4 Assisted Living Communities in Chemung County, New York

The average cost of assisted living in the county is $5,710 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 Chemung County and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Chemung County, NY

• Assisted Living: $5,710
• Nursing Home Care: $11,682
• In-home Care: $4,814
• Adult Day Health Services: $2,015

At $5,710 per month, average assisted living costs in Chemung County are much higher than the state ($4,185) and national ($4,000) averages. Prices are lower in neighboring areas, such as Ithaca ($5,000) and Binghamton ($5,270), and similar to Watertown ($5,509). 

Costs vary widely throughout New York state and largely reflect local real estate values. Prices for assisted living start at $2,600 in Glens Falls along the north eastern border and increase up to $5,916 in New York City, the southernmost area of the state.

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Chemung County, so data for Elmira, the county seat, was used. 

Nursing home care is typically the most expensive senior care service, and that’s especially true in Chemung County, where nursing home care costs an average of $11,682 per month. The high price reflects the fact that nursing facilities provide around-the-clock medical care for residents who often have complex medical needs.  Assisted living costs an average of $5,710 per month and includes private or semiprivate accommodations, meals and additional services, such as social programs and local transportation. In-home care costs between $4,814 and $5,053 per month in addition to the usual costs associated with maintaining a home, while adult day health care is the least expensive at $2,015 per month. 

Approximately 4.68 million NY state residents are covered under Medicaid, a government-funded health plan for low-income Americans and qualified immigrants. Medicaid’s mandatory benefits include inpatient and outpatient hospital services, doctor visits and long-term care in a nursing facility. Additional optional benefits may be provided by each state, such as prescription drug coverage, dental and vision care, hospice and community-based support services. 

To qualify for New York State Medicaid, seniors aged 65 and older must: 

• Be U.S. citizens or qualified immigrants
• Earn no more than $859 per month 
• Own no more than $15,450 worth of countable assets
• Be permanent residents of the state of New York
• Have a valid Social Security number

If a married couple is applying together, the joint income limit is $1,267 per month and the asset limit is $22,800. If only one spouse requires Medicaid, the income of the non-applicant is disregarded and the individual limits apply. 

Managed Medicaid Long-Term Care Plan

Medicaid-enrolled seniors who require the level of care provided in a nursing home and prefer to remain in a community setting may qualify for services through the Managed Medicaid Long-Term Care Plan. 

This nursing home diversion program provides seniors with medical and nonmedical support that may be delivered in an assisted living setting. These services may include personal care, adult day health programming, transportation and specialty care in addition to all of the mandatory Medicaid benefits. 

Assisted Living Program

The ALP provides similar services and supports as the MMLTCP, however, this program is limited to approximately 4,200 participants state wide and seniors must reside in a participating assisted living facility. 

To qualify for the ALP, seniors must either have Medicaid coverage or be able to cover costs on a private-pay basis. Participants must also meet the clinical criteria for nursing home placement and be able to live safely in an assisted living facility with the support available through the ALP. 

Note: Seniors may participate in either the MMLTCP or the ALP, but not both. 

For more information on Medicaid enrollment, the ALP or the MMLTCP, contact the Chemung County Department of Human Services at (607) 737-5302. 

Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance

Veterans and survivors who qualify for the regular VA pension and have a permanent disability or chronic illness may be eligible for VA Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance. These two enhanced VA monthly pension programs provide cash benefits that claimants can use to cover the costs of assisted living care. 

Aid and Attendance provides a maximum annual pension of $22,577 for single veterans and up to $26,766 for veterans with one dependent. Single survivors may qualify for a maximum annual pension of $14,509 and up to $17,309 with one dependent.

To qualify for Aid and Attendance, claimants must be either legally blind, bedridden, living in a nursing home or need help from another person to perform activities of daily living. 

Housebound provides single veterans with a maximum annual pension of $16,540, and veterans with one dependent can receive up to $20,731. Single survivors may receive up to $11,095, and survivors with one or more dependents may receive up to $13,893 per year. 

To qualify for Housebound, claimants must have a permanent disability rated at 100% that restricts them to their home. Claimants may also have one disability rated at 100% and one or more additional disabilities rated at 60% or greater.

Note: Claimants may only collect benefits from one of these two enhanced pension programs, and those who already receive a VA disability pension are excluded.

For more information and assistance with the claims process, contact the Chemung County Department of Veterans Affairs at (607) 737-5445. 

New York State Supplement

Chemung County seniors who receive Supplemental Security Income benefits or who meet the financial criteria for SSI may qualify for additional cash benefits through the New York State Supplement program. 

The SSP provides a minimum monthly benefit of $87 for eligible seniors, which is added on to the monthly SSI payment. Seniors who qualify for the SSP benefits and don’t receive SSI benefits can opt to receive the SSP payment via check or direct deposit. 

To apply for the SSP, call the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213, or visit the Social Security office at 3345 Chambers Rd., Horseheads, NY or call (866) 964-1715.  

Chemung County is home to a number of senior and community centers that offer various programs and services. Activities include line dancing, painting, bus trips, and card games, and a number of centers have community gardens available for seniors to enjoy.  Chemung County Department of Aging and Long-Term Care 
425 Pennsylvania Ave., Elmira, NY 14902-0588
(607) 737-5520. 

Outpatient VA health services are provided at the Elmira VA Clinic, which is affiliated with the nearby Bath VA Medical Center. 

Veterans and survivors can contact the Chemung County Department of Veterans Affairs to learn about local, state and federal entitlements. The department also provides assistance with claims applications, appeals and transportation to VA health services. 

Elmira VA Clinic
1316 College Ave., Elmira, NY 14901-1169
(607) 664-4640

Chemung County Department of Veterans Affairs
425 Pennsylvania Ave., Elmira, NY 14902-0588
(607) 737-5445

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