3 Assisted Living Communities in Webster Groves, Missouri

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $3,500 a month. This guide is a starting point covering the cost of assisted living care in the city, as well as financing options to pay for it. You’ll find in-depth information on 3 Assisted Living Communities in Webster Groves and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Webster Groves, MO

• Assisted Living: $3,500
• Nursing Home Care: $5,293
• In-home Care: $4,290
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,863

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care Survey, the average monthly cost of assisted living in Missouri is $2,844, far below the national average of $4,000. Webster Groves, at an average of $3,500 per month, is relatively expensive by Missouri standards. However, it’s not the most expensive city in the state; that honor goes to Kansas City ($4,050). Of all cities surveyed in Missouri, Springfield has the lowest assisted living cost at just $2,215 per month.

Note: Senior care cost data for Webster Groves wasn’t available, so data for the closest major city, St. Louis, has been substituted.

The type of care a senior needs will have a major impact on their monthly bills. Webster Groves’ most expensive care option, nursing home care, costs nearly $1,800 more per month than assisted living. Homemaker services ($4,290) and home health aides ($4,315) are also more expensive than assisted living. When weighing senior care options, remember to consider all monthly expenses. Seniors who choose in-home care will still be responsible for the costs of maintaining a home, such as mortgage payments, utilities and property taxes. Those who move to assisted living or another residential facility don’t generally have these expenses.

 

Medicaid is a public health insurance program that helps more than 72 million low-income people across the United States pay for health care. Missouri’s Medicaid program, called MO HealthNet, provides medical care to approximately 840,000 people, which is about one-seventh of the state’s population. Missouri’s Medicaid participants include people with disabilities, pregnant women, children, seniors and other eligible groups.

Some of the many medical services that are provided by MO HealthNet include:

• Inpatient and outpatient hospital services
• Nursing home care
• Emergency ambulance transportation
• Home health care services
• Laboratory tests and X-rays
• Durable medical equipment

While Medicare is the main public health insurance program for older Americans, some seniors in Webster Groves may also be eligible for Medicaid. When seniors are eligible for both programs, Medicare is the primary insurer. This means Medicare is billed first, and then Medicaid helps pay for any additional costs. This may include deductibles, co-payments and Medicare premiums.

Seniors may qualify for MO HealthNet if they meet the program’s income standards. These standards vary based on household size and living situation. A low-income senior who receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and lives in their own household can have an income of up to $771 per month. A couple in the same situation has an income limit of $1,157 per month. Seniors who live in a family member’s household have a lower income limit. Single SSI recipients in this living situation can earn up to $514 per month, and couples can earn up to $771.

Online applications for MO HealthNet are available on the Missouri Department of Social Services website. Alternatively, seniors may send a completed paper application to:

Family Support Division
P.O. Box 2320
Jefferson City, MO 65102-2320
Fax: (573) 751-3091

For help with your MO HealthNet application, call the Missouri Department of Social Services at (855) 373-4636.

Supplemental Nursing Care Program

Seniors who require assisted living care in Webster Groves may be eligible to receive funding from Missouri’s Supplemental Nursing Care (SNC) program. Despite the name, it’s offered to people who live in licensed assisted living facilities and residential care facilities. The monthly cash payment varies depending on the type of facility. People in assisted living facilities can receive up to $292 per month, and people in residential care facilities may receive up to $156. In addition, SNC participants get a $50 personal needs allowance to spend at their discretion.

Seniors may be eligible for this program if they:

• Live in a licensed facility
• Are eligible for MO HealthNet for the aged, blind or disabled
• Use all of their available income to pay for nursing care

To apply, complete a paper application and submit it to the St. Louis Regional Nursing Home Office located at 413 Burris St., Fredericktown, MO 63645. Application decisions are typically made within 45 days. Within 90 days of receiving a decision, seniors have a right to request an appeal.

To learn more or to get help with your application, call the Family Support Division Information Line at (855) 373-4636.

Veterans Aid and Attendance Program

For help with the cost of assisted living in Webster Groves, veterans and survivors may look to the Veterans Affairs Aid and Attendance program. It provides an additional monthly benefit to people who are eligible for a basic VA pension.

For a veteran with no dependents, the maximum basic VA pension is $13,535 per year. If a veteran qualifies for Aid and Attendance benefits, their maximum annual pension is increased to $22,577 per year ($9,042 more). This additional funding can help pay for assisted living care.

Veterans who qualify for a basic VA pension may be eligible for the Aid and Attendance benefit if they meet at least one of these criteria:

• They need another person’s help to perform activities of daily living, such as feeding or bathing.

• They live in a nursing home.

• They are legally blind.

• They are bedridden due to a disability.

Seniors can apply in person at the St. Louis Regional Benefit Office or submit a written request to the Milwaukee VA Pension Center. If possible, they should include a report from a doctor that documents their need for Aid and Attendance. Doctors can complete VA Form 21-2680.

For more information about Aid and Attendance benefits, call the Department of Veterans Affairs at (844) 698-2311.

Elderlife Financial Bridge Loan

Some seniors may experience a funding gap when they need to move into assisted living. Long-range sources of funding, such as LTC insurance benefits or the proceeds of a home sale, aren’t always available right away. Seniors who find themselves in this situation may benefit from an assisted living bridge loan.

These loans, which are offered by Elderlife Financial, have terms of up to 18 months. Generally, they have a line of credit structure, so seniors can borrow the amount they need each month. The funding is sent directly to the assisted living facility where they live. Seniors make monthly payments, and at the end of the term, the total balance is due.

To apply for a bridge loan with Elderlife Financial, seniors can complete an online application or call (888) 228-4500. Since as many as six unrelated cosigners can apply with the senior, individual creditworthiness may not significantly impact the chances of approval. However, the lender does ask about the senior’s plans to repay the loan.

For more information about bridge loans, call Elderlife Financial at (888) 228-4500.

There are many resources for veterans in nearby St. Louis. Seniors can travel to the St. Louis Regional Benefit Office to apply for a VA pension or Aid and Attendance benefits. Eligible seniors can visit the city’s many VA health care facilities, including two VA hospitals, three VA clinics and two Vet Centers.

St. Louis Regional Benefit Office 
Charles F. Prevedel Federal Building, 9700 Page Ave., St. Louis, MO 63132
(800) 827-1000

VA Health Care Facilities 
Several locations in St. Louis

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