resources, Rapid City has a grocery-price index of around 106.8 and a cost-of-living index of 98.1. Index ratings are founded on a system where 100 is considered the average score and anything beneath 100 is cheaper than the average amount. Rapid City has a median home value of $170,637 and the median cost of rent is around $1,004 per month. The rent burden for Rapid City is about 18.6% of the average person’s monthly income.

Local Hospitals and Health Care Providers

Proximity to medical communities might be a major consideration in determining the most suitable senior community. The top hospitals in Rapid City include Regional Health Rapid City Hospital, Phs Indian Hospital At Rapid City – Sioux San, and Black Hills Surgical Hospital Llp. In total, there are 4 hospitals located in Rapid City which offer emergency services and other healthcare.

Regional Climate and Weather Information

The air quality, air temperature, and humidity of a location can have a considerable effect on the overall health of you or your loved one. The average air quality index rating in Rapid City is about 46.3. The average air quality conditions are rated as good. This means that there is no health advisory associated with the air quality for this destination. The air quality index rating is at its highest in December at around 60.8. 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. During the summer, Rapid City is approximately 74F. The low summer temperature is roughly 57F during the month of June. The summer high is at roughly 93F during July. During winter, the average air temperature sinks to roughly 28F. The winter high gets to approximately 40F during the month of January. The low winter temperature is around 17 F in the month of December. Monthly, Rapid City receives approximately 7 inches of precipitation. The most rain normally falls in October with an average of 36 inches in a month. Rapid City receives an average of 38.00 inches of snow in a year. The average humidity level for Rapid City is around 60%. Humidity levels peak during the month of December at around 66%. Rapid City has a cold semi-arid type of climate.

Demographics and Values

In the previous presidential election, 8.1% voted for a third party candidate, 29.5% voted Democrat, and 62.4% voted Republican in Pennington county. Based on gender, 49.7% are male and 50.3% are female. The median age of Rapid City is 37 years old. In Rapid City, 29.6% of the population are over the age of 55, 11.5% are over the age of 60, 6.6% are over the age of 70, and 4.9% are over the age of 80. In Rapid City, 16.3% live in poverty, 11.8% do not have health insurance, 6.0% consider themselves widows, and 65.7% participate in the labor force. In terms of crime, Rapid City has 6.5 violent crimes per 1000 residents and 38.6 property crimes per 1000 residents. In terms of Christian denominations, out of the total population of Rapid City 12.1% are Lutherans, 7.3% practice Catholicism, and 4.7% are Methodists. In Rapid City, 57.5% are nonbelievers. In terms of non-Christian denominations in Rapid City, out of the total population 0.1% practice Judaism, 0.0% practice an Eastern religion, and 0.3% practice Islam. Rapid City has a population density of 526 people per square mile. The current population of Rapid City is growing at a rate of 0.013%. In Rapid City, 13.4% of the population are veterans. Rapid City is considered very unfriendly to members of the LGBTQ+ community. In terms of education, 26.0% have a high-school diploma, 10.8% have a graduate degree, and 31.2% have a college degree. Demographically, Rapid City is 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 5.6% mixed race, 0.6% other or not specified, 11.4% Native American, 1.2% black, 79.7% white, 1.5% Asian, and 5.0% Hispanic.

State Information

An overview of South Dakota

Out of a national average of 100, South Dakota has a cost of living index rating of 99, a grocery index rating of 107, and a housing index rating of 110. South Dakota is ranked 20th in quality of life and 32nd in healthcare. Based on natural beauty, South Dakota ranks 2nd in the nation. The state of South Dakota has 62 hospitals and 52 health centers, providing care to a population of 891,276. The three highest ranked hospitals in South Dakota are Dunes Surgical Hospital, Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital Llp, and Avera Heart Hospital Of South Dakota.

Social demographics of the state

The median age in the state is 37, and 30% of the population is over the age of 55. Thirty-six percent of South Dakota residents regularly attend a religious service from one of the state’s 1,819 different congregations. The top three Christian denominations in the state are Evangelical Protestant-25%, Mainline Protestant-32%, and Historically Black Protestant-1%. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-<1%, Muslim-<1%, and Buddhist-<1%. In South Dakota there are 83 masonic lodges. In terms of diversity, South Dakota ranks 39th in the nation. During the latest presidential election, 62% voted for the Republican candidate while 32% voted for the Democratic candidate.

State-wide weather information

During the winter, the average temperature in South Dakota drops to around 21F. The average high winter temperature is around 44F in the month of February. In the winter months, the average low temperature falls to around -1F during the month of January. During the summer, the average temperature in South Dakota is around 70F. The average high summer temperature is around 91F in the month of July. The average low summer temperature is around 47F in the month of June. The average air quality index rating in South Dakota is 34.8 AQI. The average air quality index rating peaks in the month of August with a rating of around 47.9 AQI. On average, the state receives 1.79 inches of precipitation a month. The most precipitation occurs in May with an average of 4.80 inches of precipitation a month. South Dakota experiences an average humidity rating of about 66%. Humidity levels tend to reach their peak in the month of December at around 77%. While residents of South Dakota mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in South Dakota can include earthquakes (high), floods, and and tornados.

Wildlife to be found in South Dakota

The state of South Dakota has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of prairie smoke, beardtongue, cup plant, and prairie smoke. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the pronghorn, the townsend’s big-eared bat, the mule deer, or the virginia opossum. The state animal of South Dakota is the the coyote.