Assisted Living in Carson City, NV

Assisted Living Costs in Carson City

Carson City’s assisted living care is the most expensive in Nevada, according to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study. At $4,500 per month, Carson City is $1,000 more expensive than the Nevada average. It’s also $500 more than the national average of $4,000.

Nevada’s other major cities are much more affordable than Carson City. In nearby Reno, seniors pay an average of $4,000 per month, which is on par with the national average. Las Vegas is significantly more affordable at just $3,168 per month.

The Cost of Assisted Living in Surrounding Areas

Care Cost Comparison

Seniors who are shopping for senior care will notice that prices vary widely between care types. At $4,500 per month, assisted living is about half the price of a semiprivate room in a nursing home ($9,064).

Homemaker services, at $4,767 per month, are slightly more expensive than assisted living. Home health aides ($5,339) are over $800 more per month than assisted living. With both of these in-home options, seniors are still responsible for groceries, utilities and other monthly living expenses. These types of costs are often included in assisted living facility fees.

Senior Care Cost Comparison Chart

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Carson City

Medicaid in Nevada

Medicaid is a health insurance program that helps low-income Americans get the health care they need. Each state operates its own Medicaid program, though they receive funding from the federal government. Nearly 600,000 people are enrolled in Nevada Medicaid, including children, disabled adults, seniors and families with dependent children.

Nevada Medicaid provides coverage for a wide variety of health care benefits, including doctor visits, emergency room services, home health care, personal care services and hearing services. Copayments may be required for some services.

Nevada residents who are U.S. nationals, U.S. citizens, permanent residents or legal aliens may qualify for Medicaid coverage if they meet the program’s income requirements. For a one-person household, the limit is $16,612 annually; for a two-person household, it’s $22,491. SSI recipients are automatically eligible as long as they’re receiving SSI as a Nevada resident.

Nevadans can apply for Medicaid coverage by completing an online Access Nevada application. Residents who prefer to apply in person can visit the Carson City Department of Health and Human Services Office. A paper application is also available, and it can be mailed to DWSS, P.O. Box 15400, Las Vegas, NV 89114.

To learn more about Medicaid, call the Carson City DHHS at (775) 684-0800.

Home and Community-Based Waiver Program

Nevada Medicaid may pay for assisted living services through its Home and Community-Based waiver program. Seniors who live in licensed residential facilities can receive a number of augmented personal care services, including homemaker services, chore services, personal care services, companion services and medication oversight.

This program is available to seniors who may be at risk of moving into a nursing home if they don’t receive HCBW services. They must also meet the program’s financial requirements. Seniors must have monthly income that’s less than three times the current SSI federal benefit amount, and their resources can be no more than $2,000.

Seniors who are interested in this waiver should contact the Carson City Aging and Disability Services Office at (775) 687-4210. There may be a waiting list to receive services.

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Optional State Supplementation

Supplemental Security Income is a federal program that provides a monthly payment of up to $771 to seniors with very low incomes and few resources. Some states, including Nevada, offer additional payments to supplement the federal SSI. The amount of this extra payment, called Optional State Supplementation, varies depending on a senior’s living situation.

In Nevada, seniors receive SSI and OSS in a single combined payment at the beginning of the month. Seniors who live in domiciliary care (assisted living) may receive a maximum amount of $1,162. A senior couple in assisted living can receive up to $2,038 monthly.

To apply for OSS, visit a local Social Security Administration office. The most convenient location for Carson City residents is located at 1170 Harvard Way in Reno.

For more information, call (800) 772-1213 to talk to a Social Security Administration representative.

Elderlife Bridge Loan

For seniors who need short-term help paying for assisted living care, a bridge loan from Elderlife Financial may be a good option. These loans work like a line of credit, and seniors can choose to withdraw money as they need it. For convenience and security, the funds are sent directly to the senior living community.

Once seniors secure a long-term funding source, they can repay the loan in full. Some possible long-term funding sources include:

• Liquidation of assets, such as stocks and bonds
• The sale of a home
• Veterans Affairs pensions
• Long-term care insurance policies

To apply for a bridge loan, call Elderlife Financial at (888) 228-4500 or complete an online application. The company asks seniors for details about their planned long-term funding source, and it permits up to six cosigners.

Assisted Living Resources in Carson City

Senior Centers

The city’s senior center offers fun activities every day, including line dancing, yoga, bridge, table tennis and gem cutting. Seniors can also take advantage of the center’s many valuable services, such as blood pressure clinics, senior support groups and Medicare counseling. Affordable hot lunches are served every weekday.

Carson City Senior Center 
911 Beverly Dr., Carson, NV 89706
(775) 883-0703

Area Agency on Aging

The AAA offers a variety of services and programs that may be useful to seniors. It operates Aging and Disability Resource Centers that help seniors access community services. It also offers tax assistance, Medicare counseling and elder protective services.

Aging and Disability Services Division – Carson City Regional Office 
3416 Goni Rd., Ste. D-132, Carson City, NV 89706
(775) 687-4210

Veterans Affairs

While there are no VA locations in Carson City, there are several in nearby Reno. Eligible veterans can visit the city’s VA hospital or Vet Center for their health care needs. The regional benefits office helps veterans access the benefits they earned through their military service, such as VA pensions.

VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System 
975 Kirman Ave., Reno, NV 89502
(888) 838-6256

Reno Vet Center 
5580 Mill St., Ste. 600, Reno, NV 89502
(775) 323-1294

Reno Regional Benefit Office 
5460 Reno Corporate Dr., Reno, NV 89511
(800) 827-1000