3 Assisted Living Communities in Southbury, Connecticut

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $3,435 a month. This guide is a starting point covering the cost of assisted living care in the city, as well as financing options to pay for it. You’ll find in-depth information on 3 Assisted Living Communities in Southbury and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Southbury, CT

• Assisted Living: $3,435
• Nursing Home Care: $12,136
• In-home Care: $4,290
• Adult Day Health Services: $2,004

Seniors in Southbury pay an average of $3,435 per month for assisted living care, according to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study. Compared to the statewide average ($4,700), this represents a savings of over $1,200 per month. Southbury’s assisted living facilities are also relatively inexpensive when compared to the national average ($4,000).

While Southbury’s care is affordable, it’s an outlier within the state of Connecticut. Other major metropolitan areas, including Norwich ($4,300) and Hartford ($5,250), are significantly more expensive. The state’s priciest assisted living facilities are found in Bridgeport, where seniors pay a whopping $5,950 per month (over $2,500 more than Southbury).

Note: Senior care cost data was not available for Southbury, so data for the closest major city, New Haven, was used.

The type of care that a senior needs greatly influences their monthly costs. Adult day health services, for seniors who need assistance during the day, costs $2,004. Assisted living is more expensive at $3,435 monthly but also includes room and board, 24-hour care and activities. Nursing home care, which provides round-the-clock skilled nursing care, costs nearly four times the price of assisted living at $12,136 per month for a semiprivate room. In Southbury, homemaker services ($4,290) and home health aides ($4,719) are substantially more expensive than assisted living. Seniors interested in these in-home services should also consider the many other costs associated with living at home, such as property taxes, maintenance and utilities.

 

Medicaid is a government-run program providing medical coverage to eligible low-income people. In Connecticut, over 842,000 people are enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program, HUSKY Health. Many groups of people are eligible for HUSKY Health coverage, including seniors, children, parents and people with disabilities.

HUSKY Health provides coverage for a number of health care benefits, including doctor visits, emergency care, hospital stays, home health care and laboratory tests. Through the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders, it may also pay for assisted living facilities and other long-term care options.

HUSKY C is the Medicaid program designed for people who are 65 years of age or older. Seniors may qualify if they meet the program’s income and asset requirements. For seniors in Western Connecticut, the monthly income limit is $523.38 ($696.41 for couples). The asset limit is $1,600 for a single senior and $2,400 for a couple.

To apply for HUSKY C, complete an online application. You can also drop off an application form at any Department of Social Services office. For more information about Medicaid in Connecticut, call HUSKY Health at (877) 284-8759.

Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders

The Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHPCE) helps seniors avoid or delay moving into a nursing home. Seniors who receive CHPCE services in assisted living facilities can receive between 3.75 and 25 hours of personal services per week depending on their individual needs. These personal services include assistance with dressing, bathing, walking and other daily activities. The program doesn’t pay for room and board.

Southbury residents who are 65 years of age or older may be eligible for the CHPCE program if they need hands-on assistance with activities of daily living and meet the program’s financial requirements. The program has two sets of financial eligibility criteria. Some participants receive services through a Medicaid waiver, and others receive state-funded services.

To be financially eligible for the Medicaid waiver, seniors must earn less than $2,313 per month. Individuals are limited to $1,600 in total assets. If both members of a couple are receiving services, their assets are capped at $3,200. When only one member needs services the asset cap is $26,884.

For state-funded CHPCE services, there’s no monthly income limit. However, there are still asset caps. Individual seniors can have up to $37,926 in assets, while couples can have $50,568.

Some program participants may be required to contribute up to 7% of the cost of their care, depending on their income and assets.

To apply, fill out a request for referral form and fax it to the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) at (860) 424-4963. Applications can also be mailed to:

Department of Social Services
Community Options, 9th floor
55 Farmington Ave., Hartford, CT 06105.

The program has a limited number of spaces, so there may be a waiting list. For more information on the CHPCE program, call the DSS at (860) 424-4904.

Optional State Supplementation

Southbury seniors who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) may be eligible to receive additional cash assistance from the state of Connecticut when they move into assisted living facilities. This assistance, known as optional state supplementation, can help seniors pay for the costs of room and board.

Seniors who live in Medicaid facilities can receive up to $39 per month from the state ($78 for couples). For seniors in other licensed residential facilities, the monthly payment is determined based on the facility’s cost.

The Connecticut DSS administers this program. Call (860) 424-4904 to learn more. For questions about the federal SSI benefit, call the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213.

Veterans Affairs Aid and Attendance Pension

Southbury veterans and their surviving spouses who qualify for a basic VA pension may be eligible for VA Aid and Attendance benefits. This increased pension may be paid to people who need another person to help them with bathing, dressing or other necessary daily activities. The benefits may also be paid to people who are bedridden, legally blind or living in a nursing home.

Seniors who qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits may receive as much as $22,577 ($26,766 with a dependant) per year. This is significantly more than the basic VA pension amount ($13,535), and the extra funding can be used to pay for room and board in assisted living.

To apply, visit the Hartford Regional Benefit Office or send a written request to the Philadelphia VA Regional Office. To learn more, call the Department of Veterans Affairs at (844) 698-2311.

AAAs are nonprofit agencies that provide a range of supports to seniors in their local area. Southbury seniors can visit the local AAA for Medicare and Medicaid counseling, legal services, transportation assistance and other services. Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging 
89 Progress Ln., Waterbury, CT 06705
(203) 757-5449

Many resources for veterans are conveniently located in the Southbury area. Seniors can stop by the benefit office for help with their VA pension and other benefits earned through their military service. Eligible veterans may receive medical treatment from West Haven’s VA hospital or Waterbury’s VA clinic.

Hartford Regional Benefit Office 
555 Willard Ave., Newington, CT 06111
(800) 827-1000

VA Connecticut HCS, West Haven Campus 
950 Campbell Ave., West Haven, CT 06516
(203) 932-5711

Waterbury VA Clinic 
95 Scovill St., Waterbury, CT 06706
(203) 465-5292

Senior Homes has an extensive directory of senior living options, with care and living providers across the United States.