35 Assisted Living Communities in Delaware County, Pennsylvania

The average cost of assisted living in the county is $5,318 a month. This guide is a starting point covering the cost of assisted living care in the county, as well as financing options to pay for it. You’ll find in-depth information on 35 Assisted Living Communities in Delaware County and several in surrounding areas.

• Assisted living: $5,318
• Nursing home semiprivate room: $10,372
• In-home care: $4,576
• Adult day health services: $1,668

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, the average monthly cost for assisted living in Delaware County ($5,318) exceeds the state ($3,750) and national ($4,000) costs by more than $1,000. In Pennsylvania, assisted living costs tend to be less expensive outside the Philadelphia metro area, such as in Gettysburg ($3,100), Johnstown ($3,036) and Altoona ($3,765).  Eerie ($4,588), Harrisburg ($4,418) and the Chambersburg area ($4,550) have median costs for Pennsylvania.

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Delaware County, so data for the closest city, Philadelphia, was used.

Seniors who require long-term care have two primary options: long-term care facilities and in-home care. The associated care costs are influenced by many factors, including the extent of care needed. In Delaware County, nursing home care is the most expensive option, with the average monthly cost of a semiprivate room ($10,372) nearly double the cost of a private room in an assisted living facility ($5,318). In-home care treatments, such as homemaker services ($4,576) and home health aides ($4,576), are less expensive than assisted living. They require additional budgetary considerations, however, as seniors who receive in-home care must pay for these services on top of their standard monthly home expenses. Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $5,318

• Homemaker services: $4,576

• Home health aide: $4,576

• Adult day health: $1,668

• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $10,372

In Pennsylvania, eligible seniors can receive affordable health care services via Medicaid, known as Medical Assistance (MA). This program provides recipients with standard benefits, including checkups, immunizations, prescription drugs, emergency room care and mental health treatment.

The Medical Assistance program has specific eligibility guidelines that seniors must fulfill. To receive coverage, they must be a:
 

• Resident of Pennsylvania
• U.S. citizen, lawfully admitted alien or refugee

 

Pennsylvania also has specific income requirements. Most seniors will fall under the program’s Non-Money Payment (NMP) Medical Assistance category. Designed for residents who are aged, blind or disabled, this category is dependent on Supplemental Security Income (SSI). To meet the financial requirements, seniors cannot have income that exceeds:

 

 

 

• $2,000 (individual)
• $3,000 (two people)

 

To apply to Medical Assistance, Delaware County seniors can use the state’s online tool for health and human service programs, Compass. Once they’ve turned in their application, they should receive a response in the mail within 30 days.

Everyone enrolled in the Medical Assistance program receives a managed care provider. Seniors are automatically enrolled in Community HealthChoices (CHC), a managed care program designed to serve the needs of aging adults. Delaware County seniors can choose a plan from the health care providers serving Southeast Pennsylvania, which include:

 

 

 

 

• Aetna Better Health
• Health Partners of Philadelphia Inc.
• Keystone First Health Plan
• United Healthcare Community Plan

 

Pennsylvania is implementing the CHC program over several years. Seniors in Southeast territories will receive all of their CHC benefits during Phase II of the transition, which was completed January 2019. CHC gives seniors access to the services that used to be conferred via the Office of Long-Term Living waivers. CHC cannot be used to cover the costs of assisted living, but seniors can use the available long-term benefits while living in assisted living facilities. 

Services include:

 

 

 

 

• Benefits counseling
• Community transition 
• Nonmedical transportation
• Specialized medical equipment and supplies
• Personal assistance

 

For more information about Medicaid or its waivers, please call (800) 692-7462 or apply online with COMPASS.

 

 

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

While Delaware County seniors cannot fund assisted living costs via Medicaid benefits, they can fund the costs with Supplement Security Income (SSI). Seniors must meet the following requirements to receive SSI:

 

 

• Little or no income
• Total property value of $2,000 or less (for individuals) or $3,000 or less (for two people)
• Must apply to any additional government benefit programs they might be eligible for
• Age 65+, blind or disabled




• Eligible seniors who wish to use their SSI to pay for assisted living costs will receive Personal Care Boarding Home (PCBH) income. In 2019, this SSI category provides seniors with a monthly income of:




• $1,210 (for individuals)
• $2,114 (for two people)




• In Pennsylvania, the Department of Human Services (DHS) regulates licensed assisted living facilities, which are often referred to as Personal Care Boarding Homes. To receive approval from the DHS, these boarding homes provide residents with a range of services, including meals, transportation, medication administration, laundry and recreational activities.
  
  To find a Personal Care Boarding Home that accepts SSI, seniors can use the DHS provider directory.
  
  For more information about how to receive this benefit and locate your local Social Security Office, please call (800) 772-1213.
  
  Assisted Living Bridge Loans
  
  Seniors who need money immediately to pay for assisted living fees may want to apply for an Elderlife Financial Services bridge loan. If approved, seniors can access funds in as little as 24 hours. These loans are designed for seniors who need short-term funds when waiting on benefits approval or for the sale of their home to clear. Bridge loans can help them cover assisted living costs in the meantime. To learn more about loan terms and interest rates, seniors can call (888) 228-4500 to talk to an Elderlife Financial representative.   
  
  Veteran Benefits
  
  There are two veteran benefits that can help seniors pay for assisted living costs.
  
  Aid & Attendance
  
  The Aid & Attendance benefit offers aging veterans an increased monthly pension amount if they meet one of the following:




• They’re bedridden
• They require assistance to perform basic activities
• They have visual acuity of 5/200 or less




• Housebound
  
  The housebound benefit provides aging seniors with increased pension income if a permanent disability has confined them to their residence.
  
  The process of applying requires many forms and a few other determinations that the Delaware County local regional benefit office can guide veterans through. To apply for either of these programs, call (800) 827-1000.

 

 

The Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) oversees the county’s service system for aging residents. The office provides seniors and caregivers with information and referrals and helps them find appropriate long-term supports. COSA also offers enrichment programs, ranging from domiciliary care to community transportation services.  The Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA)
206 Eddystone Avenue, Eddystone, PA 19022
(610) 490-1300

Veterans residing in Delaware County can turn to the Delaware County Department of Veterans Affairs for assistance. The office can help veterans receive health and pension benefits, access life insurance programs and file appeals. 

Veterans Affairs – Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Government Center, Lobby – Room G3
201 W. Front St., Media, PA 19063
(610) 891-4646

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