Assisted Living in Dane County, WI

Assisted Living Costs in Dane County

Assisted living costs an average of $4,363 per month in Dane County, which is just $63 more than the median rate in Wisconsin, and $363 higher than the national average of $4,000. Monthly rates fluctuate considerably between other communities across the state, from a low of just $2,638 in La Crosse to a high of $5,000 in Oshkosh.

Prices for assisted living are near the national average in Green Bay ($4,075) and Janesville ($4,068), and they’re close to the state median ($4,300) in Milwaukee, where seniors pay $4,264 per month.

Note: Data for senior care costs in Dane County wasn’t available, so data for the county seat, Madison, was used instead.

The Cost of Assisted Living in Surrounding Areas

Care Cost Comparison

Senior care costs in Dane County tend to vary due to various factors. The skill level of care, number of dedicated service hours and whether room and board are included all affect the rates seniors pay.

Compared to assisted living ($4,363) room-and-board prices, home health aides ($4,767) and nursing homes ($8,821) provide personalized care, but the 24/7 skilled nursing services available in nursing homes explain why these facilities charge over $4,000 more than assisted living communities, while home health aide services average $400 more per month.

In-home services from homemakers ($4,004) average about $350 less than assisted living expenses. The rates for in-home care cover service hours only, so costs for food, upkeep, utilities, taxes and insurance must be added to the in-home care prices for a realistic cost comparison.

Senior Care Cost Comparison Chart

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Dane County

Medicaid in Wisconsin

Residents of Wisconsin who can’t afford health insurance may qualify for coverage through the Wisconsin state Medicaid program. Those who meet the eligibility requirements receive a range of health care benefits, including:

• Case management
• Primary and specialist care
• Inpatient, outpatient and emergency hospital services
• Preventive and diagnostic services
• Medical equipment and supplies
• Prescription drugs
• Long-term care in intermediate and skilled nursing facilities

Qualifying for Wisconsin Medicaid

To qualify for long-term care through Medicaid, Dane County residents must be American citizens or qualified immigrants and:

• Aged 65 or older, or
• Below age 64 and disabled or blind
• Have a monthly income of $2,313 and countable assets of $2,000 or less as an individual

When determining Medicaid eligibility, the state counts income from all sources but disregards certain assets, including a primary home worth up to $858,000, household and personal effects, one automobile and burial plots.

Wisconsin Medicaid offers two other ways seniors may qualify for coverage:

• Those who exceed the income limit but have high medical bills may reach the necessary threshold using a Medicaid deductible. This requires that an applicant’s excess income figure multiplied by six be spent on allowed medical expenses to receive six months of coverage.
• Dane County residents who are eligible for Supplemental Security Income automatically receive Medicaid medical and long-term care coverage when they’re approved for SSI benefits by the Social Security Administration.

Dane County seniors can call (800) 362-3002 to learn more about the state Medicaid program or visit Wisconsin Access to apply online.

Wisconsin Medicaid Waivers for Long-Term Care

Wisconsin Medicaid only offers institutional nursing home care as an entitlement. However, it does offer two waiver programs (noted below) that may allow Medicaid-eligible seniors and disabled adults receive long-term support services at home or in assisted living facilities.

Family Care Waiver

Participants in the Family Care waiver receive long-term managed care in the community setting of their choosing. Each enrollee is assigned a case manager and receives a personalized care plan based on their assessed needs. The services and supports provided may include:

• Transition assistance to relocate from a nursing home
• Care coordination
• Help with personal care and daily living activities
• Residential services
• Occupational, physical and speech therapy
• Periodic skilled nursing services
• Adaptive aids
• Medical equipment and supplies
• Medical transportation

To qualify for the Family Care waiver program, Dane County residents must be adults aged 18 to 64 and disabled or seniors aged 65 or older. They must also be at risk of nursing home admission if daily assistance isn’t provided.

Include, Respect, I Self-Direct Waiver

The IRIS waiver offers the means for seniors to develop their own plan and budget for care services with the help of a case manager. Once the plan is in place, the participant can use the approved budget to pay for support services from the providers they choose. The IRIS waiver is available to Medicaid-eligible Dane County residents who want to live in a community-based residential care setting, private home or adult family home and are:

• Aged 65 or older, or
• Aged 18 to 64 and disabled, and
• Assessed as needing the level of care provided in an intermediate or skilled nursing facility

Budgeted funds received through the IRIS program may be used to pay for a variety of services, such as personal care assistance, adult day care, residential care, prepared meals, medical supplies and equipment, periodic nursing services and nonmedical transportation.

To learn more about the Family Care or IRIS program or begin the application process, Dane County seniors should contact the local Aging and Disability Resource Center at (608) 240-7400.

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Reverse Mortgage

Dane County homeowners who need extra monthly income to cover assisted living costs for one spouse may consider applying for a reverse mortgage. Instead of requiring a regular payment to a lender, this type of mortgage provides homeowners with a monthly equity-based check to use as needed. When the last borrower moves out or the property is sold, the lender must be repaid in full. The homeowners’ ages, financial situation and equity level determine eligibility and how much is received each month.

For more information about reverse mortgages, interested seniors can contact Elderlife Financial Services at (888) 228-4500.

State Supplemental Payment

Residents of Dane County who receive SSI benefits can also qualify for a monthly stipend from the state of Wisconsin. The amount of this State Supplemental Payment is based on a person’s income and living arrangement, but the maximum available is $179.77 per individual.

To apply for federal SSI and Wisconsin state SSP benefits, seniors can call the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213.

Assisted Living Resources in Dane County

Aging and Disability Resource Center

The Dane County Area Agency on Aging operates the ADRC as an aging-related resource hub for local seniors and their families. County residents can receive free information, advice and referrals for valuable resources, including nutrition programs, in-home support services, long-term care options counseling, disability services, case management and public health care benefits.

ADRC of Dane County
2865 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, WI 53704
(855) 417-6892

Senior Activity and Outreach Centers

The AAA also oversees 12 senior activity and outreach centers operated by independent focal point organizations spread throughout the county. At the centers, local residents aged 60 and over can access a wealth of life-enriching social, recreational, educational and wellness programs and services.

Each center offers its own schedule of activities, but most host a weekday congregate meal, a variety of fun games, exercise classes, common interest clubs, regular social events and planned group outings.

Veterans Resources

The Veterans Service office of Dane County has trained staff available to help senior veterans and their loved ones identify and apply for local, state and VA benefits.

Veterans in need of medical services can visit the Madison West VA outpatient clinic for primary care, medication and disease management, lab work and nutrition counseling. Referrals for specialist care at the city’s Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital are also provided.

Dane County Veterans Service Office
210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Madison, WI 53703
(608) 266-4158

Madison West VA Clinic
1 Science Ct., Madison, WI 53711
(608) 284-6360