Assisted Living in Rhode Island
Costs and Local Resources
Discover all that the Ocean State has to offer when you look for assisted living options in Rhode Island. The smallest of the 50 states, Rhode Island is nestled on the New England coast between neighboring Connecticut and Massachusetts, Rhode Island is home to locales that are encompassed by both the Greater Boston and Greater Providence metropolitan areas. Citizens of the state enjoy four distinct seasons whether or not they choose to live in a major metropolis or a sleepy, off-the-beaten-path enclave. There’s something for everyone looking for Rhode Island assisted living services.
Cost of assisted living in Rhode Island vs. nearby states
Cost of assisted living in a selection of Rhode Island cities
Typically, those who are searching for assisted living options in Rhode Island are looking in the cities of Lincoln and Providence. We've provided their pricing here.
The cost of assisted living in Rhode Island
Seniorly 2021 data shows that the average cost of assisted living in Rhode Island is $4,397 per month. The national average monthly cost is $4,057. This puts Rhode Island ahead of the national average, so keep that in mind if this is the portion of New England in which you’re centering your senior living search. Explore our assisted living listings to start comparing properties, or get in touch with one of our local advisors to get expert advice on what you can afford in the areas in which you’re interested.
Assisted living communities can provide the peace of mind that comes from not worrying about home maintenance, chores, or errands, as well as help with personal care like grooming, eating, and other activities of daily living seniors might have trouble with. However, if your loved one requires nursing care, or has diagnosed Alzheimer's or dementia that has progressed to a certain point, they might need a skilled nursing facility/home health care, or memory care community instead. These types of care providers (and for that matter, in-home care) might cost more in Rhode Island than assisted living facilities, but the important thing is that your loved one’s needs are cared for in order to provide them with the best quality of life.
If your loved one currently lives in a retirement community, ask whether it is a Continuing Care Retirement Community: these senior living properties are generally designed for residents to age in place. Seniors can get the different levels of care they need, from independent living to memory care, without having to move to a different community altogether.
Overall cost of living in Rhode Island
Rhode Island comes in at the bottom of the top ten most expensive places to live in the country. Just under nearby states Connecticut and New Jersey, Rhode Island’s cost of living index is 119.4, where the US national average is 104.63. This may be due to its proximity to other popular assisted living areas in New England.
Financial assistance for assisted living in Rhode Island
Medicaid options for Rhode Island seniors
According to benefits.gov, to be eligible for Rhode Island Medicaid, you must be a resident of the state of Rhode Island, a U.S. national, citizen, permanent resident, or legal alien, in need of health care/insurance assistance, whose financial situation would be characterized as low income or very low income. You must also be one of the following:
- Pregnant, or
- Be responsible for a child 18 years of age or younger, or
- Blind, or
- Have a disability or a family member in your household with a disability, or
- Be 65 years of age or older.
Rhode Island's Medicaid health care program is called Rhode Island Medical Assistance, and it’s supported by State and Federal funding. It provides a range of health-related services for citizens of Rhode Island, including but not limited to inpatient and outpatient hospital care, preventive services, and durable medical equipment.
Non-Medicaid State assistance programs
There are a few non-Medicaid assistance programs in Rhode Island, including the Medicare Premium Payment Program. This program provides payment assistance to Medicare recipients for some medical costs, including premiums, co-payments, or deductibles. This is a tiered program and offers aid based on the applicant’s income and resources. Rhode Island Pharmaceutical Assistance for the Elderly (RIPAE) is another program through which low-income elders can receive financial assistance for accessing their prescriptions through state-provided discounts.
More ways to finance assisted living in Rhode Island
There are several options available to finance assisted living for yourself or a loved one. Long-term care can be financed several ways:
- Life insurance - Some life insurance policies have a provision for long-term care benefits.
- Long-term care insurance - This type of insurance is intended to cover long-term health care needs by covering costs for assisted living or long-term care communities.
- Pensions, 401K, and IRA - If you have a pension, 401k or an IRA to fall back upon this would be a great benefit in paying for assisted living costs.
- Real Estate - Having a home is a great source of income. When it is time to move into assisted living the sale proceeds from your home can cover the costs.
- Veteran’s benefits - While the VA will not directly cover the costs of assisted living, you can obtain help from the VA under the Veterans Aid & Attendance benefits. The Aid & Attendance benefits helps eligible veterans and their surviving spouses to pay for assistance for assistance of daily living (ADLs) activities. Aid & Attendance benefits are often referred to by other names such as “improved pension,” “VA assisted living benefit,” or “veterans elder care benefits.”
Free assisted living resources in Rhode Island
Rhode Island residents can explore state resources that can help answer your questions about eligibility for certain types of benefits and how they might apply to assisted living.
Find your local Area Agency on Aging: There are multiple agencies per state, enter your ZIP code or city to find the one closest to you.
The State of Rhode Island Office of Veterans Services may be able to help you determine if your loved one is eligible for VA benefits.
Find Rhode Island Social Security offices where you can understand your benefits and get answers to your questions about claims.