Is skilled nursing more expensive than assisted living?
Asked by: Maeve Swift | Last update: July 12, 2025Score: 4.5/5 (21 votes)
How much does assisted living cost compared to skilled nursing?
Both long-term facilities are expensive, but nursing homes can be more than double the cost of assisted living.4 In 2024, the median cost for a nursing home ranges from $8,929 to $10,025 per month, depending on the room type, while the median for assisted living is around $5,511 per month.5 So how can you pay for hefty ...
What is the difference between skilled nursing and assisted living?
Assisted Living offers a supportive environment for seniors seeking a balance between independence and assistance with daily tasks, while Skilled Nursing provides intensive medical care and rehabilitation for those with complex health needs.
What is the least expensive type of long-term care?
- Home healthcare: This includes home health aides and any other long-term care support you receive at home.
- Assisted living communities: This type of long-term care provides housing with round-the-clock staff to help with basic daily living activities.
What is higher than assisted living?
Nursing homes, also called skilled nursing facilities, provide a wide range of health and personal care services. Their services focus more on medical care than most assisted living facilities or board and care homes.
Cost of Assisted Living vs. Skilled Nursing - Average in Florida
How long can you stay in a skilled nursing facility?
Medicare covers up to 100 days of care in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) each benefit period. If you need more than 100 days of SNF care in a benefit period, you will need to pay out of pocket. If your care is ending because you are running out of days, the facility is not required to provide written notice.
How is most assisted living care usually paid for?
- Long-term care insurance.
- Veterans benefits.
- Charities and nonprofit organizations.
- State and local programs.
What is the average cost of a skilled nursing facility in the US?
Average Monthly Cost of Skilled Nursing Care
Expect a monthly median cost of $8,929 for a semiprivate room or $10,025 for a private room. At first glance, the expense might seem steep. Remember that this includes room, board, nursing services, and everything else the nursing home offers.
Does Medicare cover assisted living?
Medicare won't cover most assisted living costs. Medicare does not pay for “custodial care,” a term referring to help with daily life tasks, such as eating, bathing or dressing. Most of the care given at an assisted living facility is considered custodial care.
How much do most nursing homes cost a month?
According to Genworth's estimates, the median cost of a private room in a nursing home is $330 per day or $10,025 per month in 2024. Semiprivate rooms are more affordable, with a median cost of $294 per day or $8,929 month1.
Does my mom need assisted living or nursing home?
If your parent is having trouble managing these chronic diseases, then your parent needs a nursing home. If your parent is only having issues bathing, dressing or help with tasks of daily living, then assisted living may be a better option.
Who pays for 24 hour nursing care?
Different Ways to Pay for 24/7 In-Home Care
There are a number of ways to help cover the costs of home care. A few options include Medicare Advantage plans, Medicaid, long-term care insurance, and VA insurance as well as personal resources, such as your loved one's retirement income and savings account.
What is the next step after assisted living?
Your loved one may need to move from their assisted living community to a nursing home when their health deteriorates to the point that they need round-the-clock care. You may also want to consider a move to a nursing home if your loved one requires pureed meals, becomes bedridden, or has frequent hospitalizations.
What is the major distinction between skilled nursing and assisted living?
The main difference lies in the level of medical care provided. Assisted living facilities offer support with daily activities like bathing and medication management in a residential setting, while skilled nursing facilities provide 24/7 medical care and rehabilitation services in a clinical environment.
Can you get skilled nursing at home?
Receiving skilled care at home reduces worries around transportation, scheduling complications and exposure to additional germs. In-home private nursing care provides your loved one with high-quality medical care, accessible right from home - where your loved one is already comfortable.
Why is assisted living so expensive?
Costs can include a range of services and amenities. The financial investment in assisted living typically encompasses more than just room and board. Personal care services, medical support, and amenities all contribute to a higher overall expenditure.
What is the cheapest way for a senior to live?
Seniors can save money on housing by choosing to stay in their own homes and becoming a member of a local virtual retirement community. Virtual retirement communities are grassroots, nonprofit organizations that provide older adults with a variety of accessibility services.
How many days will Medicare pay 100% of the covered costs of care in a skilled nursing care facility?
You pay nothing for covered services the first 20 days that you're in a skilled nursing facility (SNF). You pay a daily coinsurance for days 21-100, and you pay all costs beyond 100 days. Visit Medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to get current amounts.
What happens to senior citizens when they run out of money?
There is help available for older adults who have run out of money, if you know where to look. The government has many programs that help with needs like healthcare, housing, food, and energy bills. Your local community offers hubs of information like libraries, city hall, and the parks district.
Why is skilled nursing so expensive?
The number one reason that nursing homes are so expensive is because they require a lot of nurses and staff members to care for residents. Additional nursing home services include: Medication management. Meals.
How long do people live in a skilled nursing facility?
Length of stay in nursing homes at the end of life
The median length of stay was only 5 months (IQR 1-20). The majority of residents had short lengths of stay, 65% percent of decedents had lengths of stay of less than one year, and over 53% died within 6 months of admission.
How much is assisted living vs skilled nursing?
Just how big is the price gap? While the median monthly costs of an assisted living facility totaled $5,350 in 2023, a semi-private room in a nursing home facility was $8,669 while a private room's median cost totaled $9,733, according to Genworth's 2023 Cost of Care survey.
How do people afford to live in assisted living?
Senior living and care can be expensive, making it difficult for those on low or fixed incomes to afford housing. However, there are several ways to help bring the costs down. Government assistance programs, insurance, and veterans benefits, can all be used to cover senior living costs.
Who pays for assisted living when money runs out?
Medicare does not cover senior living costs. However, many state-run Medicaid programs provide financial assistance for assisted living when residents exhaust their resources. Understanding the terms of Medicaid benefits in your state is a key part of financial planning and affording senior living.
How to decide between assisted living and nursing home?
Nursing homes offer higher levels of care than assisted living facilities. Folks who need a higher level of care might find a nursing home to be a great fit for them, but those who simply need some general assistance throughout the day probably won't fit in well.