Page Reviewed / Updated – March 8, 2023

This webpage will help Pennsylvania residents understand the costs associated with assisted living, home care, and adult day care throughout the state. It also explores the various payment options and financial assistance programs available to assist in caring for the elderly, be that in residential care or for aging in place at home.

The programs outlined here are comprehensive of what is available from the state of Pennsylvania, but is not comprehensive of what is available at a national level. When searching for assistance, it is important to explore all avenues to find the most appropriate program for the situation. To aid in this search and to find assistance nationwide, our Resource Locator Tool is invaluable.

Pennsylvania Eldercare Costs for 2023

Cost of Care Calculator

Answer the questions below to see the cost of care in your area.

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Assisted Living / Memory Care

The statewide average monthly cost of assisted living in 2021 is $3,955 according to Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey 2020. This marks an annual increase of a few hundred dollars per month since 2015. The geographic areas of the state with the most expensive assisted living are the urban centers of Philadelphia, State College, East Stroudsburg, Erie, Harrisburg, Chambersburg, and Lebanon. In these areas, the average monthly costs are approximately $4,315 – $5,550. The areas of Reading and Lancaster are fairly consistent with the statewide average with the average monthly cost between $3,950 and $4,050. The least expensive region by far is Scranton-Wilkes-Barre with an average monthly cost of $2,450. Other regions for assisted living with fairly low average monthly costs include Pittsburgh, Gettysburg, Johnstown, Allentown, and Bloomsburg, where the costs are approximately $3,025 – $3,570 per month. 

Individuals with Alzheimer’s who reside in assisted living memory care units, which provide an increased level of care and security, should expect to pay an additional $612 – $1,387 each month.

Home Care

Statewide in 2021, per the 2020 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, PA residents can expect to pay an average hourly rate for home care of $24.00. The most expensive areas of the state for home care are State College, Erie, East Stroudsburg, and Philadelphia, with hourly costs between $25 and $25.75. Lancaster, Allentown, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and the York area, all have hourly average costs close to the statewide average at $23.75 – $24.50. More affordable home care can be obtained in Johnstown, Lebanon, Williamsport, Chambersburg, Altoona, Bloomsburg, and Scranton where the hourly rate runs $21 – $23.

Home health care, provided by health care professionals, is also an option for elderly care and costs on average the same statewide as does home care.

Adult Day Care

Non-residential adult day care is often the most affordable option for individuals who wish to remain living at home, but require some supervision or assistance. Statewide, Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey 2020 indicates that in 2021, the average cost is $70 / day. However, there is a huge variance in cost ranging from $34 / day to $288 / day based on one’s geographic region. The most affordable adult day care can be found in Erie ($34 / day), Reading ($43 / day), Harrisburg ($47 / day), Gettysburg ($55 / day), and Williamsburg ($56 / day). Several areas have daily costs near the statewide average cost and include Pittsburgh, Chambersburg, York, and Altoona with daily costs between $68 and $71. The areas that by far have the costliest adult day care are Lebanon ($288 / day) and Johnstown ($250 / day). Adult day care costs, more than other forms of eldercare, is impacted by the lack of local competition and population density.

Pennsylvania Medicaid Financial Assistance Programs

Medicaid Programs & Waivers for the Elderly

Background
Medicaid (not to be confused with Medicare) is a program that is jointly administered by the federal government and the state of Pennsylvania. Via this program, assistance is provided to low-income elderly residents. The state Medicaid plan pays for nursing home care and some personal care. However, there are also Medicaid Waivers that provide services to the elderly and disabled in their homes or community in order to prevent or delay nursing home placement. 

Programs and Waivers
A relatively new managed care waiver program, Community HealthChoices (CHC), became available statewide in January of 2020. CHC provides a broad range of home care and support services, which can enable an individual who might otherwise require nursing home care to remain living at home. Services include personal care, personal emergency response systems, home delivered meals, respite care, and home / vehicle modifications, as well as other medical and behavioral health services. Individuals who were enrolled in the Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) Waiver were automatically enrolled in CHC and the PDA Waiver was phased out.

Another program, Services My Way (SMW), gives beneficiaries the flexibility to determine their own care requirements and to select the individuals or organizations that will provide the services they require. While not technically a waiver, this program allows CHC participants an option to self-direct their care. With this option, certain family members, such as adult children, may be paid as caregivers.

Medicaid Eligibility

Medicaid has restrictive eligibility requirements based on an applicant’s income and their financial resources. Applicants are permitted monthly income of up to $2,742 as of 2023. This figure is set at 300% of the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR). They are also permitted to have up to $8,000 in countable resources (assets). Some assets, such as a motor vehicle and home are considered non-countable assets, provided they are in use by their owners. Furthermore, for the home to be exempt, the applicant’s equity interest in the home must not be greater than $688,000. (If a non-applicant spouse lives in the home, there is no equity interest limit). Household furnishings, personal items, and burial plots are also considered exempt assets.

The eligibility rules differ for married couples with just one spouse applying for nursing home Medicaid or a Medicaid waiver. Married applicants are able to allocate a portion of their income (up to $3,715.50 / month) to their non-applicant (community) spouses. This rule is to prevent non-applicant spouses from having too little income from which to live. In addition, non-applicant spouses are able to retain up to $148,620 of the couple’s joint assets. This not only proves beneficial to community spouses, but also lowers applicant spouses’ countable income and assets.

Persons who exceed these above mentioned income and / or asset limit(s) may still qualify for PA Medicaid. However, it is advised they contact a Medicaid Planner prior to application to receive assistance in re-structuring their finances to ensure eligibility.

Pennsylvania Non-Medicaid Assistance Programs

Pennsylvania offers a non-Medicaid assistance program, which is offered as an alternative to assisted living or home care. The PA Domiciliary Care Program, which is often referred to as PA Dom Care, pays a fixed amount to help seniors live in the homes of caregivers. Personal care assistance is covered in addition to room and board. 

Another program is the PA Options Program, through which home support and services are provided. Benefits include personal care, home health, home modifications, durable medical equipment, assistive technology, counseling, and adult day care.

In the area of prescription assistance, PA offers the Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE, PACE Plus Medicare, and PACENET) programs. These programs are designed for lower income, elderly state residents who do not qualify for Medicaid.  Learn more about these programs here.

To make home modifications or purchase assistive technology for the home, there are zero interest and low-interest loans, as well as grants from the Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF).

Another option is LIHEAP, which provides reduced energy costs for heating and cooling one’s home. Read more.

PACE Programs in Pennsylvania

The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is a joint initiative between Medicare and Medicaid to help seniors get the care and services they need in the community rather than transitioning to a nursing home for care. Because Medicaid differs in each state, PACE eligibility varies between states.

Some of Pennsylvania’s PACE services include primary and specialty medical care, adult day care and nursing care along with physical, occupational and speech therapy. To meet eligibility requirements, applicants:

  • Must be 65 years of age or older
  • Must be a Pennsylvania resident for at least 90 days prior to the date of application
  • Cannot be enrolled in the Department of Human Services Medicaid prescription benefit
  • Must have a total gross total income of less than $14,500 for single persons and combined total income of $17,700 or less for married couples 

How To Get Started With PACE in Pennsylvania

To get started with PACE in Pennsylvania, those interested can visit one of the providers’ websites listed below or Pennsylvania’s Medicaid website

PACE Provider

Contact

Areas Served

Mercy Life PA (Trinity)

(215) 339-4747

Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties

InnovAge Pennsylvania LIFE

(855) 922-3791 



Allegheny, Germantown, Pennypack, St. Bart’s, and at Henry Ave in Philadelphia 

Albright LIFE

(717) 381-4320

Lancaster, Chester, Lebanon, Lycoming, Union, Clinton and Northumberland counties 

Community LIFE

(866) 419-1693

Allegheny, Bedford, Washington, Westmorland, Fulton and Somerset counties 

SeniorLIFE Washington

(877) 988-5433

Altoona, Edensburg, Greene, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Indiana, Johnstown, Lehigh Valley, Reading, Uniontown, Washington and York

LIFE NWPA

(844) 456-5433

Crawford, Eerie, Mercer, Venango, Warren, Forest, McKean, Elk, Clearfield, Cameron, Clarion and Jefferson counties

SeniorLIFE Ebensburg

(814) 472-6060 

Greene, Washington, Fayette, Westmorland, Indiana, Cambria, Blair, Berks, Leigh, Northampton, York and Dauphin counties

LIFE Pittsburgh

(412) 388-8050

Beaver, Butler, Washington and Allegheny counties 

SeniorLIFE Lehigh Valley

(610) 954-5433

Leigh and Northampton counties 

LIFE Beaver County

(724) 378-5400

Beaver and Lawrence counties 

Other Financial Options for Care

In addition to the state specific options that help pay for care, there are many non-profit and federal options. Use our Resource Locator Tool to find other programs that help pay for or reduce the cost of care. There are also programs that help veterans with assisted living and there are eldercare loans available in Pennsylvania.

Finding Affordable Care in Pennsylvania

Given the large variance Pennsylvania sees in the hourly cost of home care, the daily cost of adult day care, and the monthly cost of assisted living, one of the best ways to manage the cost of care is to find affordable care. To help families in doing so, we’ve partnered with several organizations that maintain large databases of care providers. These organizations all provide free services that match an individual’s specific care needs with care providers in their preferred geographic area. Click here to find affordable care.

Eldercare Financial Assistance Locator

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Top Cities for Senior Care in Pennsylvania

For more information about the costs and resources available in Pennsylvania cities, click on the links below.

Top Cities for Memory Care

Top Cities for Assisted Living