What is an Assisted Living Residence?
Assisted Living Residences are designed for adults who can live independently in a home-like environment but may need help with daily activities such as housekeeping, meal preparation, bathing, dressing, and/or medication assistance.
Assisted Living Residences do not provide medical or nursing services and are not designed for people who need serious medical care. Most assisted living residents pay fees privately, and the cost for each ALR can vary depending on the size, services, and location of the residence.
Assisted Living Residences can help with:
- Light housekeeping
- Meal Preparation
- Bathing and dressing
- Administering daily / weekly medication
Cost
The cost to live in an Assisted Living Residence (ALR) varies greatly. For residents living in traditional assisted living residences, the median monthly cost ranges from $3,655 to $8,036. For residents needing additional care due to memory impairment who live in a Special Care Residence of an ALR, the median monthly cost ranges from $6,334 to $9,525.
The variation in the cost is based on many factors, including:
- The type of services needed by a resident, for example assistance with eating, dressing, bathing, toileting.
- The frequency with which services are needed, including assistance with taking medications, oxygen use, and safety checks.
- The size of the apartment a resident occupies. Apartment layouts may be categorized as a shared companion suite, single studio, or a larger 1 or 2-bedroom.
- The location of the ALR and the amenities available.
The majority of ALRs in Massachusetts are a private pay market rate model, where residents use their own financial resources to pay for the rent and services monthly. Medicare, the federal health insurance program for older adults and individuals living with a disability, does not cover Assisted Living. Individuals with long term care insurance policies should ask their insurance carrier if they qualify for coverage of any ALR services.
The subsidy programs listed below are available in Massachusetts to qualified individuals. It is important to note that not all ALRs provide these subsidies:
- Group Adult Foster Care (GAFC) – GAFC is a MassHealth funded program. For information on the GAFC Program, please contact the MassHealth Customer Services line at 1-800-841-2900.
- Supplemental Security Income – Category G (SSI-G) – This is a subsidy program administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and supplemented by the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance for people residing in ALRs. Potential ALR residents are encouraged to talk to SSA directly through the field offices sites to determine if they might be eligible for SSI-G benefits. A list of SSA offices may be found at www.socialsecurity.gov/otherssasites.
- Veterans’ Administration Aid and Attendance Benefit – VA Aid and Attendance Benefits may be available for Veterans and/or surviving spouses. For more information on this benefit, contact the Boston Regional Benefit Office at 1- 800-827-1000.
- Other income qualifying programs – Some ALRs provide reduced rates for low- or moderate-income residents offered through the local housing authority.
Not all ALRs accept GAFC or SSI-G as payment. Potential residents should inquire about GAFC and SSI-G funding prior to signing a Residency Agreement, also commonly referred to as lease agreement, with the ALR. If an ALR has a subsidy program available, it should be noted in the Disclosure of Rights and Services, which is a required document that must be provided to all prospective residents prior to signing a Residency Agreement. Knowing in advance if a subsidy program is available and the qualification required to participate can help residents and families with limited financial resources plan accordingly.
It’s important to note that the monthly fees charged and agreed upon when moving into an ALR are not fixed. A change to the care needs of a resident can increase at any time with a limited required notice from the ALR. The costs of rent and services provided are determined by each ALR and agreed upon by the resident when signing a Residency Agreement.
Contact
If you have any questions about ALRs, please email ALRhelp@mass.gov and a member of the team will get in contact with you.