5 Assisted Living Communities in Biloxi, Mississippi

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $3,525 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 5 Assisted Living Communities in Biloxi and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Biloxi, MS

• Assisted Living: $3,525
• Nursing Home Care: $7,087
• In-home Care: $3,241
• Adult Day Health Services: $867

Assisted living facilities in the Biloxi area charge an average of $3,525 per month, according to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2018. This is almost on par with the $3,493 state median but $425 below the national average of $4,000.

The rate seniors pay locally is comparable to the monthly average in Hattiesburg ($3,485), Mobile, Alabama, ($3,424) and New Orleans, Louisiana, where the cost is slightly higher at $3,610. The average price paid in Jackson is considerably more expensive at $4,123 per month.

Note: Data for senior care costs in Biloxi wasn’t available, so data for the nearby area Gulfport was used instead.

Assisted living and other senior care options in Biloxi span a wide cost range. These variations are largely due to the degree of care and whether meals and housing are provided. Adult day health services attended Monday through Friday in a group setting is the least costly option at $867 per month. On the other extreme, the 24-hour skilled care services provided in nursing homes start at $7,087 per month. At $3,535, assisted living facilities that provide room and board cost just half as much as nursing homes. The average rates for homemaker ($3,241) and home health aide ($3,337) services are similar to assisted living, but these options don’t cover daily living expenses. Seniors who receive care at home pay extra for food, utilities, upkeep and other household operating costs.

 

The Medicaid program that operates as a state and federal cooperative effort from coast to coast provides a vital safety net for low-income Americans who can’t afford health insurance. Each state administers its own customized program based on Federal guidelines. The Mississippi program is managed by the Division of Medicaid and serves one-quarter of the state’s population. 

Qualifying for Medicaid Long-Term Care Coverage

Blind and disabled adults and the elderly who meet the Mississippi Medicaid program’s eligibility requirements can receive coverage for physician and specialist care, inpatient, outpatient and emergency hospital services, prescription drugs and long-term care in a nursing home.

To qualify, applicants must be aged 65 or older — or blind or disabled if aged 64 or younger — and American citizens or legal immigrants. Biloxi residents who successfully apply for Supplemental Security Income benefits are automatically enrolled in Medicaid. All others who wish to apply must meet the program’s financial requirements that stipulate:

• No more than $2,313 in monthly income per person
• A maximum of $4,000 in assets per individual
• A total combined asset limit of $8,000 per couple if both spouses are applying

Mississippi Medicaid considers applicants’ income from all sources when determining eligibility. While most assets count toward the limit, several are disregarded, including:

• Personal belongings
• Whole life insurance policies valued up to $10,000
• Two vehicles
• Up to $6,000 in burial funds
• A primary home worth up to $585,000
• Household effects

If only one person in a married couple applies, the applicant is allowed the individual qualifying amounts of monthly income and assets. If the individual is over either limit, they may qualify for coverage once Medicaid-mandated spousal needs and resource allowances are deducted. These allowances let an applicant transfer up to $3,160.50 in monthly income and $126,420 in joint assets to the non-applicant to help prevent spousal impoverishment.

To learn more or obtain help with their application, Biloxi seniors can apply for Medicaid online or call the program’s Office of Eligibility at (800) 421-2408.

Mississippi Assisted Living Waiver

Nursing home care is the only long-term care entitlement under the Mississippi Medicaid program. However, the state does offer an alternative to institutional care through its Assisted Living waiver. This program covers the cost of care services in personal care homes and assisted living, community residential care and congregate housing facilities. Those who enroll have to pay for their own room and board, but the waiver covers case management and various supportive services, such as:

• Assistance with personal care 
• Recreational, social and therapeutic programs
• Medication supervision and administration
• Intermittent skilled nursing services
• Nonmedical transportation
• Attendant call systems

Seniors may qualify for the AL waiver program if they meet the regular Medicaid eligibility guidelines and are assessed as needing a nursing home level of care but are physically and cognitively capable of living in the community.

For more information about the Assisted Living waiver or to apply, Biloxi seniors can contact the Department of Rehabilitation Services at (800) 443-1000.

Assisted Living Bridge Loan

Seniors waiting for assets to sell or benefits to begin before moving to an assisted living community may consider taking out a bridge loan through Elderlife Financial. These loans are designed to cover move-in fees, rent and other related costs until long-term funding falls into place.

They’re structured as a maximum 12-month line of credit with interest-only payments due each month. There are no out-of-pocket, application or early repayment fees, and up to six family members can cosign the application to make approval faster and easier.

Biloxi seniors can complete a bridge loan application online or call Elderlife Financial Services at (888) 228-4500 to apply.

VA Aid and Attendance and Housebound Benefits

Elderly Biloxi veterans and their surviving spouses who have extra care costs may be eligible for a top up to their standard VA pensions. The VA offers two distinct benefit options to those not currently receiving a disability pension: the Aid and Attendance and Housebound programs.

To qualify, seniors must have an income of $22,577 or less and be honorably discharged with a minimum 90-day active service record, which includes at least one day during wartime. Each program also has specific requirements:

Those applying for the Housebound benefit must have a permanent disability that keeps them largely confined to their residences.

To qualify for A&A benefits, applicants must meet one of these conditions:

• Unable to perform basic daily living activities, such as bathing, dressing or eating without assistance

• Have a mental or physical impairment that necessitates living in a nursing home

• Confined to bed because of chronic illness or disability

• Have a disabling degree of vision loss that doesn’t improve with corrective lenses

Senior veterans in Biloxi who wish to learn more information or apply can contact the Harrison County Veterans Services office at (228) 435-8271.

Experienced service officers with the Harrison County Veterans Services department are available to help area veterans, their dependants and survivors learn about the VA compensation they’re entitled to and provide assistance with applications and appeals for pensions and benefits.

Comprehensive medical services are available at the Gulf Coast Veterans Medical Center, including primary and extended care, internal medicine, surgery, oncology and geriatric services.

Harrison County Veterans Services
730 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Biloxi, MS 39530
(228) 435-8271

Gulf Coast VA Medical Center
400 Veterans Ave., Biloxi, MS 39531
(228) 523-5000

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