Assisted Living in Salem, OR

Assisted Living Costs in Salem

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, monthly assisted living costs in Salem are slightly higher than the national average of $4,000 and lower than the state average of $4,593. Assisted living costs about $500 more in nearby Portland ($4,825) and Corvalis ($4,882), and it’s $150 less in Albany ($4,210). 

Cost of Assisted Living Comparison Chart

• Salem: $4,360
• National average: $4,000
• State average: $4,593
• Bend: $4,553
• Eugene: $4,025
• Grants Pass: $5,390
• Medford: $4,624
• Portland: $4,825
• Salem: $4,360

Care Cost Comparison

Senior care is priced according to the type of care, location, hours of service and whether or not room and board are included. In Salem, the cost of nursing home care in a semiprivate room is more than double the cost of assisted living, and it’s slightly less than twice the cost of home care. When compared with assisted living, home health and homemaker services cost about $800 more per month. It’s important to consider that assisted living costs include housing and meals, while seniors who remain in their home need to budget for both the cost of home health care and daily living expenses, such as rent, utilities, food and home maintenance. 

Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $4,360
• Homemaker services: $5,129
• Home health aide: $5,148
• Adult day health: $975
• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $9,399

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Salem

Medicaid in Oregon

Oregon residents aged 65 and older may qualify for Medicaid, known as the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). Administered by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), the Oregon Health Plan is open to applicants who meet specific eligibility requirements that include permanent residency in Oregon, proof of citizenship or alien status and possession of a valid Social Security number. 

Seniors who have already been deemed eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are automatically qualified for coverage under the OHP. As an income cap state, seniors who apply for Oregon Medicaid Long-Term Care benefits must have a monthly income no greater than $2,313 (single/individual) or $4,626 combined with a spouse from all sources including pensions, wages, stock dividends, alimony and life insurance with a face value higher than $1,500.

Applicants must also meet asset limits, which are $2,000 for an individual and $4,000 for a married couple and includes cash, bonds and all real estate other than the primary place of residence valued at less than $585,000. Personal belongings, household items and one vehicle are also exempt, 

If only one married spouse requires Medicaid Long-Term Care coverage, the non-applicant spouse may be able to retain up to $126,420 in joint assets under the Oregon Supplemental Income Program – Medical. This program is designed to protect the spouse who doesn’t require long-term care, known as the community spouse, from becoming impoverished if their spouse needs long-term services in a nursing home or assisted living facility. 

To learn more about the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid), visit the OHP website, or call OHP customer service at (800) 699-9075. 

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Income Cap Trust

Seniors who are over the Medicaid (OHP) income limit but still require financial assistance to pay for assisted living may want to consider setting up an Income Cap Trust, or ICT.

Also known as a Miller Trust, an ICT provides seniors with a way to meet the income limits by depositing the income that exceeds the OHP into an irrevocable trust which assigns legal control of the money to a named trustee.

Once established, an ICT cannot be modified or canceled, and the monies in the trust can only be used for costs that are preapproved by the State in accordance with the Oregon Administrative Rule regarding income cap trusts. These expenses may include a reasonable personal needs, spousal and family allowance as well as an irrevocable burial plan valued at $5,000 or less. 

It’s important to note that when the Medicaid recipient dies, any funds remaining in the ICT must be paid directly to the State of Oregon. For more information about Income Cap Trusts, consult with an elder law attorney. 

For more information concerning the ICT program, please contact your local Oregon Department of Human Services, or call (503) 945-5811.

Veterans Aid and Attendance and Housebound Pension Supplement

Honorably-discharged veterans and their surviving spouses who receive a VA pension may be eligible for a monthly pension top up to assist with living expenses and care costs. Veterans with an income that exceeds the eligibility limits for a basic pension may be eligible for a pension under the increased rates provided by the Aid and Attendance and Housebound Program. 

To qualify for the Aid and Attendance (A&A) benefit, Veterans or their surviving spouse must meet one of the following criteria: 

• Require assistance from a caregiver daily to perform functions related to personal care, nutrition, dressing, toileting and/or fitting a prosthetic device
• Have corrected vision tested at 5/200 or worse in both eyes
• Currently reside in a nursing home as a result of physical and/or mental impairment
• Be bedridden due to a disability

The Housebound benefit is available for applicants who are substantially confined to their place of residence as a result of a permanent disability. 

Note that applicants may qualify for either Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits, and these benefits cannot be combined. 

To apply for the Veterans Aid and Attendance and Housebound program, contact the Veterans Benefits Administration at (844) 698-2311.  

Assisted Living Resources in Salem

Senior Centers in Salem

Seniors living in Salem have access to a number of senior centers that provide a wide range of social, educational and preventative health services for older adults. These centers offer library homebound services, weekly exercise classes and game clubs and a place to connect with peers. 

South Salem Senior Center
6450 Fairway Ave. SE, Salem, OR 97306
(503) 588-0748

City of Salem Center 50+
2615 Portland Rd. NE, Salem, OR 97301
(503) 588-6303

Veteran Centers and Clinics

Salem is home to numerous resources for veterans, including medical services, information about benefits, programs and health care. There is also an active Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Salem, providing veterans and their spouses opportunities to socialize with fellow veterans. 

VA Portland Health Care System – Salem CBOC
1750 McGilchrist Street Southeast, Suite 130, Salem, OR 97302-1691
(503) 721-1499

Salem Vet Center
2645 Portland Road NE, Suite 250, Salem, OR 97301
(503) 362-9911

VRW Marion Post 661
630 Hood Street NE, Salem, OR 97301
(503) 364-7997