This webpage will help New York residents understand assisted living, home care, and adult day care costs throughout the state. It also explores the 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 New York, but is not comprehensive of what is available at a national level. To search for assistance nationwide, and to explore all of your options, please use our Resource Locator Tool. Finding the program that is most suitable for your circumstances is key.
New York Eldercare Costs for 2024
Assisted Living / Memory Care
In 2024, according to Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey, the average cost of assisted living in New York is $5,850 a month. However, the costliest area of the state far exceeds this, which is Watertown, at $13,153 a month. Other areas of the state have a much more reasonable cost in comparison and are equivalent or close to the statewide average cost. These include Utica, Syracuse, and Rochester. The most affordable areas include Poughkeepsie ($2,845 / month) and Kingston ($3,711).
Alzheimer’s residential care throughout New York, sometimes called Memory Care, adds an additional 20% – 30% to the monthly cost of assisted living. This additional cost is due to the increased level of care and security that dementia patients require.
Home Care
Home care across the state in New York on average costs $27 an hour in 2024 per the Genworth Cost of Care Survey. The areas of New York City and Buffalo are on par with the statewide average. The costliest care is found in Birmingham and Albany, at $35 and $33 respectively, while the least expensive care is found in Poughkeepsie, at $21 an hour.
Home health care is another option for elderly care and is ideal for those who require a bit more intensive care. This type of care averages approximately $2 – $11 more per hour than home care.
Adult Day Care
According to Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey, non-residential adult day care in New York continues to be the least expensive care option and costs on average $105 per day in 2024. Adult day care is most expensive in Syracuse, at $263 a day. The least expensive adult day care is found in Buffalo, at $37 a day.
New York Medicaid Financial Assistance Programs
Medicaid Programs & Waivers for the Elderly
Medicaid is a program for disabled and elderly individuals with limited income and resources. Federally and state funded, the federal government sets the parameters of the program, and the state works within these parameters. The Medicaid program, as in all states, pays for nursing home care, and some personal care, for qualified New York residents.
Medicaid
The Community First Choice State Option (CFCO) provides personal care assistance in the homes of seniors who require a nursing home level of care. In addition to assistance with daily living activities, such as bathing, grooming, and mobility, health care aides can assist with medical related tasks. Durable medical equipment and personal emergency response systems are also available benefits via CFCO. Program participants are able to hire and manage the care attendant of their liking, including select relatives. This option is available via the Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program.
Waivers
New York also offers two Medicaid programs that help pay for assisted living and home care. These waiver programs allow seniors to avoid or delay nursing home placement.
The Managed Long Term Care Program (MLTC) helps residents with care services, such as personal care assistance and housekeeping, in their home or in an assisted living facility. Other benefits may include adult day care, home modifications, meal delivery, personal emergency response systems, dental services, and more.
The Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) is a way for individuals to receive services under MLTC, as well as CFCO. This program will pay for personal care for seniors in their homes. Via this program, participants have the flexibility to select some of their own care providers, and certain family members can be hired as paid caregivers.
The Assisted Living Program (ALP) helps individuals who qualify for nursing home care but prefer to live in an assisted living residence. This program helps to cover the cost of room and board, and often times the assisted living facility will offer additional services, such as housekeeping and personal care. The program is also open to those who are not on Medicaid.
Medicaid Eligibility
To qualify for Medicaid in the state of New York in 2024, individual residents must have a monthly income of less than $1,732 and couples less than $2,351. The resources or assets limit is $31,175 for single applicants and $42,312 for couples. When calculating assets, the state does not include the value of a home, provided one’s equity in the home is not greater than $1,071,000. Household items, personal effects, and a single vehicle are also considered exempt assets.
Persons with income and assets over these limits can still become eligible for Medicaid assistance. If there is some question regarding qualification, it is strongly recommended individuals contact a Medicaid Planner prior to applying for Medicaid. Read about the pros & cons of Medicaid planning.
PACE Programs in New York
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.
New York has one of the longest-running PACE programs in the country, offering seniors access to multidisciplinary medical care, rehabilitative therapies, prescription medication management, adult day care, inpatient hospital stays and long-term care services. Residents of New York can qualify for PACE if they:
- Are 55 years or older
- Qualify for Medicare/Medicaid or are willing to pay out of pocket
- Have state certification for nursing home care eligibility
- Need long-term care for 120 or more days
- Live in areas covered by PACE initiatives
- Can safely stay at home or within the community before and after enrolling
Residents who meet the eligibility criteria in New York can contact the PACE centers in their area to start the enrollment process.
How To Get Started With PACE in New York
Seniors can visit New York’s Medicaid office to learn more about this form of care, including eligibility and enrollment processes. They can also reach out to any PACE centers that cover their respective areas, as identified below, to get assistance with applying for the program.
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, including the best ones for you or your loved one, 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 New York.
Finding Affordable Care in New York
To help families find affordable care in New York, we’ve partnered with several organizations that maintain 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.
