Assisted Living in Auburn,WA

Assisted Living Costs in Auburn

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, the average monthly price for assisted living in Auburn ($5,750) is significantly higher than both the state ($5,135) and national ($4,000) averages. Costs are the same as nearby Bremerton ($5,750), while assisted living costs less in areas to the south, such as Olympia ($4,250) and Longview ($5,000). Prices are also lower in areas north of Auburn, such as Mount Vernon ($5,125) and Bellingham ($4,250).

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Auburn, so data for the closest city, Seattle, was used. 

The Cost of Assisted Living in Surrounding Areas

Care Cost Comparison

Senior care prices are largely based on the level of care provided and the number of direct service hours. Auburn nursing home care that includes around-the-clock skilled nursing is the most expensive option, while weekday adult day health services provided in a group setting are the least expensive. 

All types of senior care are notably higher in Auburn due to the area’s high cost of living. A county ordinance that mandates employers pay a living minimum wage also impacts senior care rates. Assisted living costs include room and board, yet they’re about $450 lower than 44 hours of weekly in-home care services.

Senior Care Cost Comparison Chart

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Auburn

Medicaid in Washington

Established by the federal government in 1965 to improve the health of low-income Americans, Medicaid is the national health insurance plan funded jointly by state and federal governments. 

Washington state Medicaid is called Apple Health. It provides free health services including long-term care to 22% of all residents, and 74% of seniors and people with disabilities qualify for coverage. 

Adults age 64 and under with an income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level who aren’t entitled to Medicare automatically qualify for Apple Health’s modified adjusted gross income coverage. The current MAGI maximum monthly income limits are $1,436 for a single person and $1,945 for a two-person household. 

Seniors 65 and older receiving Supplemental Security Income may also qualify for free Apple Health coverage under the categorically needy designation. Those with incomes above the SSI rate can seek free Apple Health services through the Medically Needy program, which is a Medicaid spend-down program with terms of three or six months. 

For more information about Apple Health coverage options, contact the Washington Healthplanfinder at (855) 923-4633. 

Community Options Program Entry System

Seniors 65 and older who need help performing two or more activities of daily living and have a low income and few countable assets may qualify for COPES, a Home and Community-Based Services waiver. COPES is a Medicaid program that gives seniors services and supports to live at home or in an assisted living residence to prevent or delay nursing home placement.

To qualify for COPES enrollment, seniors must have a monthly income of $2,313 or less from all sources including pensions, alimony payments and rental income. They must also own no more than $2,000 in countable assets such as stocks and bonds, bank account balances and real estate, with the exception of their principal residence. In some extraordinary cases these income and asset limits may be waived, particularly if the senior has ongoing medical expenses they pay for directly. 

If approved for COPES coverage, seniors may be provided with one or more of the following services: 

• Adult day health services
• Access to durable medical equipment 
• A personal emergency response system
• Assistance with transportation
• Home care
• Skilled nursing care
• Case management

COPES currently has a statewide enrollment limit, and eligible seniors may be placed on a waiting list.

For more information about COPES, Auburn seniors living in King County can contact King County Home and Community Services at (206) 341-7600. Pierce County seniors can contact the Tacoma HCS at (253) 476-7200. 

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly

Medicaid- and Medicare-eligible adults age 55 and older who need nursing home-level care may qualify for enrollment in the PACE program. This managed-care program is designed to prevent or delay nursing home placement by providing enrollees with medically necessary support services and equipment as determined by an interdisciplinary team of care professionals. 

PACE participants qualify for all Medicaid-covered services as well as a variety of additional services based on the recommendations of their PACE case-management team. Such services may include prescription medication coverage, access to on-site specialists and personal care. 

Auburn seniors who reside in King County may qualify if they live within a site coverage area based on their zip code. To learn more, contact an ICHS PACE enrollment specialist at (206) 292-1584 or Providence PACE intake at (206) 320-5325. 

State Supplemental Payment

Seniors age 65 or older who collect Supplemental Security Income may be eligible for a $40 monthly cash SSI top-up paid by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. 

To learn more about the SSP, call the King Eastside Community Service Office at (877) 501-2233. 

Assisted Living Resources in Auburn

Recreation and Support Services for Seniors

The city of Auburn operates the Auburn Senior Activity Center, a multipurpose center for adults age 50 and older. The center is open Monday through Thursday until 9 p.m. and Fridays until 5 p.m. Here seniors can join a wide range of exercise classes such as gentle yoga, Tai Chi and the Silver Sneakers walking group. There are daily card games, weekly movies and escorted trips to local restaurants and attractions, including outings suitable for seniors who use a mobility device. 

The center also hosts a bimonthly food pantry for seniors and their pets. There’s a daily low-cost lunch program, weekly massage clinics, and regular foot care and blood pressure monitoring services. Low-cost legal assistance and help with health insurance information are also available. 

Auburn Senior Activity Center
808 Ninth Street SE, Auburn, WA 98002
(253) 931-3016

Veterans Clinics and Services

Veterans and eligible survivors can access VA outpatient services at the Federal Way CBOC, an affiliate of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System. Assistance with VA benefit applications, service records and claims appeals is available for King County residents through the King County Veterans Program. Pierce County veterans can contact the Tacoma Vet Center. 

Federal Way CBOC
34617 11th Place South, Suite 301, Federal Way, WA 98003
(253) 336-4142

King County Veterans Services – Seattle Office
2106 2nd Avenue, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 477-8282

Pierce County – Tacoma Vet Center
4916 Center Street, Suite E, Tacoma, WA 98409
(253) 565-7083