Assisted Living in Cleveland, OH

Assisted Living Costs in Cleveland

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, Cleveland’s average monthly cost for assisted living is $600 less than the national average of $4,000 and $878 less than Ohio’s state average of $4,278. Cleveland is one of the least expensive cities in the state for assisted living; only Springfield, at $3,093 per month, is lower. Cleveland is substantially cheaper than the comparatively sized city of Cincinnati ($4,998) as well as the much larger city of Columbus ($4,170).

The Cost of Assisted Living in Surrounding Areas

Care Cost Comparison

The cost of senior care depends on the type of care needed, the location and the number of service hours required. In Cleveland, the cost of nursing home care in a semiprivate room is more than double the cost of assisted living. In-home care, such as home health aides and homemaker services, is also substantially more expensive than assisted living. The cost of in-home care does not include living expenses such as rent, food, utilities, or property taxes, while the cost of residential facilities usually does. Families need to factor in these costs when making decisions about a long-term care plan.

Senior Care Cost Comparison Chart

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Cleveland

Medicaid in Ohio

Ohio Medicaid is structured as a group of separately managed care programs that supply health care to specific groups including families, children, the disabled and the elderly. It provides services such as prescriptions, medical equipment, transportation, preventive care and assistance with daily living activities such as dressing, bathing and meal prep. It is available to low-income Ohio residents of any age. To be eligible, adults must:

• Be a U.S. citizen, legal alien or permanent resident
• Be a resident of the state of Ohio
• Have an annual household income under $16,146 for an individual or $21,892 for a couple

Visit the Get Coverage website or call the Medicaid Consumer Hotline at (800) 324-8680 for more information or to apply.

Assisted Living Waiver

This Medicaid waiver helps pay for certain types of services in participating assisted living facilities for seniors who need a nursing home level of care but prefer to receive this care in an assisted living facility. The types of services covered include skilled nursing care, light housekeeping and daily living activities like bathing, dressing, medication management and grocery shopping. The waiver only covers the cost of care services; participants are responsible for paying room and board costs themselves. It is not an entitlement, and not all assisted living facilities participate in the program, so there are limited spots available and facilities may have a waiting list.

To qualify, applicants must:

• Have a monthly income less than $2,313 for an individual ($4,626 for couples)
• Have no more than $2,000 in assets for an individual or $3,000 per couple (a vehicle and a primary home are exempt)

Visit the Ohio Medicaid website or download this PDF offered by the Ohio Department of Aging for more information on Ohio’s Assisted Living Waiver Program. Contact the Ohio Area Agency on Aging or call (866) 243-5678 to apply.

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Residential State Supplementation

The Residential State Supplementation program run by the state of Ohio provides financial assistance to residents with few resources. Medicaid enrollees with very low incomes who reside in residential and group homes such as assisted living establishments, nursing homes and group care homes like adult foster care are eligible for the supplement. It pays the room and board portion of fees at residential facilities, which residents are usually responsible for paying themselves as Medicaid only covers the cost of care services. Enrolled seniors can receive a cash supplement up to $606 for an individual or $1,359 per couple.

To qualify, participants must:

• Be 60 years of age or older
• Require a level of care that cannot be provided in their homes
• Be enrolled in regular Medicaid rather than a waiver program
• Have a monthly income no greater than $1,300
• Have no more than $2,000 in countable assets

To apply for RSS, call (614) 752-9316 or visit the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services website for more information.

PACE

Cleveland’s Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, known as PACE, provides assistance such as health care, physical therapy, social services, transportation, home-delivered meals and skilled nursing care outside of nursing homes. Seniors who are enrolled in a PACE program can receive this assistance at home or in a residential care facility. They and their families work with an interdisciplinary team to develop a personalized plan of care. To be eligible, participants must be:

• 55 years of age or older
• Residents of Cuyahoga County
• Eligible for a nursing home level of care
• Able to live safely in the community

Participants who are eligible for Medicaid and Medicare may receive PACE services at no cost. Residents who make over a certain income threshold or are not eligible for Medicaid will pay a monthly premium.

Cleveland’s McGregor PACE program offers an online brochure for more information on the services it offers. To enroll, contact PACE at (216) 791-3580 or email [email protected].

Veterans Aid and Attendance Program

The U.S. Veterans Affairs Administration runs a supplemental cash program called Aid and Attendance (A&A) that increases a veteran’s monthly pension if they meet certain conditions. To qualify, veterans must meet one of the following conditions:

• They live in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity
• They are bedridden
• Their visual acuity is limited to 5/200 or less in both eyes, even when using corrective lenses, or concentric contraction of the visual field is 5 degrees or less
• They require assistance from another person to perform daily living activities such as dressing, adjusting prosthetic devices, attending to the wants of nature, or protecting themselves from the hazards of their daily environment

Veterans Affairs requires applicants to submit documentation of at least 90 days of active, wartime service and an honorable discharge. The financial requirements for eligibility are complicated, so applicants are encouraged to contact their local VA benefits office for assistance in applying to the program or call (800) 827-1000 for more information.

Assisted Living Resources in Cleveland

City of Cleveland Department of Aging

Cleveland’s Department of Aging has a robust system of programs to assist elderly residents with maintaining active, social lives in their communities. These programs can help find long-term care housing, get assistance with home repairs, arrange transportation and social outings, apply for benefits, take exercise and activity classes and more. Visit the Department of Aging’s website for more information on these programs.

City of Cleveland Department of Aging
75 Erieview Plaza, 2nd floor, Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 664-2833

Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging

The Rose Centers for Aging Well run 7 senior centers in Cleveland that offer home-delivered meals, transportation assistance, financial counseling, service coordination and social activities to area seniors. Location and contact information for these senior centers can be found on their website. They also provide a free monthly newsletter which lists the activities and programs they offer. Visit their web page to subscribe.

Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging
11890 Fairhill Rd, Cleveland, OH 44120
(216) 791-8000

Veterans Affairs

Cleveland’s VA system offers services such as outpatient care, referrals, and benefits information to elderly veterans. To apply for benefits, contact the VA’s Cleveland Regional Office at (800) 827-1000.

Cleveland VA Medical Center
10701 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106
(877) 838-8262

Cleveland Vet Center
5310 1/2 Warrensville Center Rd, Maple Heights, OH 44137
(216) 707-7901