It’s no secret that saving for retirement is a good idea. And for many older adults, retirement expenses often include senior living, which can be pricey.
In this article, we’ll go through the many different types of senior living, their average costs and how to prepare financially for this stage of your life.
[Read: Low-Income Assisted Living Options]
What Is the Average Monthly Cost for Senior Living?
You have many options when it comes to senior living, and each type of facility may cater to various budgets. One rule of thumb, however, is the greater the level of care, the higher your costs are likely to be. For instance, independent living, where residents largely manage their own needs, may cost significantly less than a nursing home, which provides round-the-clock care.
Below is the average cost for five different types of senior living communities, as well as in-home care for senior aging in place, based on figures from senior care-focused organizations and experts:
| Type of Senior Living | Average Cost Per Month |
| Home health aide | $5,808 for 44 hours a week |
| Independent living and retirement communities | $3,300 |
| Assisted living | $5,900 |
| Continuing care retirement communities | $3,747 to $4,166 |
| Memory care | $7,899 |
| Nursing homes | $9,277 for a semi-private room, 10,646 for a private room |
What factors affect cost of senior living?
Location and level of care are the primary drivers of senior living costs. But many factors can cause the cost of senior living to add up, says Lauren Dunning, director of the Center for the Future of Aging at the Milken Institute, a nonpartisan think tank based in Santa Monica, California.
If you move to a senior living community, the price you pay will be based on the following factors:
— Owner/operator costs
— Location, size and property type
— Type of accommodation (single vs. shared room)
— Level of on-site medical care and assistance with activities of daily living
— The specific staffing, services and amenities available
“Staffing costs are typically the largest expense item, and can account for up to two-thirds of overall owner/operator expenses,” Dunning notes.
[READ: 10 Things to Look for When Touring a Senior Living Facility]
Senior Living Costs Per State
To see how your state compares to others, we’ve outlined the monthly average costs for different care levels — in-home health aides, assisted living and nursing homes in each state.
Paying for Senior Living
For many seniors, figuring out how to pay for senior living is challenging. Below are some strategies to help you prepare for this significant expense.
Plan ahead and start saving early
To pay for senior living, you’ll need a sizable nest egg to draw from. It’s best to start planning and saving for retirement and senior care expenses as early as you can.
“We plan our vacations down to minute-by-minute details, but we don’t plan how we want to age,” says Peter Ross, cofounder and CEO of Senior Helpers, a franchised service that provides at-home care for seniors. He is also the president of the Home Care Association of America’s board of directors.
The earlier you start planning, the more control you will have over your situation as you age, he says.
[Read: Assisted Living Costs: A Guide to Expenses and Payment Options]
Financing
If you haven’t explicitly saved to pay for senior living later in life, your financing options could be limited. For example, most senior living spaces are offered as rental properties, so you generally can’t use a conventional mortgage to finance them.
However, financing tools you may be able to leverage include:
— Selling your home and using the proceeds to pay for senior living
— Taking out a bridge loan against your home to free up some cash
— Taking out a reverse mortgage and selling your home back to the bank
— Checking your eligibility for grants, waivers, subsidies and other programs
[Read: What Is a Geriatric Care Manager?]
Medicaid
While Medicare doesn’t cover the cost of senior living, Medicaid may, especially if you are looking into nursing home care.
“Many older adults who cannot afford their housing and care needs are forced to spend down their assets to qualify for Medicaid,” Dunning notes.
Sometimes, Medicaid may be your best option for paying for senior living, but there are stringent requirements to qualify. It’s best to contact an elder law attorney or another trusted advisor for guidance.
Dunning notes that some people make more money or own assets above the threshold to receive help from social programs such as Medicaid, but can’t pay for their care out-of-pocket.
This stratum of the population has been dubbed the “forgotten middle,” because they’re not wealthy enough to afford to pay for care out of their savings, but they’re too wealthy to qualify for many public aid or assistance programs.
Unfortunately, the most coveted facilities generally only accept private pay, rather than Medicare or Medicaid, according to Ross.
So, although finding a facility that accepts Medicare or Medicaid isn’t necessarily difficult, finding one you’re happy with may be more challenging.
[READ: Does Using Medicaid Affect Quality of Care in Long-Term Care Facilities?]
Long-term care insurance
Long-term care insurance, which private insurance companies sell, may cover specific senior living costs.
Still, long-term care insurance won’t cover all of the costs associated with senior living, and there might be stipulations in the policy. Be sure to read the small print of any insurance policy closely before determining whether it’s worth the cost.
[READ: Does Medicare Pay for Assisted Living?]
Private health or life insurance
Some private health insurance plans may cover certain costs associated with senior living. Additionally, some life insurance policies can be cashed in, allowing you to access a lump sum to pay for senior living. Again, you’ll need to check your policy documents closely for requirements and stipulations.
Social programs
Many older adults have limited means to pay for senior care and must consider low-cost senior living options. The following programs might be helpful to you during your search for affordable senior housing:
— PACE. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly offers comprehensive medical and social services for qualifying elderly people, including medical and senior care benefits ranging from adult day care and dentistry services to meals and prescriptions. These services are meant to be delivered in the person’s home rather than in a senior living facility, and you must meet strict program requirements to qualify.
— SHIP. State Health Insurance Assistance Programs are offered in every state and provide unbiased help to Medicare beneficiaries and their families. Trained SHIP counselors will work with you one-on-one to find the right senior living and long-term care options.
— Veterans Affairs. For qualifying military veterans, the VA offers financial support for senior care for some individuals, their families and surviving spouses. In addition, the VA runs a network of hospitals, clinics and senior care facilities around the country that may be an option for qualifying veterans.
— Social Security Disability Insurance. The Social Security Administration’s disability insurance program provides monthly payments to people with disabilities that prevent or limit their ability to work. These funds can help pay for senior living needs, such as assisted living.
— Section 8. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program helps qualifying adults 62 and older, people with disabilities and low-income families find and afford housing. Individuals involved with this program live in HUD housing and pay 30% of their adjusted gross income. However, limited slots are available, and the waiting lists can be long.
— Other options. Low-income senior housing, adult family homes and medical foster care may offer less expensive ways for seniors to get the care and support they need. The property’s location, amenities and acceptance of government subsidies as payment influence the total cost of this type of senior living.
Personal assets
Saving carefully during your working years is one of the best ways to ensure you’ll be able to afford senior living when the time comes. A variety of personal assets can come into play, including:
— Pensions, 401Ks and other retirement accounts
— Annuities and investments
— Real estate holdings
Liquidating these assets to pay for senior care can bring tax liability in some situations, so it’s best to work with a certified financial planner, tax attorney or other advisor who has experience in assisting older adults plan for their financial futures.
Types of Senior Living and Their Costs
Learn specific details regarding the level of care and cost of the following senior living options:
— Independent living
— Assisted living
— Continuing care retirement communities
— Memory care
— Nursing homes
Independent living
Independent living communities, sometimes called retirement communities, are designed for older adults who can look after themselves but want access to certain amenities, such as dining options or social activities, among peers of a similar age and level of autonomy.
The average cost of independent living is $3,300 per month. This rental fee estimate is for the property itself and often doesn’t include extras or special amenities, such as upgraded dining options or hair styling services.
Additional factors affecting cost include whether the community charges an entrance or move-in fee and whether the community is considered a luxury independent living community.
Assisted living
Assisted living is the next care level up from independent living. Residents in these facilities need ongoing support and assistance with one or more activities of daily living, such as bathing, toileting, managing medications or preparing meals.
Patrick Simasko, an elder law attorney and financial advisor at Simasko Law in Mount Clemens, Michigan, says housing and medical care are the most expensive parts of senior living.
“There are typically two parts of the cost when it comes to senior living in an assisted living facility. One is rent that includes the apartment and amenities. The other is the add-on costs for medical care, shower assisting, escorting to and from the dining room and so on. The costs for this type of care can oftentimes be exuberant and expensive,” Simasko says.
The average cost of an assisted living facility is $5,900 per month, according to Genworth and CareScout’s 2024 Cost of Care Survey (the most recent data available). This estimate includes the rent for the living space, meals and some of the support services you’ll receive, depending on how the contract is written. This monthly estimate typically does not include any health care services. Some amenities, such as medication management and incontinence help, may be billed separately.
Fees can vary based on location and the mix of services you need. For example, seniors who need lower levels of care (assistance with managing medications, for instance) may spend less than those requiring a higher level of care (more hands-on help with personal hygiene and moving around).
Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs)
Continuing care retirement communities can address your future health care needs in a single location, eliminating the need to move to a new facility each time those needs change. For instance, most CCRCs offer independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing care on the same campus.
CCRC costs, which can be expensive, vary based on the fee model.
— An entrance-fee model CCRC usually includes an up-front fee of between $100,000 and $1 million, plus a monthly service fee. Depending on how the CCRC’s contract is written, you may have a fixed monthly cost for your stay on campus or pay for additional services a la carte as needed.
— For a monthly rental model, the nonprofit National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care reports an average cost of $3,747. This monthly rental estimate does not include entrance fees or additional health care services rendered and is the average rate across all the levels of care offered. With an entrance fee, the average cost goes up to $4,166.
Memory care
Memory care is a type of senior living designed for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. Caregivers who work in memory care facilities have specialized training to assist those experiencing cognitive decline, and the facilities themselves typically have safety features to prevent wandering and eloping.
Average costs can vary but hover between $4,000 and $10,000 monthly. According to the National Investment Center, which follows the senior industry, the average cost of memory care is $7,899 per month.
Costs usually include the living space — an apartment or room — meals, medication management, personal care and assistance with activities of daily living, plus specialized dementia-focused support, such as reminiscence therapy. Medical care may not be included in these fees, but this can vary by facility.
Nursing homes
Nursing homes are specialized care facilities that provide round-the-clock support for older adults with medical needs.
Because nursing homes offer the highest level of care on the senior living spectrum, costs tend to be higher. A semiprivate room in a nursing home costs $9,277 per month, while a private room costs $10,646 on average.
These fees include the living space, meals, assistance with the activities of daily living and skilled nursing care. Some seniors reside in nursing homes long term to manage complex or chronic medical issues. Others stay for a short time to recover after surgery or another medical problem.
Does Medicare Pay for Senior Living?
Medicare does not cover senior living costs, but it may cover some health care costs incurred while you reside in senior living.
Medicare, for instance, provides limited, specific benefits, such as:
— Short-term post-hospital rehab
— Home health care based on strict eligibility requirements
— Part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care, excluding room and board costs
Some Medicare Advantage plans may offer additional benefits.
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How to Pay for Senior Living originally appeared on usnews.com
