2 Communities in Rocky Mount, Virginia

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $4,138 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 Communities in Rocky Mount and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Rocky Mount, VA

• Assisted Living: $4,138
• Nursing Home Care: $8,030
• In-home Care: $3,384
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,571

At $4,138, the monthly cost of assisted living in Rocky Mount sits between the state ($4,451) and national ($4,000) averages. This type of senior care is priced somewhat higher in other moderately sized Virginia cities, including Staunton ($4,250), Charlottesville ($4,577) and Blacksburg ($4,695). Not surprisingly, assisted living is significantly more expensive in the capital city of Richmond, where the rate is $5,049 per month. Only Harrisonburg ($4,100) and Lynchburg ($3,695) have lower monthly costs than Rocky Mount.

Note: Data for senior care costs in Rocky Mount wasn’t available, so data for the nearest city, Roanoke, was used instead.

Costs for senior care in Rocky Mount vary dramatically depending on the type of care needed and where it’s provided. Monday-to-Friday daytime care in an adult day health services group setting average only $1,571 per month, while 24-hour skilled care in a residential nursing facility costs over five times as much at $8,030. The supervision and room and board provided in an assisted living community is almost half the cost of nursing home care, but $375 to $750 more expensive than homemaker and home health aide services. While these appear to be significant savings, they may be quickly erased when monthly household expenses are added on to the service-hours-only rates for in-home care.

 

Medicaid provides health care services for over 65 million low-income Americans nationwide. This jointly funded program is regulated federally and administered at the state level. The Virginia Medicaid program is managed by the Department of Medical Assistance Services and covers about 1 million of the state’s most vulnerable residents, including families with young children, expectant mothers, disabled and blind adults, and the elderly.

Rocky Mount residents aged 65 or older in need of long-term care can qualify for Medicaid coverage if they’re U.S. citizens or legal aliens and have $2,313 or less in monthly income and a maximum of $2,000 in countable assets.

Medicaid considers all sources of income when determining eligibility, including wages, pensions, Social Security and disability payments, and investment income. Most assets also count, including cash, bank account balances, retirement accounts, stocks, bonds and investment real estate. A limited number of assets are excluded, such as personal effects, one vehicle, a primary home valued at less than $585,000, household goods and irrevocable burial trusts.

Applicants with too high an income who otherwise qualify for coverage may be eligible for a spend-down. Medicaid calculates the person’s spend-down liability, and once this amount is used for specific medical bills, they receive up to six months of coverage. Allowable medical bills can include doctor, dentist and hospital bills, health insurance premiums, prescriptions and approved medical supplies.

Seniors in Rocky Mount can apply for Medical Assistance coverage online, in person at the Franklin County Department of Social Services office at 11161 Virgil H Goode Highway in Rocky Mount or by calling (855) 242-8282.

Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus Waiver

The Virginia Medicaid program only covers nursing home care as an entitlement, but it offers the Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus waiver to allow eligible seniors to stay at home or in a community care setting. The waiver serves the dual purposes of reducing the state’s expense for institutional care and providing seniors with a higher quality of life in a less restrictive environment.

Waiver services are delivered through state-approved managed care providers and cover comprehensive medical and long-term care. In addition to all the medical services normally covered by Medicaid, the range of additional services available to CCC Plus participants can include:

• Case management
• Transition assistance
• Personal care services
• Private-duty nursing care
• Durable medical equipment
• Assistive technologies
• Prescription drugs
• Medical transportation

Senior Virginia residents who meet the income, asset and functional criteria for Medicaid long-term care coverage are automatically enrolled in the CCC Plus program.

To learn more about the CCC Plus waiver or to schedule a screening assessment to start the application process, Rocky Mount seniors can call the program’s enrollment helpline at (844) 374-9159.

Virginia Auxiliary Grant

Rocky Mount residents with limited income and assets who are aged 65 or older may be eligible for a monthly benefit through the Auxiliary Grant program administered by the Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services. Those presently living in or moving to a participating assisted living facility may qualify if they: 

• Are aged 65 or older, blind or disabled

• Are a U.S. citizen or legal resident

• Have been assessed as meeting the program’s functional requirements

• Have an income below the program’s approved limit of $1,296 per month

• Own countable assets valued at $2,000 or less as an individual or $3,000 as a married couple

• Apply for federal Supplemental Security Income benefits

The monthly benefit awarded an approved senior includes a personal needs allowance and a direct payment to their care facility to cover a range of supports and services, including:

• A furnished room

• Housekeeping and laundry services

• Personal care assistance and help completing daily living activities

• Meals and snacks

• Medication administration and oversight

• Recreational and social activities

• Supervision to ensure safety

• Transportation for medical appointments

Senior residents of Rocky Mount can learn more about the Auxiliary Grant program or apply by contacting the Franklin County DSS at (540) 483-9247.

Long-Term Care Insurance

Younger senior residents of Rocky Mount who are making plans for their future care needs might consider purchasing a long-term care insurance policy. Although the terms and benefits vary greatly between policies, generally, LTC insurance provides a specified daily benefit amount paid over a certain length of time. Most policies offer optional benefits such as inflation protection and coverage for assisted living or in-home care.

The state of Virginia has formed an alliance with specific insurers to offer partnership LTC policies that provide dollar-for-dollar asset protection based on the benefit amount paid out. As with other types of personal insurance, rates for LTC policies depend on the insured’s age, health and options chosen.

For more details about LTC insurance or assistance with filing a claim, Rocky Mount residents can contact Elderlife Financial Services at (888) 228-4500.

Franklin County Aging Services provides subsidized, reduced-fare medical transportation services for housebound and disabled residents aged 60 and older. Services are delivered locally and to Martinsville and Roanoke Monday through Friday. The agency also offers twice-monthly fixed-route service within town limits to the post office, grocery store, pharmacy and farmers market for those without other means of transportation.  Franklin County Senior Transportation Program
295 Technology Dr., Rocky Mount, VA 24151
(540) 483-9238

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