Assisted Living in Louisville, KY

Assisted Living Costs in Louisville

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, seniors in Louisville pay 15 percent less for assisted living services than the national average. Although local rates are very close to the state’s median, prices vary widely between Kentucky’s major metropolitan areas.

At $3,498 per month, assisted living services in Louisville are almost twice as expensive when compared to Owensboro and 24 percent more expensive than Elizabethtown. On the other hand, the local cost is about 15 percent lower than Lexington where residents pay $4,050 a month for the same services.

Cost of Assisted Living Comparison Chart

• Louisville: $3,498
• National average: $4,000
• State average: $3,520
• Lexington: $4,050
• Elizabethtown: $2,800
• Bowling Green: $3,430
• Owensboro: $1,780

Care Cost Comparison

Geographic factors, such as higher housing and transportation costs in major cities, affect the average price of senior care. However, the level of assistance that seniors require and where they choose to receive these services also determine expenditures.

Daytime health care programs are typically the most affordable option, but they may not address all of the person’s daily needs. Seniors who would like assistance with cleaning, meals and errands or activities of daily living may benefit from a homemaker service or home health aide. Although there are slight differences between these paraprofessionals, the cost of full-time care is generally comparable to an assisted living facility. Additionally, this option has the advantage of allowing seniors to age in place.

For elderly or disabled adults with considerable medical needs, skilled nursing facilities are typically the most suitable option. Compared to assisted living, nursing care is approximately twice as expensive. Due to the high cost, many individuals choose to receive these services at home. In some cases, Medicaid waivers offered by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services cover the expense.

Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $3,498
• Homemaker services: $4,290
• Home health aide: $4,385
• Adult day health: $1,430
• Nursing home care (semiprivate Room): $7,087

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Louisville

Medicaid in Kentucky

In Louisville, Medicaid pays for medical care, skilled nursing facilities and health-related expenses. This state and federal program is available to low-income residents, including adults, children and the elderly and disabled. Eligibility is based on strict financial requirements. For long-term care and waiver services, monthly income levels are restricted to $2,313 per month for individuals or $4,626 per month for couples. For other benefits, a lower monthly limit of $760 applies. Additionally, applicants must not have more than $2,000 in countable cash resources per person.

Although Kentucky’s Medicaid program pays for skilled nursing services, it does not cover the cost of assisted living because these facilities provide personal assistance rather than medical care. One exception is health services offered by outside agencies. As an alternative, adults who require nursing facility care but prefer to remain at home can use one of Kentucky’s 1915(c) waivers to access personal assistance. These programs are also open to individuals who are living in personal care facilities but would like to return to the community. To qualify, individuals must:

• Be elderly or living with a disability
• Require nursing facility care
• Be financially eligible for Medicaid

If you believe that you’re eligible for Medicaid based on your age, income or health status, you can apply online, in person or by calling the Department for Community Based Services at (855) 306-8959.

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Home and Community Based Waiver

The KAR 1:160 Home and Community Based Services Waiver is a valuable resource for Medicaid-eligible seniors who would prefer to live in their own home rather than moving into a skilled nursing facility. This waiver assists seniors with the cost of home health aides that are hired independently or employed by an agency. It also covers the cost of adult day health care, delivered meals, respite services for primary caregivers and certain home modifications. If you’d like more information about this waiver, contact the KIPDA Area Agency on Aging by calling (502) 266-6084.

Kentucky Homecare Program

Managed by the Department for Aging and Independent Living, Kentucky’s Homecare Program provides personal assistance, delivered meals and case management services to Kentuckians who are 60 or older and are unable to perform at least two activities of daily living. Because this is a non-Medicaid program, funds are allocated regionally. This is not an entitlement program, so applicants in the Louisville area may have to join a waiting list depending on current demand. You can learn more about this program or apply by calling the Department for Aging and Independent Living at (502) 564-6930.

Hart-Supported Living

This program is open to all Kentucky residents who are living with a disability as defined in the Americans With Disabilities Act. It provides funds to cover the cost of support, home modifications and related services that allow individuals who have a physical or mental disability to live at home and avoid being institutionalized. Hart-Supported Living promotes individual autonomy by giving beneficiaries the freedom to manage their own care. The KIPDA Area Agency on Aging can provide more information about this program or assist with the application process. Call (502) 266-6084 for details.

Family Caregiver Support Program

If you depend on relatives or friends for daily assistance, the National Family Caregiver Support Program and Kentucky Family Caregiver Program can provide in-home respite care to relieve your primary caregiver. It also offers counseling, support groups and supplemental in-home services. This program is open to individuals who care for anyone aged 60 or over as well as those who help adults who have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Call the KIPDA Area Agency on Aging at (502) 266-6084 to learn more about this program. If funds are unavailable, applicants may be added to a regional wait list.

Assisted Living Resources in Louisville

Area Agencies on Aging

The Kentuckiana Regional Planning & Development Agency is one of 15 Area Agencies on Aging in Kentucky. If you live in Jefferson County or neighboring areas, this AAA is your local source for Medicaid waivers, in-home services, transportation assistance and insurance counseling. It also serves as an Aging and Disability Resource Center for residents of greater Louisville.

KIPDA Social Service Division
11520 Commonwealth Drive, Louisville, KY 40299
(502) 266-5571

Social Security Administration

This agency is responsible for administering retirement and disability benefits as well as health insurance in conjunction with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Whether you’re working, disabled or retired, local Social Security offices in Louisville can assist you with inquiries, appeals and bureaucratic issues.

Social Security Administration
601 W. Broadway Room 101, Louisville, KY 40202
(800) 772-1213

Social Security Administration
10503 Timberwood Cir, Suite 50, Louisville, KY 40223
(800) 772-1213

Department of Veterans Affairs 

The Department of Veterans Affairs offers health care and many other benefits to military veterans and their relatives. If you need medical care or if you’re applying for benefits, these local divisions of the VA may be able to help.

Louisville VA Medical Center
800 Zorn Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 287-4000

VA Healthcare Center, Dupont (CBOC)
4010 Dupont Circle, Louisville, KY 40207
(502) 287-6986

Veterans Affairs Department
545 S. Third St, Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 595-4447

Louisville Regional Office
321 West Main St, Suite 390, Louisville, KY 40202
(800) 827-1000