Assisted Living in Milwaukee County, WI

Assisted Living Costs in Milwaukee County

The Genworth 2018 Cost of Care study shows that senior care in Milwaukee County costs more than the state ($4,300) and national ($4,000) monthly averages. Prices in most cities in this area of Wisconsin are within a few hundred dollars of the local rate, including Racine ($4,888), Sheboygan ($4,674) and Janesville ($4,068). Two notable exceptions are Oshkosh at $5,000 per month and Fond du Lac, where the average cost is just $3,744.

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Milwaukee County, so data for the city of Milwaukee was used instead.

The Cost of Assisted Living in Surrounding Areas

Care Cost Comparison

Rates for senior care are influenced by various factors, such as the type of services and setting and the level of care required. In Milwaukee County, the cost of nursing home care is more than double that of assisted living even though both are provided in residential settings.

In-home services from a homemaker or home health aide are also more costly than assisted living. This gap widens further when day-to-day household expenses are factored in, such as utilities, upkeep and food. Assisted living is more cost-effective in comparison because it typically includes room and board.

Senior Care Cost Comparison Chart

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Milwaukee County

Medicaid in Wisconsin

Medicaid provides health insurance for over 72 million low-income people  across the United States. The federal government regulates and jointly funds the program, and each state defines and administers its own Medicaid plan within the established federal parameters.

The Wisconsin Medicaid program provides vital health care services to eligible residents of all ages, including seniors and those with disabilities. To qualify for Medicaid coverage that includes long-term nursing home care, applicants must be U.S. citizens or qualified immigrants and aged 65 or older, blind or disabled.

Applicants are limited to $2,313 in monthly income and a total of $2,000 in countable assets per person. Income from all sources is considered, but some assets are disregarded, including a primary home valued below $858,000, one automobile, burial plots, household furnishings and personal effects.

Those with high medical bills and income over the above-mentioned limits may qualify through a Medicaid Deductible plan. This requires applicants to reach a specific medical care deductible before receiving Medicaid coverage for a six-month period. The deductible amount is calculated by subtracting the program’s income limit, currently $591.67, from the applicant’s countable income.

Milwaukee County residents can apply for Wisconsin Medicaid online or call (800) 362-3002 for information or assistance completing an application.

Regular Wisconsin Medicaid only covers long-term care in a nursing facility. However, the state also offers waivers that allow elderly and disabled individuals to receive care services in community-based residential settings, including assisted living. Currently, there are two such waiver programs available.

Family Care Waiver

Wisconsin residents who participate in the Family Care waiver program are enrolled with a long-term managed care provider to receive assistance developing a personal service plan to match their needs. Funding is then provided so they can pay for the plan’s services and supports in the community setting of their choice. 

To qualify, applicants must be aged 18-64 and disabled or aged 65 and older and need daily assistance to continue living independently and avoid nursing home placement.

Those approved for the Family Care program can receive services, such as health care coordination, transitional assistance, help with activities of daily living, skilled nursing care, medical transportation, residential services, speech, physical and occupational therapy, necessary medical equipment and supplies and adaptive aids.

Include, Respect, I Self-Direct Waiver

The IRIS waiver gives seniors and disabled adults the means to direct their care based on their needs. Those enrolled in the program work with a case manager to develop a personalized care plan and budget they can then allocate for their plan’s services and supports. To qualify, Wisconsin residents must:

• Be Medicaid-eligible
• Over age 65 or aged 18-64 and disabled
• Require a nursing home level of care but prefer to live in a community setting
• Reside in a private home, adult family home or approved residential care setting

The IRIS program can cover a number of goods and services for participants, such as personal care assistance, adult day care, residential care, meals, nonmedical transportation, assistive technology, nursing care and specialized medical equipment and supplies.

Seniors and disabled adults can learn more about the Family Care and IRIS waiver programs or apply by contacting the Milwaukee County Department on Aging at (414) 289-6874.

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

State Supplemental Security Income Benefit

Wisconsin residents who receive federal Supplemental Security Income automatically qualify for an additional monthly benefit from the state that may be used for expenses, such as assisted living room and board. The specific dollar amount a person receives depends on their income and living arrangement, but the maximum monthly benefit amount is $179.77. As an added benefit, those eligible for federal and state SSI benefits are enrolled automatically in Wisconsin Medicaid.

To apply for both federal SSI and Wisconsin SSI benefits, Milwaukee County residents can contact the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213.

Assisted Living Bridge Loan

Oftentimes, seniors planning a move to assisted living face short-term cash flow problems while waiting for a home to sell or benefits to kick in. If a funding shortage is delaying a move, a bridge loan from Elderlife Financial may provide a solution. These loans are only available to finance entrance fees or monthly rent and service charges at an assisted living facility. It’s set up as a line-of-credit structure and available for terms up to 12 months, Elderlife bridge loans have no application fees or upfront costs. Up to six family members can add their names to a senior’s application to ensure approval, after which funds may be available in as little as 24 hours.

Bridge loan applications can be completed online or by calling Elderlife Financial Services at (888) 228-4500.

Assisted Living Resources in Milwaukee County

Milwaukee County Senior Centers

Milwaukee County operates five seniors centers to enrich the lives of its residents aged 50 and older. While the specific offerings may vary between locations, seniors can expect a welcoming atmosphere and a wide range of social, recreational, fitness and educational opportunities at the center closest to home. The centers also host the county’s senior dining program that provides tasty and nutritious hot lunches at numerous locations each weekday. Seniors can call (414) 289-6995 to learn more, obtain a dining card or book a next-day lunch reservation.

County Department on Aging

The Milwaukee County Department on Aging’s mission is to provide residents aged 60 and over with access to beneficial information, services and resources in their local communities. Seniors can get help identifying and applying for benefit programs, such as Medicaid and Social Security, receive counseling on long-term care options and funding sources and obtain assistance accessing transportation or health and wellness programs.

Milwaukee County Department on Aging
1220 W. Vliet St., Ste. 300, Milwaukee, WI 53205
(414) 289-6874

Senior Legal Assistance

The SeniorLAW program operated through the nonprofit Legal Action of Wisconsin provides legal information and civil representation to Milwaukee County residents aged 60 and older at no charge. Some of the legal issues the agency handles are consumer law, long-term care, financial and physical elder abuse or neglect and public benefit programs such as Social Security and SSI.

Legal Action of Wisconsin
230 W. Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53203
(888) 278-0633