Does Medicaid cover assisted living in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania's Aging Waiver and OBRA Waiver programs provide Medicaid-funded services in assisted living settings. Contact your Area Agency on Aging for referrals. Medicaid typically covers the care services portion but may not cover the room and board, leaving a private-pay gap. Not all assisted living facilities accept Medicaid — ask about Medicaid beds when touring facilities.

What is the difference between assisted living and a nursing home?

Assisted living ($4,850/mo in Philadelphia) provides help with daily activities (bathing, dressing, medication management) in a residential setting. Residents have their own apartments and significant independence. Nursing homes/skilled nursing facilities ($9,200/mo) provide 24-hour nursing care, IV therapy, and post-hospital rehabilitation. Nursing homes are for individuals who need medical-level care that assisted living cannot provide. Memory care falls between the two, offering secured units for dementia patients.

What benefits help pay for assisted living in Philadelphia, PA?

Four main benefit sources: (1) Medicaid HCBS waiver — covers care costs for eligible low-income seniors (apply through Pennsylvania DHSS). (2) VA Aid & Attendance — veterans and surviving spouses can receive up to $2,170/month toward assisted living costs. (3) Long-term care insurance — if your loved one has a policy, monthly benefits typically $3,000–$6,000/mo. (4) Life insurance accelerated death benefit or viatical settlement — can convert life insurance to assisted living funds. Reverse mortgages can also fund care if the senior still owns a home.

How do I find a good assisted living facility in Philadelphia?

Steps to find quality assisted living in Philadelphia: (1) Use A Place for Mom or SeniorAdvisor.com for free placement guidance — they have vetted facilities. (2) Visit at least 3 facilities — unannounced afternoon visits reveal staff responsiveness. (3) Check Pennsylvania state inspection reports online — search the state health department for facility inspection history. (4) Ask about staff-to-resident ratios (1:6 or better is ideal for assisted living). (5) Understand all fees — ask for a complete fee schedule including add-on charges for extra care. (6) Review the contract with an elder law attorney before signing.

Philadelphia, PA

Assisted Living Cost in Philadelphia, PA 2026

Monthly costs, care level comparisons, Medicaid waiver eligibility, and VA Aid & Attendance benefits for Philadelphia area families.

$4,850

Assisted living/mo

$6,350

Memory care/mo

$58,200

Annual AL cost

Senior Care Costs by Level — Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia area costs based on Pennsylvania cost index (1.08×). Private room rates; semi-private rooms typically 10–15% less.

Independent Living

Private apartment with optional meals, activities, transportation. Minimal care services.

$3,450/mo

$41,400/yr

Assisted Living

Help with bathing, dressing, medication management. Licensed staff 24/7. Private apartment.

$4,850/mo

$58,200/yr

Memory Care

Secured unit for Alzheimer's/dementia residents. Specialized staff, structured programming. 31% above standard AL.

$6,350/mo

$76,200/yr

Skilled Nursing Facility

24-hour RN coverage, IV therapy, post-hospital rehab. Medicare covers up to 100 days after qualifying hospital stay.

$9,200/mo

$110,400/yr

Savings Runway Calculator — Philadelphia

How long will your savings cover assisted living at $4,850/month?

Nest Egg	Assisted Living	Memory Care
$100,000	1y 8m	1y 3m
$200,000	3y 5m	2y 7m
$300,000	5y 1m	3y 11m
$500,000	8y 7m	6y 6m
$750,000	12y 10m	9y 10m
$1,000,000	17y 2m	13y 1m

Assumes no investment returns and no Medicaid or VA benefits. Actual runway longer with benefits or investment growth.

How to Pay for Assisted Living in Philadelphia

Private Pay (Out of Pocket)

52% of residents

Personal savings, retirement accounts, Social Security, and pension income. Most residents spend down to Medicaid eligibility after 2–3 years of private pay in Philadelphia.

Medicaid HCBS Waiver

23% of residents

Pennsylvania's Aging Waiver and OBRA Waiver programs provide Medicaid-funded services in assisted living settings. Contact your Area Agency on Aging for referrals.

VA Aid & Attendance Benefit

Veterans only

Veterans who served 90+ days of active duty (1 day during wartime) and need help with daily activities may qualify for up to $2,170/month (2026) toward assisted living. Apply through the VA Pension Management Center — processing takes 3–12 months, so apply as early as possible.

Long-Term Care Insurance

11% of residents

Policies purchased before age 65 typically cost $1,500–$3,000/year and pay $3,000–$6,000/month in benefits. Most policies require a 90-day elimination period before benefits begin. Check if existing LTC policies cover assisted living (some only cover skilled nursing).

How to Choose an Assisted Living Facility in Philadelphia

🔍

Check state inspection records

Search Pennsylvania Department of Health for inspection reports, deficiency history, and complaint records before touring.

👁️

Visit unannounced at 3 PM

Afternoon visits (shift change time) reveal actual staffing levels, resident engagement, and cleanliness without prior preparation.

📋

Request full fee schedule

Ask for a complete list of base fees plus add-on charges for incontinence care, medication management, and extra assistance.

👩‍⚕️

Ask about staff-to-resident ratio

Industry standard: 1:6 during day, 1:10 at night. Ask specifically about memory care unit staffing.

📄

Review the contract carefully

Have an elder law attorney review the admission contract before signing. Look for discharge policies and rate increase clauses.

💬

Talk to current residents' families

Ask the facility to connect you with family members of current residents — they give the most honest assessments of daily care quality.

Find Assisted Living Facilities in Philadelphia

A Place for Mom provides free guidance to compare assisted living, memory care, and independent living options near Philadelphia. No cost to families — they work with facilities directly.

Find Care Facilities — A Place for Mom Senior Advisor — Free Placement Help

Advertising disclosure: links are paid partnerships. Learn more.

Assisted Living FAQ — Philadelphia, PA

How much does assisted living cost in Philadelphia?

Assisted living in Philadelphia, PA averages $4,850/month ($58,200/year) for a private studio. Memory care runs $6,350/month. Independent living starts at $3,450/month. Skilled nursing facility care averages $9,200/month. These figures are 8% above the national average of $4,500/month.

Does Medicaid pay for assisted living in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania's Aging Waiver and OBRA Waiver programs provide Medicaid-funded services in assisted living settings. Contact your Area Agency on Aging for referrals. Not all assisted living facilities accept Medicaid — ask about Medicaid beds when touring. Medicaid typically covers care services but may not cover the full room and board cost, leaving a monthly gap of $1,000–$2,500 that must be paid privately.

What is the difference between assisted living and memory care in Philadelphia?

Standard assisted living ($4,850/mo) serves seniors who need help with daily activities but don't have significant cognitive impairment. Memory care ($6,350/mo, 31% more) is specifically designed for individuals with Alzheimer's or dementia. Memory care units are secured (to prevent wandering), have higher staff-to-resident ratios, offer structured cognitive programming, and employ staff specially trained in dementia care.

Can veterans get help paying for assisted living in Philadelphia, PA?

Yes. The VA Aid & Attendance benefit provides up to $2,170/month (2026) to veterans who need help with daily activities and served at least 90 days of active duty with one day during a wartime period. Surviving spouses qualify for a lower benefit amount. Apply through your nearest VA benefits office or contact a VA-accredited claims agent (free service). Processing time is typically 6–12 months — apply as early as possible.

When should someone move from assisted living to memory care?

Transition to memory care is appropriate when: (1) Wandering behavior creates safety risks. (2) Sundowning (confusion and agitation in evenings) becomes severe. (3) Personal care needs exceed what assisted living staff can provide. (4) The person can no longer participate in group activities and needs specialized dementia programming. (5) Staff safety becomes a concern due to behavioral symptoms. The transition is best planned proactively — many assisted living facilities have a memory care unit on campus for a seamless transfer.

Philadelphia Assisted Living Stats

Assisted living/mo $4,850

Memory care/mo $6,350

Independent living/mo $3,450

Skilled nursing/mo $9,200

Annual AL cost $58,200

Memory care premium +31%

vs national avg +8%

VA Aid & Attendance

Veterans may qualify for up to $2,170/month toward assisted living costs. Surviving spouses also eligible.

Apply through the VA early — processing takes 6–12 months.

Full Pennsylvania Report

All cities in Pennsylvania with Medicaid eligibility details and facility finder resources.

View Pennsylvania AL Costs →

Other Cities in Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh $4,850/mo

Related Calculators

Assisted Living Calculator Medicare Supplement Cost Life Insurance Cost Hearing Aid Cost

View all guides →