1 Assisted Living Community in Martin, Tennessee

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $3,469 a month. This guide is a starting point covering the cost of assisted living care in the city, as well as financing options to pay for it. You’ll find in-depth information on 2 assisted living facilities in Martin and 3 in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Martin, TN

• Assisted Living: $3,469

• Nursing Home Care: $6,053

• In-home Care: $3,314

• Adult Day Health Services: $2,600

Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study shows that the average monthly price of assisted living in Martin is $3,469, which is below the state ($3,920) and national ($4,000) averages. Costs are similar in nearby Memphis ($3,585) and to the north in Clarksville ($3,495). Statewide, assisted living prices in Tennessee start at $3,018 in Chattanooga and go up to a high of $4,500 in Nashville.  Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Martin, so data for the closest city, Jackson, was used. 

 

Medicaid is a government funded health plan for people who have a low income and minimal assets who would otherwise be unable to pay for health care services. By law, every state-administered Medicaid plan must include certain mandatory benefits, such as inpatient and outpatient hospital care, primary physician services, X-rays and lab tests and nursing facility services.  In Tennessee, one in five residents is covered under TennCare, the state Medicaid program. To qualify for TennCare Long-Term Services and Supports, including Medicaid waiver programs, seniors aged 65 and older must have a monthly income no greater than $2,313 or $4,626 when applying for TennCare with a spouse. Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance When only one spouse needs long-term care services, the income of the non-applicant spouse is disregarded. If that spouse depends on income from the applicant spouse, they may be eligible for a minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance. Under the MMMNA, the non-applicant spouse is entitled to $3,160.50 per month of income that can be transferred from the applicant.  TennCare applicants are also subject to asset limits. Single seniors can own up to $2,000 worth of countable assets, such as cash, stocks and recreational real estate, while couples applying together can own up to $4,000. A home worth up to $585,000 that the applicant and/or their spouse lives is exempt, as is one vehicle and a prepaid, irrevocable burial contract.  A non-applicant spouse can keep half of the couple’s joint assets in addition to the exempt assets under the community spouse resource allowance. The maximum value of the joint assets that can be granted to the non-applicant spouse under the CSRA is $126,420.  TennCare CHOICES in Long-Term Services and Supports CHOICES is a Medicaid home and community-based nursing home diversion waiver. It funds services and medical items for TennCare-covered seniors aged 65 and older who are likely to be placed in a nursing home unless they receive additional supports. Under CHOICES, seniors can reside in an assisted living facility and pay for the room-and-board portion of the monthly fees. CHOICES services and supplies are assigned based on the medical needs of each senior, and these may include: 

• A personal emergency response system

• Adult day health programming

• Mobility devices

• Attendant care

• Minor home modifications to improve accessibility 

• Home delivered meals

• Respite care

• Pest control

• Health benefits counselling

Seniors who are enrolled in CHOICES may opt to participate in the Consumer Direction option, which allows seniors to recruit, hire and schedule their own personal care workers.  Seniors who already have TennCare and want to apply for CHOICES can call the TennCare MCO number listed on the back of their TennCare card. All others can call TennCare Connect at (855) 259-0701 to apply for TennCare and the CHOICES program. 

VA Enhanced Monthly Pension – Aid and Attendance or Housebound  VA Aid and Attendance Benefit and Housebound Allowance are two enhanced VA pension programs that provide extra funds for eligible veterans and survivors that can be used to pay for assisted living.  To qualify for either program, applicants must either currently receive or be eligible to receive a regular VA pension. Because these enhanced pension programs are based on higher income limits, applicants who were previously denied VA pension benefits due to excess income may qualify for these increased pension benefits.  For the Housebound allowance, applicants must have either:

• One permanent disability rated at 100% that permanently confines the applicant to their home, or

• One permanent disability rated at 100%, and one or more additional disabilities rated at 60% or greater

For Aid and Attendance, applicants must have one of the following conditions: a severe visual impairment; live in a nursing facility; be bedridden due to a chronic illness; or need a caregiver to help them with activities of daily living. To apply for either of these monthly pension benefits, contact Weakley County Veterans Affairs at (731) 364-5727.  Elderlife Financial Assisted Living Bridge Loan Elderlife Financial Services offers 12-month open, unsecured assisted living loans that eligible seniors can use to pay for a move into an assisted living facility. These loans are geared towards seniors who need access to interim funds when selling their home or waiting for private insurance benefits to begin paying their care costs.  To qualify, applicants must have a high credit score, and up to six people can be listed on the loan application. If approved, seniors can access the funds within 24 hours. Interest is calculated on the amount of money borrowed rather than the total credit limit, and monthly payments are interest only based on a prime-plus rate. The entire loan can be paid off at any time without penalty.  There are no fees to apply, and applications are processed over the phone.  For more information, contact Elderlife Financial at (888) 228-4500. 

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