How Much Does a Skilled Nursing Facility Cost?
August 15, 2023 / Nursing Home
As your loved one ages, you may begin to notice they need more assistance with the activities of daily life, such as personal care or preparing and eating meals. Some seniors may need advanced assistance with medical care, such as high level medication management or the administration of injections, and others may have memory deficits that make living on their own unsafe or difficult. Skilled nursing facilities, one of the most well known long-term care options, can provide a safe and comfortable environment that will handle all the concerns of aging that may make independent living difficult. The advanced level of care a skilled nursing facility provides can make the facilities expensive, but the team at Senior Care AZ, an Arizona senior placement agency, is breaking down the average costs, how these costs can be paid for, and comparisons to other long-term care options.
What Is a Skilled Nursing Facility?
A nursing home is a skilled residential facility that provides a high level of custodial care for aging adults who need 24/7 supervision due to serious chronic conditions or memory deficits from conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s. Skilled nursing facilities provide assistance for residents with the activities of daily life, such as bathing, feeding, and dressing themselves. Skilled nursing facilities also offer medication management, and some skilled nursing facilities are able to provide an advanced level of medical care, such as injections or transfusions. Some skilled nursing facilities may be a short-term solution, where they are structured more like a rehab to help individuals recovering from a hospital stay transition back to living independently, while others operate as a long term facility that serves seniors who will need permanent long-term care.
The costs of a skilled nursing facility generally cover room and board within the facility, meals, and 24/7 supervision and care. Assistance with the activities of daily life is included, anything from assistance with bathing and dressing to using the restroom and help with mobility. Medication management and other medical assistance will generally be covered, as well as transportation and housekeeping.
Skilled Nursing Facility Costs by State
Skilled nursing facility costs vary by state, type of facility and the type of room your loved one will live in. A semi-private room will provide a senior with a bed in a room that is shared with another resident. There will generally be some sort of visual separation between the rooms, like a curtain or a screen. A private room will be just the bed of a senior, with no other resident living in the same room. The average cost of a skilled nursing facility in each state for a semi private and private room is detailed below:
| State | Semiprivate | Private |
| Alabama | $6,676 | $7,026 |
| Alaska | $31,512 | $36,378 |
| Arizona | $6,540 | $8,030 |
| Arkansas | $6,083 | $6,692 |
| California | $9,794 | $12,167 |
| Colorado | $8,567 | $9,726 |
| Connecticut | $13,764 | $15,170 |
| Delaware | $12,273 | $12,577 |
| District of Columbia | $10,494 | $10,494 |
| Florida | $8,654 | $9,627 |
| Georgia | $7,011 | $7,604 |
| Hawaii | $12,501 | $14,113 |
| Idaho | $8,517 | $9,125 |
| Illinois | $6,266 | $7,156 |
| Indiana | $7,270 | $8,700 |
| Iowa | $6,874 | $7,452 |
| Kansas | $6,296 | $6,813 |
| Kentucky | $7,178 | $7,969 |
| Louisiana | $5,759 | $6,060 |
| Maine | $10,494 | $11,254 |
| Maryland | $10,342 | $12,167 |
| Massachusetts | $12,623 | $13,535 |
| Michigan | $9,095 | $9,855 |
| Minnesota | $11,601 | $13,072 |
| Mississippi | $7,118 | $7,314 |
| Missouri | $5,262 | $5,931 |
| Montana | $7,574 | $8,060 |
| Nebraska | $7,483 | $8,289 |
| Nevada | $9,216 | $10,007 |
| New Hampshire | $10,950 | $12,015 |
| New Jersey | $11,254 | $12,151 |
| New Mexico | $7,604 | $8,365 |
| New York | $12,775 | $13,233 |
| North Carolina | $7,483 | $8,213 |
| North Dakota | $11,978 | $12,587 |
| Ohio | $7,300 | $8,213 |
| Oklahoma | $5,475 | $6,083 |
| Oregon | $10,342 | $11,113 |
| Pennsylvania | $10,403 | $11,157 |
| Rhode Island | $9,429 | $10,038 |
| South Carolina | $7,285 | $7,984 |
| South Dakota | $7,118 | $7,604 |
| Tennessee | $7,148 | $7,665 |
| Texas | $5,125 | $7,092 |
| Utah | $7,178 | $9,125 |
| Vermont | $10,585 | $11,102 |
| Virginia | $8,213 | $9,155 |
| Washington | $9,429 | $10,466 |
| West Virginia | $11,619 | $12,212 |
| Wisconsin | $9,022 | $9,733 |
| Wyoming | $6,966 | $7,635 |
How to Pay For Skilled Nursing Facility Costs
Wondering how to pay for nursing home care? Many families use a wide variety of resources to cover the costs of skilled nursing facility care, from private funds to public funding options that your loved one may qualify for. Pensions, savings accounts, profit from the sale of a home, or gifts from loved ones may be relied upon to cover costs.
Does Medicare Pay for Nursing Homes?
Medicare generally does not cover the costs of long-term skilled nursing facility care. Medicare will not cover the costs associated with assistance with the activities of daily living, such as meal preparation and room and board. However, Medicare will cover some costs associated with medical care that is required, and some supplemental insurance programs may be relied upon to bridge the gap between what Medicare covers and what a senior needs as far as long-term care.
Does Medicaid Pay for Nursing Homes?
Medicaid covers the cost of skilled nursing facilities for seniors who require an advanced level of long-term care and meet the program’s financial requirements. In order for a Medicaid recipient to receive the benefits, they must give up almost all of their income. Due to some strict qualification rules, it is important to determine if Medicaid is the only option before deciding to rely on these benefits.
Does the VA Pay for Nursing Homes?
Veterans who are signed up for the VA health care plan have access to long-term care assistance, including costs covered for assistance with the activities of daily life, pain management, comfort care, nursing and medical care, housing, and physical therapy. The VA will determine where these services will be best provided, and it may be in a facility run by the VA, a state run facility, or a privately owned and operated facility.
Are Nursing Home Costs Tax-Deductible?
Non-medical expenses for skilled nursing facilities, such as room and board or the costs associated with assistance with the activities of daily living, are generally not tax deductible. However, skilled nursing facilities may provide a level of medical care, and some of these costs may be tax deductible.
Cost of Nursing Homes vs. Assisted Living
Skilled nursing facilities provide skilled medical care to seniors needing specialized attention as they age, and the average monthly cost for a skilled nursing facility is a little more than $8,000 per month for a private room. This is higher than the monthly average cost for in-home care, at $5,148 per month, which includes an aide visiting the private home of a senior and providing companionship, assistance with the activities of daily life, housekeeping, and transportation services for 44 hours per week. The costs associated with around the clock in-home care will be more costly, similar to those of a skilled nursing facility, which does provide 24/7 care to residents.
Cost of Nursing Homes vs. In-Home Care
The average cost of a skilled nursing facility is more than $8,000 per month, compared to the average monthly cost of assisted living at $4,640 per month. Assisted living costs less on average, and it is worth noting the differences in some of the services provided. Assisted living is a great option for individuals who want more social stimulation and supervision but are still capable of living independently. A skilled nursing facility provides a higher level of supervision, medical care, and assistance with the activities of daily living than an assisted living facility, which provides a safe and comfortable place for seniors to live independently with minimal supervision.