How much does assisted living cost in Patchogue, NY? The answer is more complex than it may seem.
And with so much information these days, finding the right information can be downright dizzying.
Not to worry. We have your back.
For more than 30 years, Village Walk has helped families and older adults break down the cost of assisted living and memory care solutions for older adults.
In this comprehensive think piece, we’ll provide the following:
- A high-level overview of how much assisted living costs by state
- How to pay for assisted living
- Factors that influence total costs
- How assisted living compares to other forms of long-term care
Paying for assisted living costs: influencing factors
People are motivated to choose to pay for and relocate to assisted living for three main reasons:
- The social and psychological benefits assisted living can provide
- Family-related reasons
- Economic reasons
The last reason — the economy and finances — is worth paying greater attention to. The research is important because it points out the importance of the economy (and finances at large) when selecting help with assisted living.
After all, older adults and families can’t ignore that assisted living comes with significant costs.
But, we’ve found that assisted living can be more affordable than other senior care options. We’ll share why in the rest of this article, as we discuss the costs of assisted living.
How Village Walk calculates assisted living costs
Our senior care advisors are committed to providing clear, transparent, and complete information to older adults and their families in their quest to find the right senior living information.
To provide you with the most up-to-date and accurate information on the cost of assisted living here in Patchogue, NY, and across the United States, our caregivers have:
- Analyzed and summarized state-specific data from government entities, corporations serving senior citizens, and public data sets.
- Surveyed older adults and caregivers about their search for senior living and home care options
- Researched senior living vendors who pride themselves on delivering long-term care products and services for seniors
Some of our caregivers have served the Long Island, NY region for more than 30 years, so we have a finger on the pulse of the Patchogue, NY assisted living market.
Speaking of the Empire State, let’s take a look at how much assisted living costs in New York.
How much does assisted living cost (Patchogue, NY)?
According to a recent Genworth (2023) survey, assisted living costs $5,350 per month. Because state level authorities regulate assisted living facilities, services and costs might vary.
For example, according to the same Genworth study, the average monthly cost of an assisted living facility in 2023 in New York City, NY was $6,508. And the price rises to $12,471 for a semi-private room in a nursing home facility.
Compare these numbers to $4,888 a month for an Oklahoma-based assisted living facility, and $5,748 a month for assisted living facilities in Los Angeles, California.
As you can see, the base price of assisted living in New York tends to be higher than the rest of the nation.
Adding on different services and pricing tiers will yield different results. We turn to this topic in our next section.
Understanding assisted living price tiers
Most assisted living facilities include a base rate for services. This rate includes room and board and other monthly fees based on the level of care residents need.
As a general rule of thumb, the more care needed, the more expensive the assisted living plan will be. Before moving in — or concurrently with enrollment — assisted living facilities have residents take an assessment.
Why an assessment? The assessment provides a resident with the right level of care for their needs and ensures that the assisted living facility can provide the care the resident needs.
Each assessment is different, but generally, seniors can expect to be tested on the following criteria:
- Medications taken and help needed with medication administration
- Medical history and support needed
- Help needed for activities of daily living (such as bathing, toileting, and personal hygiene)
- Level of physical activity including the resident’s ability to walk without help or to transfer from their bed elsewhere
- Cognitive functioning
- Risk factors that would disqualify a person from staying in an assisted living facility
- Dietary restrictions and preferences
After the assessment, most assisted living facilities will include a general pricing structure with three levels:
- Level 1: support with activities of daily living (ADLs) and medication management
- Level 2: more support with ADLs and caregiving
- Level 3: a resident needs escorts to communal spaces, needs help with eating, and needs transferring to and from common spaces
Note: most facilities test residents often to determine the best level of care for each resident at any given time. Know that the price of assisted living can increase as the need for more caregiving increases.
Hidden fees involved in assisted living costs
Every assisted living facility asks residents and their caregivers to sign a contract. Overlooking key parts of the contract can lead to issues, which at their worst, can lead to distrust in staff, discharge for nonpayment, and stress for all parties involved.
We recommend asking questions about the following fees before signing on with an assisted living facility:
- Community fees
- Rent increases
- Fees for increases in levels of care
- Memory care fees
Hiring an elder law attorney and/or asking key questions to staff members will help you better pay for assisted living facilities and assisted living options that meet your needs.
How to locate assisted living arrangements
The internet can be your best friend for locating assisted living facilities. You can browse dedicated websites with extensive directories of assisted living communities.
Websites listing assisted living communities explore the monthly cost of assisted living and average cost of assisted living communities in each state across the continental United States.
Most of these websites allow you to filter based on locations, levels of care needed, amenities, and costs of add-on care services. Best of all, these websites allow you to speak with senior care advisors to assess needs, navigate options together, and find the right resources to help you afford assisted living.
Factors that affect the cost of assisted living
Speaking of affording assisted living, several factors affect the average monthly cost of assisted living.
- Where you live
- How much care you need
- The type of facility you live in
These factors influence how much you’ll pay for assisted living. To make an accurate estimate of how much you can expect to pay for assisted living for different senior living options, the following factors influence the cost of assisted living services:
- Levels of assisted living care
- Amenities and services in your new area
- Geographic location of the facility
We’ll take a closer look at each in the next sections.
Assisted living levels of care
Assisted living levels of care influence the total cost of monthly assisted living fees. Some services cost $300 a month, whereas others can cost $1,700 or more.
As you or a loved one transition into assisted living, keep in mind what level of care you think is best for your and your loved one’s needs.
Amenities and services
Consider the cost of hiring and compensating assisted living staff for the services they provide. Physical, speech, and occupational therapy incur extra fees beyond the base cost of assisted living.
Assisted living costs vary by facility. As such, you’ll want to do your due diligence before picking your or your loved one’s assisted living facility.
For example, you may find luxury assisted living facilities with all the bells and whistles, but that sacrifice patient care and bedside manner. Likewise, you may find the most compassionate, caring staff with an economic-sized assisted living room and board arrangement.
In the best-case scenario, you can have both compassionate care and luxury assisted living. But, know that the base cost of assisted living doesn’t take into account extra amenities and services, so you’ll want to do your research before signing a contract to move into a new senior living space.
Geographic location of the facility
If you live in a suburban neighborhood with weekly outings, top-notch round-the-clock care, and compassionate caregiving, all in proximity to the latest amenities like our residents do in Patchogue, the median cost for assisted living might be higher.
As with all assisted living in the United States, the median assisted living cost of a private room differs by state. Here are some of the highest, lowest, and middle-priced assisted living facilities as of 2023 according to Genworth’s Cost of Care survey.
Table: U.S. median assisted living cost (per month)
| State | Monthly Median Cost of Assisted Living (2023) |
| Hawaii | $9,340/month |
| Alaska | $7,250/month |
| New York | $5,850/month |
| New Mexico | $5,450/month |
| USA National Average | $5,350/month |
| Illinois | $5,225/month |
| Arkansas | $4,146/month |
| Mississippi | $3,800/month |
Paying for assisted living
Whether you’re living at home unassisted, hiring a home health aide, or choosing to live in one of New York’s luxury assisted living communities, the costs for a private or semi-private room can be expensive. We get it.
When planning, you might like to know that most people stay in assisted living for about two years before they transition to or pay for extra care services.
When paying for care costs, the following finance options can help cover the cost of assisted living:
- Personal savings
- Home equity
- Long-term care insurance
- Benefits plans
- Tax deductions
Using personal savings
Personal savings, such as Social Security benefits, 401(k) funds, IRA accounts, pension plans, and stock investments are all fair game for covering the cost of assisted living.
Using home equity
Proceeds from the sale of a home can be used to cover the cost of assisted living. Reverse mortgages can help finance assisted living costs.
If homeowners receives assisted living at home, homeowners can use their home to help secure a loan to cover assisted living costs.
Using long-term care insurance
Long-term care insurance may be used to cover some of the cost of assisted living, but the devil is in the details. A 90-day elimination period exists, meaning that the beneficiary of the plan must pay for services out of pocket.
Here’s the catch: if you start the 90-day elimination period during the 90 days, the patient has to pay for services out of pocket. If you choose to pay during the 90 days, when you move into assisted living communities, you may have to pay thousands of dollars in care expenses.
Instead, use the 90-day out-of-pocket period for less expensive services before moving to an assisted living facility.
Benefits: Life insurance benefits, Medicare, and Medicaid (and more)
Whether you’re looking to move to assisted living soon, or whether you’re in the research phase, you can use the following benefits options to pay for assisted living.
- Personal savings
- Home equity
- Long-term care insurance plans
- Benefits, such as Veteran Affairs benefits, Medicare, and Medicaid
- Tax deductions
Life insurance benefits can pay for long-term care. Through life settlements or accidental death benefits, you can help cover the cost of living in a care community.
In contrast, Medicare won’t pay for any form of long-term care. But, Medicare can cover some of the cost of goods and services received in assisted living.
For veterans or spouses of veterans who qualify for Veteran Aid and Attendance benefits, you may be able to use your veterans benefits package to cover room and board in assisted living facilities.
For a more detailed breakdown of covered costs, check with the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Tax deductions
While room and board isn’t tax deductible, tax deductions can help decrease the costs associated with assisted living care received in an assisted living facility. Some medical care expenses may also be tax deductible.
Comparing assisted living costs to other forms of adult care
We’ve discussed a great deal about the cost of assisted living facilities. But, how do assisted living facilities compare with other adult care services?
Consider this: the average rate of a private room in a nursing home was $9,733. The cost of a nursing home tends to be more expensive than assisted living or memory care communities.
Furthermore, Medicaid will cover 100% of the cost of a nursing home for those that qualify. Medicaid won’t do the same for individuals in assisted living facilities.
What’s more, adult day centers cost about $2,058 a month. Since adult day care centers tend to run only on weekdays — offering supplemental versus round-the-clock care — adult day centers tend to be more affordable than assisted living care.
Did you know?
If you or a loved one is a veteran or spouse of a veteran, many financial assistance options are available to help you with the cost of assisted care. At Village Walk, we often hold online information sessions to help seniors and their loved ones learn how wartime veterans and their spouses can use benefits to pay for senior living.
You can learn more on our Facebook page here.
Village Walk: helping you navigate assisted living costs in Patchogue, NY
The bottom line is that when deciding how you want to enjoy your golden years, cost is key. In summary:
- Assisted living costs different amounts in each state.
- Near the Patchogue, NY area — specifically in and around New York City — you can expect to pay about $6,508 per month for assisted living.
- Factors that impact assisted living costs include services and amenities offered, geography, and the levels of care provided
- Assisted living expenses can be financed through various benefits, savings, and long-term care insurance plans
- Assisted living tends to be more affordable than receiving care in a skilled nursing facility or memory care neighborhood. Adult daycare tends to be the most affordable of these three options.
While covering assisted living expenses can seem overwhelming, having a world-class team of senior care advisors by your side can demystify the process and even make finding the right assisted living facility exciting.
At Village Walk, our senior care advisors know what it’s like to sift through the sea of information about assisted living costs. We support families and seniors by meeting you where you’re at in your journey and listening to your concerns and needs.
Whether you’re thinking of a new living situation or just want a rundown of assisted living expenses, reach out to us. Our friendly and knowledgeable senior concierge team would be happy to answer any questions you may have about coverage for assisted living.
“The staff go above and beyond with their kindness and compassion.”
“My dad has been a resident at Village Walk for over a year now, and we couldn’t be more grateful to Village Walk. His days are full of fun activities, and he’s made wonderful friends.
Also, the expert recreation staff ensures he stays engaged and active. There are many special events throughout the year which include music and entertainment.
Furthermore, the staff at Village Walk go above and beyond with their kindness and compassion every single day. We continue to be incredibly happy and thankful for everything Village Walk has done for our family.” – Faith S., grateful Village Walk family member.
“Village Walk Patchogue was a great place for our dad to live. The staff took great care of him, they were very friendly and attentive. They offer a fun social calendar with a variety of activities to participate in, clean living spaces, and a nice dining area with lots of options on their menu. Family members were personally invited to attend festivities throughout the year.”
Both of these quotes exemplify what the research shows us about the factors that influence people’s decision to choose assisted living in Patchogue, NY. To explore our village, contact us today!
