6 Assisted Living Communities in Desoto County, Mississippi

The average cost of assisted living in the county is $3,585 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 6 Assisted Living Communities in Desoto County and several in surrounding areas.

• Assisted living: $3,585
• Nursing home semiprivate room: $6,540
• In-home care: $3,432
• Adult day health services: $1,452

According to the Genworth 2018 Cost of Care study, the average monthly cost of assisted living in Desoto County is $3,585, which is slightly higher than the state average of $3,493. Both are below the national average of $4,000. Other Mississippi cities have similar costs, including Gulfport ($3,525) and Hattiesburg ($3,485). However, the cost of assisted living is almost 20% higher in Jackson ($4,123), the state capital.

Specific senior care cost data isn’t available for Desoto County. Instead, data for the nearest major city, Memphis, Tennessee, has been used. 

Senior care costs in Desoto County and elsewhere are influenced by various factors including location and the type of care required. In Desoto County, the average monthly cost of nursing home services is nearly $3,000 more than assisted living, while home care costs are about $150 less. However, nursing home and assisted living facilities typically include room and board, while seniors living at home are responsible for household expenses like utilities, property taxes, upkeep and meals.  Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $3,585

• Homemaker services: $3,432

• Home health aide: $3,432

• Adult day health: $1,452

• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $6,540

In Mississippi and throughout the U.S., Medicaid covers medical and health-related expenses for low-income individuals and families, including senior citizens. The Mississippi Division of Medicaid administers the federal- and state-funded program that provides services such as doctor visits, inpatient and outpatient hospital care and prescription medications. The state plan also covers the cost of nursing services in addition to limited home and personal care services.

Seniors age 65 and over automatically qualify for full Medicaid benefits if they receive or are eligible for Supplemental Security Income. Individuals must meet the Social Security Administration’s financial requirements, which include having income of $771 or less per month and countable assets valued at less than $4,000 (or $6,000 for couples). Exempt assets include the applicant’s primary home, household furnishings and a single vehicle. 

Those who have become ineligible for SSI due to a Social Security cost of living increase or widow(er) benefit payment may still qualify for Medicaid if they otherwise meet the income and resource requirements.

Assisted Living Waiver

The Assisted Living waiver is a Home and Community-Based Services program that provides coverage specifically for seniors wishing to live in a licensed assisted living center. Although the individual is responsible for room-and-board charges, Medicaid will reimburse the facility for support services such as:

• Case management
• Medication oversight and administration
• Personal and attendant care
• Therapeutic, social and recreational programs
• Attendant call system
• Limited skilled nursing services
• Transportation

To qualify for the waiver, applicants must be 65 or older or disabled and assessed as needing a nursing home level of care. They must also be Medicaid-eligible SSI recipients or have monthly income below $2,313, which is 300 percent of the federal SSI benefit, and meet the program’s resource limits listed above.

Seniors can apply online for Medicaid benefits or the Assisted Living waiver. Alternatively, they can apply in person at the Senatobia Regional Medicaid office or call (800) 421-2408. 

Assisted Living Bridge Loans

Elderlife Financial Services can provide seniors with a temporary solution when they require immediate funding for assisted living. The company offers bridge loans, which pay an assisted living facility directly on the senior’s behalf. The borrower repays the loan plus interest in monthly installments over a term of up to 12 months.

To qualify for a bridge loan, seniors must have a good credit history and enough income to repay the amount borrowed. The lender allows applicants to include up to six cosigners, which can increase the likelihood of approval.

Seniors can apply for a bridge loan online or call Elderlife at (888) 228-4500 to discuss their options. 

Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit

The Aid and Attendance benefit provides financial help to veterans and their spouses. It’s an additional cash benefit that’s added to the recipient’s pension to help pay for the cost of care when they require assistance with activities of daily living, either at home or in an assisted living facility or nursing home. 

To be eligible for assistance, applicants must be veterans of the U.S. military or the spouse of a veteran. They also must meet one of the following criteria:

• Have corrected eyesight in both eyes with 5/200 vision or worse

• Require daily assistance with activities of daily living

• Have a disability or chronic illness that leaves them bedridden

• Reside in a nursing facility as the result of a mental or physical incapacity

• Live with a concentric contraction to five or fewer degrees of their visual field

There are no financial restrictions in place to qualify for Aid and Attendance, but veterans who already receive VA disability benefits are ineligible. 

For more information about this benefit or assistance with completing an application, seniors can call the Desoto County Veterans Office at (662) 404-6598. To apply, seniors living in Mississippi can write or fax the Milwaukee Pension Center at: 

Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Intake Center
Attention:  Milwaukee Pension Center
P. O. Box 5192 Janesville, WI 53547-5192
Fax: (844) 655-1604

Area Agencies on Aging provide seniors with access to community resources and act as advocates to protect the best interests of Desoto County’s senior citizens. Services may include Medicaid planning and assistance, nutritional counseling and support groups.   North Delta Planning and Development District Area Agency on Aging
220 Power Dr, Batesville, Mississippi 38606
(662) 561-4100

Seniors in Desoto County who served in the U.S. military may be eligible for financial, legal or benefit assistance from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Health care services can be obtained in VA clinics and medical centers across the country. There are VFW posts that offer veterans a chance to socialize and get involved in the community. 

Desoto County Veterans Office
365 Losher St, Hernando, Mississippi 38632
(662) 429-1359

VFW Post 10567
1884 Veterans Dr, Southaven, MS 38671
(662) 393-4488

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