Assisted Living in Fort Wayne, IN

Assisted Living Costs in Fort Wayne

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, Fort Wayne is one of the most affordable cities for assisted living in the state of Indiana. At $2,978 per month, it’s significantly less expensive than the state average of $4,385 and the national average of $4,000. In addition to Fort Wayne, the smaller Indiana cities of Kokomo ($3,360) and Michigan City ($3,675) also offer lower monthly costs for assisted living compared to state and national averages. The area around the capital city of Indianapolis is the most expensive, averaging $5,053 per month.

Cost of Assisted Living Comparison Chart

• Fort Wayne: $2,978
• National average: $4,000
• State average: $4,385
• Elkhart area: $4,043
• South Bend area: $4,625
• Muncie: $4,785
• Kokomo: $3,630
• Indianapolis area: $5,053
• Michigan City area: $3,675

Care Cost Comparison

The cost of senior care is greatly influenced by the type of care that’s required. In Fort Wayne, skilled nursing care is more than double the cost of assisted living per month. In-home care, whether homemaker services or home health aid services, is also more expensive than assisted living (about $1,200 to $1,800 more per month). It’s important to add up the other costs of continuing to live at home as well, including monthly mortgage or rent payments, maintenance services and unforeseen repairs. The cost of assisted living generally includes most of these expenses.

 Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $2,978
• Homemaker services: $4,195
• Home health aide: $4,767
• Adult day health: $1,517
• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $6,874

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Fort Wayne

Medicaid in Indiana

Indiana Medicaid provides a variety of benefits to low-income residents of all ages in Fort Wayne. This traditional Medicaid program covers services such as hospital care, prescription drugs, home health care and skilled nursing care. Financial support for assisted living may be available through Indiana’s Aged and Disabled Medicaid Waiver, which is listed below.

To qualify for Indiana Medicaid, seniors in Fort Wayne must have incomes under $1,041 per month for an individual or couple and a maximum of $2,000 (single) or $3,000 (couple) in assets. Counted assets may include bank account balances, cash, stocks and bonds, equity in a vehicle and property (other than your home). If your income or assets are above these requirements, there may be the option to pay a monthly patient liability premium.

To sign up for Medicaid, fill out the Indiana Application for Health Coverage online or call (800) 403-0864. To apply in person, visit your local Division of Family Resources office.

Indiana Aged and Disabled Waiver

Residents of Fort Wayne needing financial support for assisted living may be eligible for Medicaid’s Aged and Disabled waiver. The A&D waiver provides an alternative to nursing home admission and covers services in specific Medicaid-approved assisted living facilities. The A&D waiver is not an entitlement program, so waiting lists should be expected.

To qualify for assisted living services under the A&D waiver, residents of Fort Wayne must be willing to live in a Medicaid-approved assisted living facility, have a monthly income of $2,313 or less and countable assets of no more than $2,000. Participants must also be assessed by a nurse and found to need assistance with three or more activities of daily living, which is the level of care provided in a nursing home.

To learn more about the Aged and Disabled waiver, contact the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration at (800) 457-8283. 

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Fort Wayne seniors who can’t live alone but don’t require nursing home level care may qualify for financial assistance through the state’s Residential Care Assistance Program. RCAP funds can cover room and board, care coordination, food, laundry and other select services in contracted assisted living facilities.

To qualify for RCAP, Fort Wayne residents must be at least 65 years of age or blind or disabled and a current Medicaid recipient or participant in the federal Supplemental Security Income program. They must also be willing to move to an assisted living facility that has an approved RCAP contract with the Indiana Division of Aging. 

RCAP applications are available online, and they may be filled out by an applicant’s family, guardian or advocate. It’s also common for RCAP facilities to help applicants with the eligibility process.

For more information about the Indiana Residential Care Assistance Program, contact the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration at (800) 457-8283. 

Assisted Living Resources in Fort Wayne

Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana

AIHS is a nonprofit, community-based organization that fosters dignity and independence for older adults, people with disabilities and their caregivers. Services include advance care planning, safety programs, home support, a family caregiver center, and health, wellness and community engagement activities.

AIHS
2927 Lake Ave, Fort Wayne, IN 46805
(800) 552-3662

Senior Centers

Senior centers help older Fort Wayne adults maintain active lifestyles. Programs include health and wellness screenings, fitness clubs and classes, parties, guest speakers, trips and excursions and opportunities for intergenerational activities with local youth.

Parkview Senior Services
2200 Randallia, Fort Wayne, IN 46805
(260) 373-7289

Senior Circle – Lutheran Health Network
St. Joeseph Hospital, 700 Broadway, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
(260) 425-3087

Wellspring Interfaith Social Services
1316 Broadway, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
(260) 422-6618 x104

Veterans’ Affairs

The Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs helps Hoosier veterans and their spouses and dependents obtain every benefit due to them. A network of service officers will provide information and prepare paperwork at no cost. Eligible beneficiaries may also utilize the VA Northern Indiana Health Care System. The Fort Wayne Campus has been proudly serving Indiana veterans with primary care, surgical specialty care and mental health clinics since 1950.

 Indiana Department of Veterans’ Affairs
City County Building
1 East Main St., Room 106, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
(260) 449-7861

 VA Northern Indiana Health Care System, Fort Wayne Campus
2121 Lake Ave., Fort Wayne, IN 46805
(800) 360-8387