Assisted Living in Memphis, TN

Assisted Living Costs in Memphis

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care survey, Memphis is one of the least costly cities for assisted living care in the state of Tennessee, along with Chattanooga ($3,018), Clarksville ($3,495) and Jackson ($3,469). It’s a little over $300 less than the state average ($3,920) and well below the national average of $4,000. Nashville ($4,500) is the most expensive area in the state for assisted living. 

Cost of Assisted Living Comparison Chart

• Memphis: $3,585
• National average: $4,000
• State average: $3,920
• Jackson: $3,469
• Clarksville: $3,495
• Nashville: $4,500
• Chattanooga: $3,018
• Knoxville: $4,033
• Cleveland: $4,021

Care Cost Comparison

When considering the type service to use, the biggest cost factor is the level of care an individual needs. If part-time care is required, then adult day health is the least expensive route, averaging $1,452 per month. Home care services, at $3,432, are about $100 less expensive than assisted living. Unlike assisted living, home care services don’t include the costs of maintaining a home, such as rent, utilities, groceries, taxes and insurance. Nursing home care is the most expensive option, with average costs about $3,000 over the price of assisted living. 

Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $3,585
• Homemaker services: $3,432
• Home health aide: $3,432
• Adult day health: $1,452
• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $6,540

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Memphis

Medicaid in Tennessee

Tennessee’s Medicaid program is called TennCare Medicaid, and It provides health care to individuals who have low income and no health insurance. TennCare Medicaid provides various medical services, including inpatient and outpatient hospital services, durable medical equipment, pharmacy services, physician services and speech, physical and occupational therapy.  

TennCare Medicaid covers assorted groups of people, including children under 21, pregnant women, people eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and individuals who live in nursing homes.

Eligibility for seniors include:

• Must be a resident of Tennessee
• Must be a U.S. citizen or qualified alien
• Must be elderly, blind or disabled
• Monthly income below $750 and assets valued at less than $2,000 (for singles) and income below $1,125 per month and assets valued at less than $3,000 (for couples)

Countable assets, including cash, stocks, bonds, saving and checking accounts, that are over the asset limit can disqualify an applicant.

For more information on TennCare Medicaid, please call (800) 318-2596 or apply online. 

For seniors looking into Medicaid and long-term care, the CHOICES program can help seniors with out-of-pocket assisted living expenses. TennCare CHOICES is a Medicaid program that offers long-term support and services to seniors age 65 and older who need assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), which include dressing, bathing, meal prep and grooming. The services provided by CHOICES can help seniors remain active in their communities, maintain stable health and delay or prevent premature nursing home entry. 

Some of the services covered by CHOICES include:

• Personal care visits to help with ADLs
• Assistive medical technology, such as grabbers to reach items
• Assisted living facility services (CHOICES doesn’t cover room and board)
• Personal emergency response systems
• Homemaker services

To qualify for TennCare CHOICES an individual must:

• Need the level of care provided in a nursing home, although not so intensive as to require nursing home care
• Be eligible for Medicaid long-term care
• Have income that doesn’t exceed $2,313 a month and assets valued at less than $2,000
• Not have gifted or sold any items within the last five years for less than what it’s worth
• Receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 

For more information about TennCare CHOICES, please call the local Area Agency on Aging office in Shelby County at (901) 222-4100.

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Veterans Administration Aid and Attendance Pension program

The Veterans Administration Aid and Attendance Pension (A&A) program helps eligible low-income wartime veterans and their surviving spouses with the costs of assisted living, home care and skilled nursing home care. It’s for those who need daily assistance with various activities, such as medication management, bathing, dressing, transportation for errands and medical appointments and housekeeping. 

A&A is an additional tax-free monetary benefit on top of a veteran’s basic monthly pension. Single veterans can receive as much as $1,794 a month, while surviving spouses receive up to $1,153 a month and married couples up to $2,127 a month. To qualify, a single veteran’s Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR), set by congress, can’t exceed $22,577, and for married veterans it can’t exceed $26,766. For a more in-depth view of these calculations, please visit the veterans organization website. 

Veterans must have served at least 90 days on active duty and at least one of those days must have been during a wartime period. Veterans must also meet some of these conditions: 

• Be age 65 and older
• Be totally or permanently disabled
• Reside in a skilled nursing home 
• Receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
• Receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Require the assistance of another person to perform ADLs
• Have vision that’s limited to 5/200 visual acuity or less in both eyes
• Be bedridden

Widowed spouses must have been married to the veteran at the time of his or her death to be eligible. 

Due to the many complexities involved with the obtaining the A&A benefit, it’s best to speak with a VA counselor who can guide you through the lengthy process and help you prepare and gather all the necessary forms. 

For more information, please call your local veterans office at (901) 222-4237.

Reverse Mortgage

A reverse mortgage is a type of home equity loan that enables seniors to receive cash on their home’s value without selling it, and it’s often used to pay for assisted living. Qualified accommodations include single-family residences, manufactured homes, 2-4 unit properties, condominiums and townhouses. 

Getting a reverse mortgage doesn’t affect Medicare of Social Security benefits, however, the payments you receive from a reverse mortgage must be spent within the same month you receive them. Any funds remaining in your bank account could be considered an asset and affect eligibility for government programs. 

To be eligible for a reverse mortgage:

• Seniors must be age 62 or older
• The home must be owned by the applicant and have equity

It’s not necessary for the borrower to pay back the loan until the home is sold or otherwise vacated. Borrowers may refinance the reverse mortgage if their home significantly increases in value, and If seniors, or their heirs, decide to keep the home, the reverse mortgage can be repaid. 

For more information on reverse mortgages, go to the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association to find a lender in Tennessee. 

Assisted Living Resources in Memphis

Area Agency on Aging in Shelby County (AAA)

The Area Agency on Aging helps seniors and their family members locate resources that improve their quality of life. They provide services to the elderly and disabled that include caregiver services, support groups, nutritional counseling, legal assistance and outreach programs.

Area Agency on Aging and Disability
2670 Union Avenue Extended, Suite 1000, Memphis, TN 38112
(901) 222-4100

Senior Centers of Memphis

These centers serve seniors age 55 years and older by providing opportunities for leisure, wellness and education to enrich their quality of life. Many locations provide nutritious lunches and activities that include field trips, seminars, classes and games. 

Frayser-Raleigh Senior Center
3985 Egypt Central Rd, Memphis, TN 38128
(901) 383-9101

J.K. Lewis Senior Center
1188 North Pkwy, Memphis, TN 38105
(901) 576-4255

McWherter Senior Center
1355 Estate Drive, Memphis, TN 38119
(901) 761-2462 

Ruth Tate Senior Center
1620 Marjorie St, Memphis, TN 38106 
(901) 774-2000

Veterans Services

Veterans Services help veterans and their families receive the assistance and benefits they may be entitled to. Low-income vets can turn to Veterans Services when they need help with finances for assisted living, filing claims for pensions and explanations of benefits.

Shelby County Office of Veterans Services
2670 Union Avenue, 5th Floor, Suite 500, Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 222-4237