Missoula Independent Living

Missoula, MT, nicknamed The Garden City, is a small and growing city of under 67,000, located in Western Montana. The Missoula metropolitan area is slightly larger, with a population of just under 110,000. The city lies along the Clark Fork and Bitterroot rivers and sits at an altitude of over 3,200 feet. The city is buttressed by five different mountain ranges, it is aptly known as the “Hub of the Five Valleys”, and sits along the base of what was once an ancient lake. Searching for the right Missoula assisted living facility can be a tough process. AssistedSeniorLiving.net can help every step of the way with a complete local listing of all Missoula assisted living options. You can compare prices, amenities, locations and more.

The cost of ALF rooms, $3,535 per month, in Missoula are slightly more expensive than the U.S. average, although the cost does pay for all the cultural and recreational benefits the city has to offer. Nursing home semi-private and private rooms cost $6,844 and $7,521 per month, respectively. Both homemaker services and home health aide cost $4,004 per month. The city is rated as having a March 2012 cost of living index of 94.6, with the national average sitting at the 100 benchmark. This makes Missoula an affordable choice for senior citizens looking for a destination with the opportunity to explore the outdoors and the comforts of a medium sized metropolis.

The two health centers that service Missoula are the Community Medical Center Inc. and St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center. St. Patrick is the only Level II trauma center in the region and is the largest hospital in Western Montana. Community Medical is a very modern hospital that has a nursing home in its complex.

Missoula’s vitality lies in its culture and outdoor opportunities. Seniors will never be at a loss for places to go and things to see. Downtown hosts the Missoula Farmers’ Market which has been running since 1972. There is also an arts and crafts People’s Market and the Clark Fork Market. Every first Friday of each month, the Downtown hosts the First Friday Gallery Night. The city also plays host for many festivals including the International Wildlife Film Festival and the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival.

There are many museums to visit, including the Montana Museum of Arts and Culture, the Rocky Mountain Museum of Military History, and the forthcoming National Conservation Legacy and Education Center. Missoula’s parks system has more than 22 miles, and expanding, of trails to walk or jog on. For seniors that love to ski, the Montana Snowbowl, Discovery Ski Area, and Lost Trail Powder Mountain are sure to please. Missoula is also a popular summer and winter tourist destination, and boasts many shopping locales and eateries. As a picturesque city up in the mountain of Montana, Missoula would be an ideal retirement location for adventurous seniors.