5 Assisted Living Communities in Cowley County, Kansas

The average cost of assisted living in the county is $4,728 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 5 Assisted Living Communities in Cowley County and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Cowley County, KS

• Assisted Living: $4,728
• Nursing Home Care: $5,475
• In-home Care: $4,195
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,934

The 2018 Genworth Cost of Care survey shows that seniors in Cowley County pay an average monthly rate of $4,728 for assisted living, which is the lowest price of any surveyed area in the state. This is about $175 over the Kansas median cost of $4,556 and $728 above the national average ($4,000). Costs are significantly higher in other surveyed areas including, Manhattan ($5,100), Lawrence ($5,265) and Topeka, where assisted living averages $5,300 per month.

Note: Cost data for senior care in Cowley County wasn’t available, so data for the nearest city, Wichita, was used instead.

The Genworth survey also provides data for comparing assisted living with other senior care options in Cowley County, and it shows that seniors pay almost $750 more per month for nursing home care. In-home services, such as homemakers and home health aides ($4,195), appear to be $500 less than the average rate for assisted living ($4,728). For a realistic cost comparison, seniors need to add household operating expenses, such as groceries, upkeep, utilities and rent or mortgage payments, to In-home service rates. These type of living expenses are already included in room and board provided by most assisted living facilities.

Medicaid is a nationwide collaboration between the federal and state governments. This jointly funded program exists to provide basic health care for economically vulnerable Americans, including families with dependent children, expectant mothers, blind or disabled adults and the elderly.

The Kansas Medicaid program, called KanCare, provides medical and long-term care coverage for over 100,000 blind, disabled and elderly residents. Eligible residents qualify for doctor and specialist care, inpatient and outpatient hospital services, emergency room treatment, X-rays, laboratory and other diagnostic tests, medical transportation, prescriptions, nursing home care and home and community-based care services.

Qualifying for KanCare Long-term Care Coverage

The program’s long-term care coverage is only available to Cowley County residents aged 65 or older and disabled adults aged 64 or younger. Additionally, applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal residents and assessed as needing a nursing-home level of care. Those who receive or qualify for Supplemental Security Income benefits are automatically enrolled in KanCare. Other applicants must meet the following financial limits to qualify:

• Up to $2,313 in monthly income per person
• Up to $2,000 in countable assets as a single or married individual

Seniors may keep $62 as a monthly personal needs allowance, and additional income from all sources must go toward their care costs. Some assets are exempt, including a primary owner-occupied home worth up to $585,000, household goods, one automobile, personal effects, life insurance policies with a maximum death benefit of $1,500 and burial plots. 

Federally mandated spousal impoverishment laws can alter the eligibility rules when just one spouse of a married couple applies for coverage. The law allows the non-applicant spouse to receive up to $3,160.50 of the applicant’s monthly income, and keep up to $126,420 in joint assets. The applicant is still allowed the standard personal income and asset exemptions of $2,450 and $2,000.

Seniors and disabled adults who don’t qualify because of excess income may become eligible through a spend-down. Through this KanCare program, applicants receive six months of coverage once they’ve spent all their monthly income except for $495 on allowable medical expenses.

Seniors in Cowley County can apply for KanCare coverage online or call (800) 792-4884 for more information or obtain help completing an application.

Frail Elderly Waiver Program

Seniors aged 65 or older who meet the requirements for nursing home admission can apply for the Frail Elderly waiver program if they prefer to remain in the community. To qualify for the program, applicants must be enrolled in KanCare and be assessed as physically and cognitively capable of living in a community setting with waiver-provided support services. Approved applicants are responsible for paying their room-and-board costs, but they can receive various facility-provided services through the waiver program, such as:

• Help with personal care and daily living activities
• Comprehensive support services
• Financial management assistance
• Wellness monitoring
• Medication reminders
• Enhanced care services
• Nurse evaluations
• Personal emergency response systems
• Assistive technologies

To learn more or apply for the FE program, Cowley County seniors can call the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services at (785) 296-4983.

Aid and Attendance and Housebound Benefits

Cowley County senior veterans and their surviving spouses who need help covering assisted living costs and presently receive a standard VA pension may be eligible for financial help through either the Aid and Attendance or Housebound VA pension top-up programs.

To qualify, applicants can’t be receiving a VA disability pension and must have been honorably discharged after serving a minimum of 90 days of active duty, with at least one day during wartime. Additionally, applicants can only receive benefits from one of the two programs and must meet the following program-specific criteria:

To receive Housebound benefits, applicants must be largely confined to their place of residence due to a permanent disability.

To be eligible for Aid and Attendance benefits, applicants must have one of the following conditions:

• Suffer from severe vision loss not improved by corrective lenses

• Be confined to bed

• Be currently living in a nursing home because of a physical or mental impairment

• Need help completing normal daily living activities

 To learn more about the A&A and Housebound programs and receive help filing an application, seniors can contact the Winfield office of the Kansas Veterans Affairs Commission at (620) 705-6280.

Optional State Supplemental Payment

Seniors and disabled adults living in Medicaid-approved assisted living communities and eligible for SSI payments may qualify for a $62 per-person monthly stipend through the Kansas Optional State Supplemental program. To qualify, applicants must meet the SSI income and asset eligibility limits of:

• $771 or less in monthly income and no more than $2,000 in assets as a single person

• $1,157 or less in monthly income and a maximum of $3,000 in assets for married couples applying together

To apply for SSI and Kansas OSS benefits, Cowley County seniors can contact the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213.

The South Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging helps seniors aged 60 and older access the essential programs and services they need to retain their independence. The agency’s experienced staff can provide confidential assistance with personal problems as well as information and referrals to local resources. Some of the many services offered include case management, in-home care, home-delivered and congregate meals, rent assistance, legal aid and tax counseling. South Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging
304 S. Summit St., Arkansas City, KS 67005
(620) 442-0268 

Cowley County veterans and their families can receive no-cost assistance from VA-accredited veteran service representatives through the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs. VSRs can help veterans identify benefits they may be entitled to and assist with filing applications for pensions, disability compensation and state and spousal benefits.

Comprehensive health care services are available at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, including primary and specialist care. The active American Legion posts in Winfield and Arkansas City offer opportunities for veterans to socialize with their peers and contribute to the community.

KCVAO Winfield Field Office
1220 WWII Memorial Dr., Winfield, KS 67158
(620) 705-6280

Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center
5500 E. Kellogg Ave., Wichita, KS 67218
(316) 685-2221

American Legion Post 10
115 W. 10th Ave., Winfield, KS 67156
(620) 221-4950

American Legion Post 18
113 E. Washington Ave., Arkansas City, KS 67005
(620) 442-5510

Senior Homes has an extensive directory of senior living options, with care and living providers across the United States.