Elder Care FAQs

Q. How much does assisted living cost?

A. Fees at assisted living facilities (ALF) can cost as much as $36,000 a year or higher. Many people with limited incomes can't afford assisted living. There are a few programs that help people on Medicaid pay for the services in an ALF, but not the basic rental fee. Some ALFs reserve a few apartments for lower income people, so ask about such options. If there is an "entrance fee" for the home, find out if that fee is refundable when you leave the facility.

A new program called "supportive housing" is being developed across the state for people with limited incomes. There are now only a dozen or so of these "supportive housing" programs for people living in public housing, but the program combines housing with support services, much in the same way an ALF does, but without the major cost.

For a list of supportive housing sites, call 1-800-AGE-INFO or visit 800AGEINFO.com to search the online database.