Assisted Living in Ohio: What Does It Cost and Why?

What Does It Cost?

According to Genworth’s 2020 Cost of Care Study, the median cost of a private, one bedroom accommodation in an assisted living facility in Ohio is $4,350. This comes to about $52,200 annually. Compared to Ohio’s neighboring states, this rate is a little higher. Pennsylvania’s median monthly cost is only $3,955, and Indiana’s is $4,382. Ohio’s assisted living facilities are also a little more costly than the average for the country as a whole, with the U.S.’s monthly median rate coming in at about $4,300. However, this price does vary around the state. The median monthly rate for one bedroom in an assisted living facility in Toledo, for example, is $4,779, which is one of the highest median rates in the state. But in Cleveland, the monthly median rate is only $3,950.

What Do You Get?

In Ohio, assisted living facilities are licensed by the Ohio Department of Health as residential care facilities. These facilities provide personal care to residents, including help with daily tasks like bathing, getting dressed, taking medication. In addition, these facilities don’t provide constant skilled medical care, like a skilled nursing facility does. Staff at these communities varies, with some facilities employing more skilled medical staff like RNs and LPNs. Ohio law does state that each facility must have sufficient direct care staff to meet all of the residents’ needs. Assisted living facilities in Ohio are required to perform health assessments for all new residents before they move in or immediately after. These assessments are used to create a health plan for services provided by the community. Health assessments are repeated annually. These can be used to make sure that the resident is getting the right level of care at the facility.

These types of facilities value residents’ independence while providing those needed services in a home-like setting. Most facilities provide one to three meals a day; however, they do not have to. If meals are not provided, facilities must have the necessary equipment to prepare meals in residents’ rooms. Most facilities also offer transportation and access to campus amenities and activities, which vary by facility. Some communities may offer specialized services like Alzheimer’s care or other memory care services. 

What Determines Your Cost?

Location of the community and the services and amenities offered affect the cost of assisted living in Ohio. The median monthly rate for a private room in an assisted living facility in Toledo is $5,306, which is quite a bit higher than the statewide median rate of $4,339. But there is a wide range; some communities in the area charge up to $8,000 per month, while others are as low as $2,000. In Cleveland, however, the median rate per month is lower, at $3,575. In the Youngstown area, the median monthly rate is also $3,575.

Expect to pay more for facilities that offer more medical services. Facilities that feature specialized care, like memory care, will probably have a higher price tag. But with the higher cost comes better trained staff. In Ohio, staff at facilities that care for memory-impaired residents must complete specialty training in cognitive care and four hours of continuing education annually. 

How Do You Make Your Choice?

The best way to find the best assisted living facility for you or your loved one? Visit the community. It’s a good idea to visit more than once, and at different times during the day, so you can really get a good feel for the community.

Find out more about assisted living here!