According to Genworth Financials' 2021 Cost of Care Survey, the average cost of Assisted Living in Boston is $6,442 per month, which is around 11% higher than the Massachusetts average of $5,795. And as compared to the national monthly average of $4,000, Boston Assisted Living cost is 61% higher.
Assisted Living rates in Boston and the surrounding suburbs depend on multiple factors, including location, level of care, apartment size, and amenities offered in each community.
The nearest city to Boston in terms of distance is Chelsea, where Assisted Living costs around $6,442 per month, The cost is similar to the monthly median Assisted Living in Boston. Seniors in Winthrop pay an average of $6,442 per month, which is similar to per month what their peers pay in Boston.
Apart from assisted living, seniors have multiple care options in Boston. The senior living you need depends on your required care level and medical conditions. For instance, if you require 24/7 medical supervision, a nursing home in Boston could be the better choice than Boston assisted living care.
Assisted living communities in Boston are designed for seniors who need assistance with ADLs and IADLs. And independent living is for active older adults who can live independently. Thus, assisted living costs are higher than independent living in Boston and lower than more intense medical care options through Boston nursing home and memory care facilities in Boston.
Senior living options with different levels of care available in Boston are:
Independent Living: Independent living is for active older adults who want to downsize to a home in a retirement community but don't need help to live completely alone.
Nursing Home: Seniors who require specialized care and 24/7 supervision should look for nursing homes.
Memory Care: These communities are for seniors struggling with Alzheimer's or other advanced forms of dementia.
Home Care: Caregivers provide services to older adults in their home to provide primary healthcare, meal delivery services, meal preparation, and transportation to and from appointments.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC): A CCRC accommodates Assisted living, Independent living, and Nursing Home care. This means that you can live out the rest of your life in the same setting with on-site medical care.
The median home cost in Boston comes at $667,000. This brings Boston housing index to 260.6, which is higher than the Massachusetts housing index of 176.4. The overall cost of living index in Boston is 162.4 that is higher than the national average of 100 and higher than the state average of 127.2.
The population of Boston is 691,531. The median age in the city is 32, and about 11% of its population is age 65 or older.
Boston is quite diverse, with white, black, and Hispanic/Latino being the three most common ethnicities in the city, about 45% of residents identify as white alone.
The violent crime rate of 37.3 in Boston is higher than the national average of 22.7. And the property crime rate of 35.8 seems higher than the national rate of 35.4.
Seasonal Temperatures: Boston has a typical summer high of 82°F and a winter low of 19°F. And the yearly rainfall here is about 47 inches, while the snowfall is around 48 inch(es) on average.
Air Quality: The Average air quality index rating is usually 43, which is lower than the national average of 58.The index rating at or below 100 is considered satisfactory.
The health index of 83.4 indicates resourceful quality of healthcare services available for seniors, This index is lower than the state average of 83.7. The Boston hospitals cater their services to meet treatment requirements of seniors and people of all ages. Therefore, you can rest assured of getting the best possible care in Boston for any common or chronic health condition.
Different financial assistance options are available for seniors to pay the cost of Assisted living in Boston. In addition to government programs, the Boston area agencies and non-profit organizations provide helping hands towards better senior living in Boston, MA.
Private Pay: Private pay is the safest way to pay for Assisted Living in Boston. This is because you pay out-of-pocket for the low-income assisted living near you. Still, it might not be the easiest option for most seniors. In that case, you can use a combination of the following options.
Reverse mortgage: A reverse mortgage is a loan. An elderly homeowner with significant home equity can borrow against the value of their property and receive funds. The money can come in the form of a fixed monthly amount, a lump sum amount, or a credit line.
Medicaid and Medicare benefits: Every state has its own Medicaid program to help low-income residents with healthcare-related costs. In addition to medical care expenses, Medicaid covers certain long-term care costs for eligible seniors. However, you will need to meet the state-specific requirements to be approved for the Medicaid benefits in Boston. To pay for assisted living in Massachusetts, the state mainly uses HCBS Waivers (Home and Community Based Services). But this waiver does not finance the room and board costs in assisted living.
On the other hand, Medicare doesn't pay the cost of ADLs assistance for assisted living residents. Nevertheless, seniors can use Medicare benefits to pay for approved medical care needs in assisted living communities in Boston.
Veteran benefits: The VA’s (Veteran Administration) Aid & Assistance program in Boston, Massachusetts pays monthly pensions to eligible veterans and their spouses to help with assisted living payments. Veterans can also use their other benefits to pay for assisted living costs in Boston.
Read more about A&A Veteran Benefits
For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living Massachusetts page.
Boston Assisted Living communities need to follow a comprehensive set of rules and regulations designed by Massachusetts. These regulations ensure that the facilities maintain top-level and secure care services for seniors. For instance, the Assisted Living care facilities in Boston go through extensive training and education for the caregivers. This enables caregivers to be skilled and professional while helping seniors with their daily needs. Visit our Massachusetts Assisted Living page to find more information on the state-specific rules and regulations.
Several government and non-profit agencies work together in Boston to provide seniors with more services. These services help seniors lead a better life in Boston. Depending on the Boston resources, they can include free meal delivery services, utility billing programs, medical programs, and others. Find out the available free resources for seniors from the Assisted Living Massachusetts Page.
BoomersHub can change without notice any of its compiled cost data provided by senior living communities. This data is used for informational purposes only and may have inaccuracies. In addition, actual independent living costs may vary depending on personal choices and situations.