16 Assisted Living Facilities near Marion, IA

Benefits and Drawbacks of Assisted Living in Marion

• Marion is in east-central Iowa, which shares a lot of its weather with the nearby Wisconsin and Chicagoland areas. Winter lows in Marion drop to 13 degrees Fahrenheit in December, while the mild summer temps rarely get higher than 85 degrees. This part of the state gets an average of 38 inches of rain a year. This close to the river, spores and pollen can become an issue in spring for seniors with asthma or other breathing difficulties.
  
  
• Marion's cost of living is fairly close to the national average, though expenses here tend to be a bit lower in areas that affect seniors most. Groceries in Marion, for example, typically cost 94 percent of the national average, while transportation runs to 95 percent and health care is 99 percent of the average nationwide.
  
  
• Iowa imposes an income tax that runs from 0.36 to 8.98 percent of money earned. SSI and most kinds of retirement income are not subject to this tax, though a 7 to 9 percent sales tax still applies to seniors who buy their own groceries.
  
  
• Crime is very low in Marion. Burglary and assault, crimes that disproportionately affect seniors, are less than one-third the national rate though.
  
  
• Marion seniors can schedule rides through Aging Services, Inc., a nonprofit run through the United Way. This volunteer service provides bus, dial-a-ride and non-emergency medical transportation for area seniors and adults with disabilities.
  
  
• The Marion area is home to world-class medical facilities, including UnityPoint Health - St. Luke's Hospital, in the event of medical emergencies or illness.