4 Assisted Living Communities in Kosciusko County, Indiana

The average cost of assisted living in the county is $2,978 a month. This guide is a starting point covering the cost of assisted living care in the county, as well as financing options to pay for it. You’ll find in-depth information on 4 Assisted Living Communities in Kosciusko County and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Kosciusko County, IN

• Assisted Living: $2,978
• Nursing Home Care: $6,874
• In-home Care: $4,195
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,517

According to the Genworth 2018 Cost of Care study, the average cost of assisted living in Kosciusko County is $2,978 a month, which is approximately $1,400 less than the state average. Kosciusko County is the most affordable of all areas for assisted living in Indiana that were indexed in the study.

The most expensive areas in the state for assisted living are Lafayette and Indianapolis, with average monthly costs of $5,205 and $5,053, respectively.

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Kosciusko County, so data for the closest city, Fort Wayne, was used.

Assisted living is relatively affordable in Kosciusko County compared to both state and national averages, which creates a large price gap between other levels of care. Nursing homes cost more than twice as much as assisted living, although it is generally easier to get financial assistance for nursing care. Homemakers and home health aides are both substantially more expensive than assisted living — over $1,000 in either case. This added expense is compounded by common household costs, such as food and utilities, which are included in the monthly bill for assisted living.

Medicaid is a benefit program operated at the federal and state level to help at-risk individuals pay for health services and long-term care. Many recipients of Indiana Medicaid are low-income seniors and the disabled.

Services provided at no or low-cost through Indiana Medicaid include hospitalization and doctor care, medication and medical supplies, in-home and nursing care, dental, vision and transport to approved services.

Assisted living is not covered by default through Indiana Medicaid. Seniors who wish to enter assisted living must be approved for the Aged and Disabled waiver, which is explained in this guide.

Indiana Medicaid eligibility requirements for seniors:

• Legal resident of Indiana and U.S. national, U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Aged 65+, blind or disabled (using Social Security definition)
• At or below the maximum monthly income: $1,041 as of 2019 (includes income of applicant and spouse)
• At or below $2,000 in countable assets ($3,000 if married)

Countable assets include cash and bank balance, investments, most property and vehicles. Non-countable assets include one vehicle, one home that the applicant or spouse lives in, retirement savings and burial spaces.

Apply for services online at Indiana Medicaid. Residents of Kosciusko County can receive assistance in the application process from certified navigators.

Aged and Disabled (A&D) Medicaid Waiver

The A&D is a waiver program operated at the state level in Indiana that can bypass the federal Medicaid regulations relating to assisted living and some in-home services. The goal of this waiver is to delay the need for nursing home placement and let residents live in their own home or elsewhere in the community.

Services available through the Aged and Disabled waiver include:

• Assisted living

• Adult day care

• Case management

• Home and vehicle accessibility modifications

• Meal delivery

• Emergency signaling devices

• Transport

• Respite for caregivers

A case manager is responsible for assessing the needs of each applicant, which must then be approved by the state before financial assistance is granted for each available service.

A&D waiver eligibility requirements:

• Aged 65+, blind or disabled (using Social Security definition)

• Monthly income at or below $2,313 as of 2019 (300% of the federal SSI benefit rate)

• Assessed by case manager as requiring a nursing facility level of care

Although the requirement is for a nursing facility level of care, individuals can receive services elsewhere, such as assisted living, if it’s determined to be safe and appropriate.

Apply for the Aged and Disabled waiver by contacting an Area Agency on Aging. In Kosciusko County, the local agency is REAL Services, which can be reached at (800) 552-2916.

Residential Care Assistance Program (RCAP)

The RCAP helps low-income residents pay some of the costs associated with assisted living and other residential care facilities licensed by the state. This program helps cover the cost of room, board and laundry but doesn’t cover the cost of care.

One of the main differences between this and other programs in Kosciusko County is that applicants for the RCAP can’t be assessed as needing a nursing facility level of care. Instead, they must be assessed as unable to live in their own home yet able to live safely in a lower level of care than nursing, such as assisted living.

The monthly payment amount is based on the applicant’s income and the cost of covered services in the facility in which they live.

Applicants for the RCAP must be aged 65+, blind or disabled, receiving either Medicaid or SSI and living in a facility licensed by the state.

In most cases, facility staff assist the resident and family or guardian in the application process. Alternatively, download the application form and submit it by email to the Division of Family Resources.

Optional State Supplement (OSS)

Kosciusko County residents can receive an additional monthly payment from state funds that’s combined with the SSI payments they currently receive at the federal level. This is known as the Optional State Supplement.

OSS is for all adult Medicaid or SSI recipients who are unable to safely live alone and are currently living in a residential facility licensed by the state of Indiana. It’s intended to help pay for room, board and laundry costs. Nursing facility residents aren’t eligible.

The monthly supplemental payment is generally small, based on income and the type of facility in which the applicant is living, but in some cases, it may cover the room-and-board portion of fees.

Apply for OSS by contacting the Kosciusko County Division of Family Resources in Warsaw. Call (800) 403-0864 during business hours.

REAL Services is the local Area Agency on Aging for Kosciusko County and Northern Indiana as a whole. This agency manages various free or low-cost programs for seniors and caregivers to provide education, nutrition and advocacy. Counseling on health insurance is available, as well as legal services and caregiver support. REAL Services – Kosciusko County Office
720 E. Winona Avenue, Warsaw, IN 46580
(574) 269-1173

Veterans or their family members may be able to receive additional payments or services from the VA, including some that help pay for assisted living. Contact the local office for assistance with eligibility for various benefits and filing claims, including widow and survivors pensions, and find information about Indiana Veterans Home.

Kosciusko County Veteran Affairs
121 N. Lake Street, Warsaw, IN 46580
(574) 372-2436

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