Assisted living can be a blessing for individuals and families, but it can also be expensive. As shared by Genworth Financial, the average monthly cost of assisted living is about $5,500 in 2024. However, the final cost may vary depending on your specific location, as well as other cost factors like level of care and available amenities. If you are looking for an assisted living community near you, either for yourself or a loved one, cost is likely to be one of your most important considerations. To help, the following highlights the main items to think about when looking to find an affordable assisted living community that fits your needs and your budget.
What factors into assisted living costs?
Despite the average cost of assisted living across the country, the actual expenditures are more variable and nuanced. Three key factors, as listed below, affect whether or not an assisted living community may be affordable for you. Understanding what they are and what they comprise can better help you navigate your finances.
Level of care
A community that offers memory care or more extensive injury rehabilitation, for instance, will understandably cost more than one that offers minimal assistance. If a resident is still mostly independent, perhaps needing only medication monitoring, provided meals, and laundry services, that person will pay less than someone who requires more medical treatments or greater support with daily living activities. Make sure not only to consider the current level of care needs but also to anticipate potential levels of care that may be necessary in the future. To avoid repeating a similar senior living search process down the road, as well as associated moving costs and disruptive transitions, find a place with comprehensive care.
Location
Property values also influence assisted living prices. Consequently, a community in a coveted area of town or popular suburb may have a higher cost than other locations. The price variation is also true from state to state, so comparable assisted living communities in terms of their levels of care, amenities and even design may have notably different costs in one location versus another. For example, Seniorly.com lists New Hampshire as having the highest average monthly cost for assisted living communities while Louisiana has one of the lowest costs. As an additional resource, the guide at SeniorLiving.com offers a table of assisted living costs by state. In short, location flexibility may be the key to affordable assisted living.
Amenities
There are necessary services and features, and then there are some senior living “extras” that may be on your wishlist. Even if you can take one or two of those extra services or amenities off of your list, especially those with additional fees, more affordable assisted living opportunities may become available, as you search.
How can I find affordable assisted living locations near me?
You may already be familiar with some of the assisted living options near you or heard about some affordable options from friends. In addition to starting your evaluation of assisted living communities with a basic Internet search, here are 5 directories that may be helpful:
- The Senior Living Directory
- Assisted-Living Directory
- Caring.com Assisted Living Directory
- Senior Care Authority Directory
- Seniorcare.com Find Assisted Living
- Assisted Living Locators Directory
What are some ways to make assisted living more affordable?
In addition to establishing, revising and fine-tuning your own checklist for a new residence and budget considerations, the tips included below may help you find affordable assisted living.
1. Ask about their specials.
Yes, assisted living communities do actually offer specials and discounts at various times throughout the year. For example, you may encounter seasonal move-in specials or discounts if you sign up for an extended lease or offer lump-sum payments. Even if these special offers aren’t posted on a community’s website, ask about current or upcoming opportunities by phone or email or during an in-person tour.
2. Consider a roommate.
In general, a single-occupancy room is more expensive than a double room. If you or your loved one is open to the idea of a roommate, this choice can make a “too expensive” assisted living community into an affordable one. For some seniors, other benefits come with having a roommate, like having someone with whom to enjoy hobbies or other activities on the community calendar.
3. Compare different types of costs.
Different assisted living communities offer different approaches to pricing. Some will allow you to select either an all-inclusive fee or pay for services individually, while others provide pricing tiers for different accommodations. An a la carte pricing model, for instance, will allow you to purchase services or items based on need. If family members are willing to help with laundry or transportation, for instance, you wouldn’t need to add them to your monthly bill! Alternatively, an all-inclusive model requires a monthly fee for a range of services. A community may offer different levels of this model, with the base level including only basic services and the top level providing all of the extras. To make sure that your assisted living community is affordable for you, be clear about what apartment and community amenities are available, as well as the monthly payments or additional fees associated with them.
4. Explore tax credits and deductions.
Seniors who need help with two or more activities of daily living or are considered chronically ill may qualify for senior living tax deductions. Similarly, relatives who pay for at least 50 percent of a loved one’s care may also be eligible for caregiver tax benefits. A Place for Mom offers a starting point for your inquiry into these potential savings.
5. Look for discount programs.
Another way to make assisted living more affordable is to explore any eligibility for financial assistance through a state senior benefit program or other organization. The Eldercare Directory lists several of these resources, such as state assistance, food and nutrition programs and caregiver assistance support.
As you search for affordable assisted living in CT that you can enjoy now and in the years ahead, choose a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) like Arbors of Hop Brook. These communities offer several levels of care (typically including independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing and memory care) on the same campus. This approach allows residents to easily move between levels of care as their needs change without having to leave the affordable assisted living community that has become their home. Take a virtual tour, browse our floor plans or simply come by and explore everything that Arbors of Hop Brook has to offer. Have questions or want to discuss our current availability? Contact us today!