Assisted Living in Hialeah, FL

Assisted Living Costs in Hialeah

The 2018 Genworth Cost of Care study shows Hialeah’s monthly assisted living costs are lower than both the state ($3,500) and national ($4,000) averages. Prices for assisted living are similar in nearby areas, such as Sebastian ($3,524) and Port St. Lucie ($3,524), while prices on the Gulf Coast in Naples ($5,448) are over $2,000 higher. 

When compared to northern urban areas in the state, including Jacksonville ($4,425) and Tallahassee ($4,339), assisted living costs in Hialeah are relatively low, and costs here are on par with the prices in Tampa ($3,250) and Ocala ($3,275). 

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Hialeah, so data for the closest city, Miami, was used. 

Cost of Assisted Living Comparison Chart

• Hialeah/Miami: $3,350
• National average: $4,000
• State average: $3,500
• Port St. Lucie: $3,620
• Sebastian: $3,524
• Palm Bay area: $3,750
• Jacksonville: $4,425
• Cape Coral: $4,000
• Tampa: $3,250

Care Cost Comparison

The costs for senior care services vary per the types of care provided, the number of monthly service hours needed and the staff to senior ratio. The monthly price for assisted living in Hialeah ($3,350) is similar to homemaker and home health aide fees, while nursing home care in a semiprivate room costs more than double all other senior care services. 

In addition to the different services and supports offered with each senior care option, seniors should also consider additional costs involved with in-home services. Unlike residential care, such as assisted living where room and board is included, seniors who opt to stay in their own homes continue paying the ongoing household expenses, including home maintenance, property taxes and HOA fees. 

Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $3,350
• Homemaker services: $3,337
• Home health aide: $3,432
• Adult day health: $1,408
• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $8,699

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Hialeah

Medicaid in Florida

Established by the federal government in 1965 as a way to extend health coverage to low-income Americans of all ages, Medicaid provides basic health care to citizens who cannot afford health insurance. The program is jointly funded by the federal and state governments, and each state administers their own Medicaid program. 

In Florida, approximately 88 percent of adults aged 65 and older and persons with disabilities are eligible for free Medicaid coverage. Although the elderly and disabled make up only 29 percent of all Medicaid enrollees in Florida, about 64 percent of Medicaid expenditures in the state go to support seniors and the disabled. 

To qualify for free Medicaid coverage in Florida, which is an income cap state (no spend-down is allowed), Florida residents who are 65 years of age and older must meet the following criteria: 

• A monthly income of $2,313 or less when applying as an individual
• A monthly income of $4,626 or less when applying with a spouse
• Own less than $2,000 in countable assets (as an individual)
• Own less than $3,000 in countable assets (for a couple)

Under Medicaid rules, income received from any source, including wages, Social Security payments and pensions, is considered. Countable assets include cash, bank balances and all real estate except for the applicant’s principal residence, as long as that home is valued at $585,000 or less. 

Also exempt from countable assets are one vehicle (per individual or couple) and all personal effects, such as clothing, household furniture and an irrevocable burial trust. 

Seniors who require the type of care that’s normally provided in a nursing home and qualify for free Medicaid coverage are screened through the Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services (CARES) program. 

The CARES program is federally-mandated for all Medicaid-funded nursing home applicants and those seeking assistance through the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care, Long-Term Care Program. Seniors are evaluated by a registered nurse or physician who determines the least invasive care options required, which may include the provision of additional care services within an assisted living setting. 

Through the SMMC-LTC program, seniors who reside in an assisted living facility may be prescribed one or more of the following services: 

• Medication administration and management
• Personal or attendant care
• Case management
• Skilled and intermittent nursing
• Hospice care
• A personal emergency response system
• Medical equipment and medical supplies
• Home delivered meals

To learn more about Florida Medicaid and the SMMC-LTC program, call the statewide Florida Elder Hotline at (877) 711-3662 or the Miami-Dade Elder Helpline at (305) 670-4357 or apply for Medicaid online. 

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Optional State Supplementation

Seniors in Florida who are 65 and older, eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits or blind or disabled and reside in an assisted living facility may qualify for additional funds towards the room-and-board portion of their monthly assisted living costs through the Optional State Supplementation (OSS) program. 

The OSS provides up to $78.40 of increased funding for single seniors, and a maximum of $156.80 for couples, who meet the program requirements. To learn more about the Florida OSS program contact ACCESS Florida at (866) 762-2237. 

Veterans Aid and Attendance and Housebound Benefits

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers two pension top up programs for veterans who require daily personal assistance due to aging or a permanent disability. 

Known as the Aid and Attendance and Housebound allowances, these programs are available to veterans and survivors who receive a VA pension.

Note: veterans who were previously excluded from VA pension eligibility because their income was too high may now qualify for a VA pension under the increased rates of this program. 

For the Aid and Attendance program, at least one of the following conditions must be met: 

• Have corrected vision tested at 5/200 or worse in both eyes
• Be largely bedridden as a result of a disability
• Live in nursing home due to physical and/or mental impairment
• Need daily assistance from another person to perform daily activities, such as dressing, bathing, eating or managing a prosthesis 
• Suffer from concentric contraction of the visual field to five or fewer degrees

For the Housebound Allowance, veterans must have a VA disability rating of 100 percent and also be restricted to their home as a result of their impairment. 

Benefits from these programs cannot be combined, and qualifying disabilities don’t need to be related to military service. 

For more information and application assistance, contact the Miami-Dade Veteran Services Program, Hialeah Community Resource Center at (305) 883-6870. 

Assisted Living Resources in Hialeah

Senior Centers in Hialeah

The City of Hialeah operates a number of adult centers where seniors aged 50 and older can participate in daily low-cost meals, go on escorted day trips to local attractions and make new friends. 

Wilde Community Center
1701 West 53rd Terrace, Hialeah, FL 33012
(305) 821-8054

Villa Aida Adult Center
20 West 6th Street, Hialeah, FL 33010
(305) 883-8020

Community Assistance Agencies

Seniors in Hialeah can access information about local community services and low-cost assistance by contacting the Miami-Dade County Community Action and Human Services Department. It provides specialized senior services including elderly care planning, referrals to specialized senior centers and meals for the elderly. 

Community Action and Human Services – Overtown Transit Village North
701 NW 1st Court, Miami, FL 33136
(786) 469-4600

Veteran Centers and Clinics

Veterans living in Hialeah can contact the Miami-Dade County CAHSD Veteran Services Program for help with VA pensions and benefits, including survivor benefits. VA health care services are provided through the Miami VA Healthcare System, which offers inpatient and outpatient medical care. There are also a number of active veteran service clubs nearby where veterans can participate in weekly meals, social groups and services to honor veterans. 

Miami-Dade County CAHSD Veteran Services Program
300 East First Avenue, Hialeah, FL 33010
(305) 883-6970

Miami VA Healthcare System
1201 N.W. 16th Street, Miami, FL 33125
(305) 575-7000