When you’re contemplating your living situation, when the time comes to decide upon the nursing home you’ll live in, which one is the right one? It’s not an easy question to answer. First, do you have assistance paying for it and will you have relatives helping? Second, do you want a private or semi private room? Third, is it short or long term that you will be in the nursing home? And, the list of questions goes on. These are a few which will greatly impact the cost you’ll pay to live in a nursing home, so let’s start with that… how much do they cost?
The National Average
On average, in 2016, the cost of living in a nursing home was about $8200 per month. But, this figure is a little off, as prices vary immensely based upon other factors. For example, in Alaska, where there are few homes, you can expect to pay upwards of $700 per day for your living quarters. This is in comparison to a place like Tulsa, OK (cheapest in the country) where you’ll pay about $200 per day. Quite a difference, right?
Short vs Long Term Care
Depending on the duration of your stay in the nursing home, costs will obviously differ as well. If you’re there for the remainder of your life, you can expect to pay a higher cost than you will if you’re there for a few months, after you’re recovering from an injury or from surgery. Short term care homes are typically more expensive as well, as there is higher turnover, and the homes fill up quickly. So, make sure you compare several nursing homes to find the best prices.
Semi or Private Rooms
This is another major contributor to your cost living in a nursing home. In a semi-private room (let’s say in Tulsa again, the cheapest in the country), on average, your daily rate is about $140. For a private room, it’s a bit closer to $180 per day (based on 2016 figures). So, if you want added privacy and the comfort of your own room, you’ll pay a higher rate for this feature as well when you’re choosing your nursing home facility to live in.
Additional Care/Medical Assistance
If you require additional medical care, a special diet, if you need someone (nurse) in your room all day, or if you require frequent hospital or doctor visits, your rates are going to increase as well. If you have a medical condition, or are recovering from surgery and require 24/7 assistance, your price for care will go up as well. Make sure you discuss these variables with the nursing homes you visit, so you understand the cost for additional medical treatment, and for the staff that will be with you during the day, when you are living there. This will help you better break down costs and find the right home for your personal living needs.
Your Location
Probably the most important factor in cost setting is where you live. NYC, Alaska, Miami, FL, and other big cities, which are major retirement hubs, are going to cost more, than let’s say, Tulsa, OK. You can expect to pay over $10,000 a month in some of those big cities, in comparison to $4500 to $5000 or less, in those smaller cities and rural areas. So, don’t overlook this factor, and if it is possible for you to move to a smaller or nearby city (where family can still visit your frequently) this is a simple way to bring down the cost of living in the nursing home you eventually choose to call home.
You can see, the cost of living in a nursing home is not set in stone; and, over the years, the national average has gone up a bit, so you are likely going to pay more today, than these figures above suggest. It’s important to research. You want to be realistic about finances as well. And, for those who have Medicaid or supplemental insurance, make sure you are fully understanding of what those will cover, how much, and how much you’ll be paying out of pocket, so you can make an informed decision about your living facilities when choosing a nursing home.