Assisted Living in Dublin, OH

Assisted Living Costs in Dublin

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, the average monthly cost of  $4,170 for assisted living in Dublin is comparable to the state ($4,278) and slightly higher than the national ($4,000) averages.

The price of assisted living in Dublin is lower than some other major cities in Ohio, such as Cincinnati ($4,998) and Dayton ($5,300), and higher than Youngstown ($3,600), Cleveland ($3,400) and Canton ($3,798). Generally speaking, assisted living costs are higher in cities that have higher real estate values. 

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Dublin, so the writer used data for the closest city, Columbus.

Cost of Assisted Living Comparison Chart

• Dublin: $4,170
• National average: $4,000
• State average: $4,278
• Cincinnati: $4,998
• Toledo: $4,300
• Cleveland: $3,400
• Youngstown: $3,600
• Mansfield: $4,530
• Dayton: $5,300

Care Cost Comparison

Nursing home costs in Dublin are close to double the price of assisted living because nursing homes provide skilled nursing, one-on-one care and have a much higher senior-to-staff ratio than assisted living facilities do. 

In-home senior care services in Dublin cost about the same as assisted living, but unlike residential care services for seniors, the cost of hiring a home health aide or homemaker does not include the extra expenses that come with maintaining a home.

Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $4,170
• Homemaker services: $4,195
• Home health aide: $4,195
• Adult day health: $1,560
• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $7,330

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Dublin

Medicaid in Ohio

Established by the federal government under President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965, Medicaid is a nationwide federal-state program that gives low-income children, families and adults of all ages access to basic health coverage.

An estimated 74 million Americans rely on Medicaid, including nearly three million in Ohio where one in five residents receive Medicaid benefits. 

To qualify for free Medicaid coverage in Ohio, seniors may earn no more than the Special Income Level, which is set at three times the current Social Security Federal Payment Standard. As of 2019, the SSI payment increased to $771 a month, resulting in a $2,313 monthly income limit for singles, and $4,626 limit for couples to be eligible for Medicaid.

Countable asset limits of $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple also apply. Applicants can own a home that they live in valued up to $585,000, one vehicle and an irrevocable burial trust without incurring any penalty from Medicaid. 

MyCare Ohio

Residents of Dublin who are enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare must participate in the MyCare Ohio Plan, since the city of Dublin is located in Franklin, Delaware and Union, three counties where the MCOP is available. 

The MCOP is designed to simplify health care for eligible seniors by providing a single point of contact for both Medicaid and Medicare benefits. There are currently two Managed Care Organizations providing service through the MCOP under the overall administration of the Ohio Department of Medicaid, and eligible seniors may qualify for non-skilled medical services to help them remain in an assisted living facility rather than be placed in a nursing home. 

Ohio Assisted Living Medicaid Waiver Program

Medicaid-eligible seniors who require daily assistance from another person to perform activities of daily living, such as grooming, toileting, eating or dressing, may qualify for the Ohio Assisted Living Medicaid Waiver Program. This program provides seniors with enhanced personal support services within an assisted living facility that is licensed by the Ohio Department of Health and certified as as Assisted Living Provider by the Ohio Department of Aging. 

The Ohio ALW program covers the cost of care services that are not normally included with the room and board portion of assisted living fees. Depending on the needs of each senior, enhanced assisted living services may include: 

• Housekeeping, including laundry and maintenance
• Provision of three meals daily
• Social and recreational programming
• Personal care 
• Skilled nursing
• Transportation

Eligible seniors currently living in a nursing facility who qualify for the ALW may also have access to community transition services to help seniors obtain the necessary furnishings and items in order to reside in an assisted living facility.

Qualified Income Trust 

Ohio seniors who earn more than the $2,313 a month and require placement in an assisted living facility may need a Qualified Income Trust (QIT) in order to be eligible for Medicaid. Also known as a Miller Trust, a QIT is a legal agreement that waives the current income eligibility limit for Medicaid institutional and HCBS waiver services when the Medicaid applicant agrees to divert all excess income into a non-revocable trust, naming the state of Ohio as the sole beneficiary.

Money in the QIT may be used to pay for incurred medical expenses, trust maintenance fees and a modest maintenance needs allowance for the senior. Upon death, Medicaid receives all funds in the QIT up to the total cost of the care that was provided to the senior through Medicaid. 

For more information on Ohio Medicaid services and the Assisted Living Medicaid Waiver Program, contact the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline at (800) 324-8680 or the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging at (614) 645-7250. 

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Assisted Living Bridge Loans

Seniors who need access to money for their move into an assisted living facility may qualify for an assisted living bridge loan. These loans are provided through Elderlife Financial Services and can be a good option for seniors who are either selling their home or waiting for benefit approval. 

The loan is available in terms up to 12 months and is funded as a line of credit, allowing seniors to access the funds they need on-demand. 

To learn more about Elderlife Bridge Loans. contact Elderlife Financial Lending, LLC at (888) 228-4500. 

Optional State Supplementation 

Adults aged 65 and older who meet the Medicaid income and asset limits and are also unable to live independently due to physical and/or mental impairment, may qualify for a cash-based benefit through the Optional State Supplementation program. 

This program uses state funds to supplement Social Security Income payments, which help seniors pay for the room and board portion of assisted living costs. Seniors in Ohio who reside in assisted living are eligible for a maximum combined state and federal SSI/OSS payment of $1,180 per month for a individual, and $2,170 per month per couple. 

For more information contact the Worthington Social Security office at (866) 789-0957. 

Assisted Living Resources in Dublin

Senior Centers in Dublin

As a small city, Dublin does not have a dedicated senior center. However, there are a number of senior-specific programs, activities and services offered at the Dublin Community Recreation Center. Seniors can participate in monthly luncheons, take part in senior yoga classes and join the weekly bridge, euchre and bingo games. 

Dublin Community Senior Citizens 
5600 Post Road, Dublin, OH 43017
(614) 410-4550

Community Aid Agencies

The Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging helps seniors who need assistance navigating the Medicaid system, want information on long-term care options and are looking for low-cost legal services geared towards older adults. 

Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging
3772 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43207
(800) 589-7277

Resources for Veterans

Veterans living in Dublin can contact their respective county veterans service office or the Columbus Vet Center for information about VA benefits, including the Aid and Attendance Benefit and Housebound Allowance. For VA health care services, contact the Chalmers P. Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center. 

Union County Veterans Service Commission and Office
835 East 5h Street, Suite B, Marysville, OH 43040
(937) 642-7956

Franklin County Veterans Service Commission – Memorial Hall
280 East Broad Street, Room 100, Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 525-2500

Chalmers P. Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center
420 North James Road, Columbus, OH 43219
(614) 257-5200

Columbus Vet Center
30 Spruce Street, Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 257-5550