12 Assisted Living Communities in Staten Island, New York

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $5,916 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 12 Assisted Living Communities in Staten Island and several in surrounding areas.

• Assisted living: $5,916
• Nursing home semiprivate room: $12,091
• In-home care: $4,576
• Adult day health services: $1,950

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care Study, Staten Island and the surrounding metropolitan area have the highest costs for assisted living in New York State at nearly $2,000 over both the monthly national average of $4,000 and the monthly state average of $4,185. Farther north, in cities such as Kingston ($4,100) and Glens Falls ($2,600), assisted living costs decrease significantly. Even relatively expensive cities in New York, such as Binghamton ($5,270) and the state capital, Albany ($5,050), are much less costly than Staten Island, though they still come in much higher than the state and national averages.

Costs of senior care services vary widely by type. In Staten Island, nursing home care is more than double the cost of assisted living, while adult day health care services average less than a third of the cost of assisted living. In-home care, such as homemaker services and home health aides, falls in the midrange, with expenses for both services coming in at just under $5,000. For seniors considering nonresidential care such as these, it’s important to take into account the cost of living expenses, including rent and upkeep, that residential care expenses would potentially include. Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $5,916

• Homemaker services: $4,576

• Home health aide: $4,767

• Adult day health: $1,950

• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $12,091

 

New Yorkers aged 65 and over may qualify for Medicaid if they meet certain financial requirements. If single, the applicant’s income must not exceed $859 a month with an asset limit of $15,450. For married couples, the income limit is $1,267 monthly with $22,800 in assets. All sources of income, including but not limited to, wages, pensions, social security and alimony are counted in these amounts. Seniors are not required to meet a specific level-of-care need to be eligible for Medicaid.

Older residents who do not meet Medicaid’s financial requirements may still qualify for assistance through New York’s Medicaid Excess Income Program, which is designed for individuals with high medical bills. The program exists as a means to spend down people’s income on medical bills until they reach Medicaid eligibility levels, at which time Medicaid kicks in.

New York State also offers Medicaid planning programs, which pair over-income or over-asset individuals with a Medicaid professional who can guide them toward Medicaid eligibility.

For those who qualify, Medicaid covers a comprehensive array of services, including preventative health care, inpatient hospital care, ambulance transportation and nursing home care.

New York Medicaid also offers several specific waivers for seniors in need of assisted living services.

The New York Managed Long-Term Care Program Waiver is for individuals who need a skilled nursing facility level of care but who would prefer to receive care in an assisted living facility instead. MLTC helps with needed services such as personal care assistance that enable seniors to maintain more independence.

The New York Assisted Living Program provides financial assistance to seniors in assisted living programs who may need additional care, such as skilled nursing, housecleaning or personal emergency alert systems.

For more information on Medicaid and its associated waivers or to connect with a Medicaid planner, interested New Yorkers can visit the American Council on Aging’s Medicaid Planning Assistance page or New York State’s Department of Health. To apply for Medicaid, they can visit their Local Departments of Social Services or call the Medicaid Helpline at (800) 541-2831.

Veterans Aid and Attendance Program

Eligible veterans or their surviving spouses needing help with assisted living costs should look into the VA Aid and Attendance Program. This program is available to veterans over the age of 65 who require assistance with activities of daily living. The VA Aid and Attendance Program provides funding to offset assisted living expenses.

The program’s eligibility requirements are complex and involve calculations that include unreimbursed medical expenses and may be confusing to many individuals. Potential applicants are encouraged to visit their local VA benefits office for further information and to apply.

Assisted Living Bridge Loans

Elderlife Financial offers bridge loans, which provide up to 12 months of payments for individuals and families in need of temporary funding for assisted living. Ideal for seniors in the midst of selling a home or awaiting benefit approval, bridge loans can be taken as lump-sum disbursements or as a line of credit. Once an application is submitted, the loan’s approval time is often very fast.

Because multiple borrowers may be co-applicants on a single loan, the lender places less weight on individual creditworthiness. In addition, since the family usually borrows bridge loans, the age and health of the senior in assisted living don’t affect approval odds. However, lenders do generally require information about the source of anticipated permanent funding.

For additional information on assisted living bridge loans, contact Elderlife Financial Services.

Several local agencies offer assistance for Staten Island seniors in need of support, resources or information. These agencies can help older residents or caretakers navigate the complexities of senior services. Community Agency for Senior Citizens
56 Bay Street, 5th Floor, Staten Island, NY 10301
(718) 981-6226, Option 2 Staten Island Center for Independent Living
470 Castleton Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10301
(718) 720-9016
For seniors with disabilities

Staten Island is home to several veterans’ resources, which provide support, referrals, benefits information and a variety of other services to eligible veterans. Veterans seeking medical attention or counseling should contact Staten Island’s community VA clinic.

Staten Island Vet Center
60 Bay Street, Staten Island, NY 10301
(718) 816-4499

Staten Island Community VA Clinic
1150 South Avenue, 3rd Floor, Suite 301, Staten Island, NY 10314-3404
(718) 836-6600 x4165

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