10 Best Independent Living Communities in Forest, VA

Independent Living

An Independent Living Community provides residents the ability to continue to live an independent lifestyle while ensuring their care requirements are being met. Daily needs such as the scheduling of social activities and meal planning are taken care of, which provides residents more free time to live life as they see fit. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy the opportunity to be among peers, surrounded by others of similar ages and backgrounds. Typically consisting of a private living space 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 differ between communities, many residences allow cats and dogs as well. If residents decide they would like to employ the services of independent health care professionalls, they may always do so. There are a variety of advantages and expenses to consider when choosing an independent living community. It is important to determine if these services are included in your plan: field trips, internet access, wellness program, move-in fee, housekeeping, transportation, laundry, and cable TV. The conveniences that pertain to independent living include laundry service, concierge services, fitness center & swimming pool, beauty salon & barber shop, game/TV room, transportation, private rental hall, and golf course.

Demographics and Values

Racially, the population of Forest is 1.6% other or not specified, 85.8% white, 5.1% black, 2.8% Hispanic, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.2% Native American, 0.0% mixed race, and 7.3% Asian. In Forest, 7.4% live in poverty, 5.8% do not have health insurance, 4.7% are widows, and 62.4% participate in the labor force. In Forest, 10.3% of the people are veterans of the United States military. Forest has a population density of 302 people per square mile. The current population of Forest consists of 10,653 people. Of the population of Forest 44.9% have a college degree, 19.8% have a graduate degree, and 21.1% have a high-school diploma. Based on gender, 48.3% are male and 51.7% are female. The median age of Forest is 43 years old.

Cost of Living

The price of a Retirement community is influenced by the city where it is located. The rent burden for Forest is about 14.1% of the average person’s monthly income. Per month, the median rent in Forest is around $877 per month and the median value of a house in Forest is $225,305.

State Information

An overview of Virginia

In terms of resources, Virginia has a cost of living index of 102.0, a grocery index rating of 96.1, and a housing index rating of 108.0. 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. In terms of personal well-being, Virginia ranks 18th in healthcare and 7th in quality of life compared to other states. Based on natural beauty, Virginia ranks 18th in the nation. In total, Virginia has 147 general hospitals and 98 health centers that provide care for 8,570,488 citizens. The three highest ranked hospitals in Virginia are Central Health Inc., Inova Loudon Hospital, and Inova Fairfax Hospital.

Social demographics of the state

In terms of diversity, Virginia ranks 12th in the nation. In the last presidential election 50% of Virginia residents voted Democrat and 44% voted Republican. In Virginia, 28% of the population is over the age of 55. The median age in the state is 38. In terms of religion, 44% of Virginia residents attend religious services among the 10,088 different congregations that are available in the state. The top three Christian denominations in the state are Evangelical Protestant-30%, Mainline Protestant-16%, and Historically Black Protestant-12%. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-<1%, Muslim-<1%, and Buddhist-<1%. In Virginia there are 519 masonic lodges.

State-wide weather information

The average humidity across the state is 69%. Humidity levels tend to reach their peak in the month of August at around 75%. The average air quality index rating in Virginia is 31.6 AQI. The average air quality index rating peaks in the month of April with a rating of around 40.4 AQI. The average temperature in the summer rises to around 74F. The average high summer temperature is around 91F in the month of July. The average low summer temperature is around 52F in the month of June. The average temperature in the winter falls to around 37F. The average high winter temperature is around 55F in the month of February. In the winter months, the average low temperature falls to around 17F during the month of January. On average, the state receives 3.65 inches of precipitation a month. The average amount of precipitation peaks during the month of September at around 6.34 inches. While residents of Virginia mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in Virginia can include hurricanes, floods, and and earthquakes (moderate).

Wildlife to be found in Virginia

The state of Virginia has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of mountain laurel, pine, diverse azaleas, and trailing arbutus. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the mink, the groundhog, the black bears, or the snowshoe hare. The state animal of Virginia is the the bat.