Assisted Living in Stoughton, WI

Assisted Living Costs in Stoughton

Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study tracks senior care costs throughout the United States. The study shows that the average monthly cost of assisted living in Stoughton is $4,363.

By comparison, the state average is $4,300 and the national average is $4,000. At $4,068, costs are also lower in nearby Janesville and comparable in Milwaukee ($4,264). Statewide, assisted living costs start at $2,638 in La Cross and go up to $5,000 in Oshkosh. 

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

The Cost of Assisted Living in Surrounding Areas

Care Cost Comparison

Care costs in Stoughton start at $1,842 per month for nonmedical adult day health services delivered on weekdays in a group setting. The most expensive senior care option is nursing home care, which costs an average of $8,821 per month (semiprivate room) and includes 24/7 medical care in a state-licensed facility. 

Assisted living costs an average of $4,363 per month and includes accommodations, meals and access to common areas. Hiring a homemaker for 44 hours a week is $4,004 per month, while a home health aide is $4,767 monthly. When evaluating the true cost of each in-home care option, it’s important to recognize that seniors who remain in their homes must also pay ongoing living expenses. 

Senior Care Cost Comparison Chart

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Stoughton

Medicaid in Wisconsin

Medicaid is a government-funded health insurance program for low-income children, seniors, pregnant women and people with disabilities. It covers basic health benefits, such as physician care, hospital services, X-rays, lab tests and nursing home care. Additional state-specific benefits may be provided. 

To qualify for long-term Wisconsin Medicaid benefits, seniors aged 65 and older must have a monthly income of $2,313 or less, and own $2,000 or less in countable assets. Income from all sources is included while some assets, such as a personal vehicle, an owner-occupied home, household furnishings and a prepaid burial contract, are exempt. 

Medicaid Deductible Plan

Seniors who meet all Wisconsin Medicaid enrollment criteria except for the income limit rule may be able to qualify for coverage through the Medicaid Deductible plan. 

Also known as a Medicaid spend-down or medically needy plan, it lets seniors who have high ongoing medical expenses deduct their out-of-pocket medical expenses from their declared income. The amount of the deductible is based on the amount of excess income the senior earns each six-month period. Once the deductible is met, Medicaid benefits are provided for the remainder of the six months. 

To apply for Wisconsin Medicaid, call the member services hotline at (800) 362-3002. 

Family Care

Family Care is a nursing home diversion program that gives eligible seniors additional Medicaid-funded services and supports delivered in an assisted living setting or another community-based placement. The program is delivered through a managed care organization, and services are assigned based on medical needs. 

Family care services may include:

• Transitional support for seniors leaving a nursing facility
• Skilled nursing care
• Personal care
• Rehabilitation and day programming
• Medical equipment 

In Dane County, Family Care services are delivered through two Managed Care organizations: Care Wisconsin, and My Choice Family Care. 

Include, Respect, I Self-Direct Waiver

The IRIS waiver is a Wisconsin Medicaid home and community-based waiver program that gives participants funding for medically necessary services and supports. The program is designed to let seniors and adults with disabilities live in the least restrictive location, which may be an assisted living facility.  

IRIS participants complete a comprehensive needs assessment. Individual funding is based on the assessment and goals are identified in a care plan developed by the designated case manager. 

Seniors accepted into the IRIS program can self-direct their care by hiring their own caregivers, which may include friends and family members. IRIS money may be used to cover approved expenses at the discretion of the participant, such as personal care, adult day health services, mobility aids, medical supplies and transportation services. 

For more information on the IRIS waiver and the Family Care program, contact the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Dane County at (855) 417-6892. 

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

SSI Exceptional Expense Benefits

Seniors who live in a licensed or certified assisted living facility, collect Supplemental Security Income payments and require at least 40 hours of long-term care per month may qualify for SSI-E benefits. 

SSI-E gives eligible seniors up to $95.99 per person in addition to their regular monthly SSI benefits. 

To qualify for SSI-E benefits, seniors in Stoughton must be assessed by the Dane County Job Center. To request a SSI-E assessment, call the center at (888) 794-5556. 

Veterans Aid and Attendance and Housebound Special Monthly Pension

Veterans and survivors who currently receive regular VA pension benefits and have a chronic illness or disability may be eligible for one of two special monthly pension programs.

Because VA Aid and Attendance and VA Housebound are based on a higher income limit, claimants who were previously denied regular VA pension benefits due to excess income may be eligible for these programs. 

To qualify for Housebound, claimants must: 

• Have one permanent disability that’s rated at 100% and leaves them confined to their residence, or
• Have one permanent disability rated at 100% and at least one more disability rated at 60% or greater

To qualify for Aid and Attendance, claimants must: 

• Be legally blind
• Be bedridden due to disability 
• Be dependent on a caregiver to assist with activities of daily living, such as eating, getting dressed, bathing and/or managing a prosthetic device
• Be a full-time resident in a nursing home as a result of physical and/or cognitive limitations

For more information and help with the application process, contact the Dane  County Veterans Service Office at (608) 266-4158. 

Assisted Living Resources in Stoughton

Senior Center

Seniors aged 55 and older can make friends, learn new skills and participate in a variety of classes, lessons and special events at the Stoughton Area Senior Center. 

Stoughton Area Senior Center
248 W. Main St. #1, Stoughton, WI 53589
(608) 873-8585

Community Services

Seniors in Dane County who need information on local resources, access to communal meals, low-cost foot care or medical equipment loans can contact NewBridge, a nonprofit organization. 

NewBridge also hosts a wide variety of social programs for seniors, such as card games, line dances, music groups and knitting clubs, in locations throughout Dane County. 

NewBridge
128 E. Olin Ave., Madison, WI 53713
(608) 512-0000

Veterans Services

Veterans, survivors and dependents who need help securing local, state and federal benefits can contact the Dane County Veterans Service Office. 

VA health care services are provided at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison. 

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

William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital
2500 Overlook Terrace, Madison, WI 53705
(888) 478-8321