Page Reviewed / Updated – March 8, 2023

This webpage will help Ohio 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.

While the programs outlined here are comprehensive of what is available from the state of Ohio, it is not comprehensive of what is available at a national level. In order to find the program that is most suitable for the situation, it is very important to consider all options. To easily search for assistance nationwide, please use our Resource Locator Tool.

Ohio Elder Care Costs for 2023

Cost of Care Calculator

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Assisted Living

Across Ohio, in 2022, per Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey, the average cost of assisted living is $4,635 a month. This monthly cost is just over the average cost of assisted living nationwide, which is $4,500 a month. However, certain areas of Ohio average even higher monthly costs, which include Akron, Cleveland and Canton. Residents in these areas should expect to pay approximately $300 more a month for assisted living care. The least expensive areas of Ohio in which to receive care are Columbus and Dayton. Care recipients in these areas can expect to pay between $385 – $550 less each month than the statewide average for assisted living care.

Alzheimer’s care (in assisted living residences) has traditionally been more expensive, and Ohio is no exception. The additional monthly fee for residents who are suffering from Alzheimer’s is approximately $1,087.50, due to the need for an increased level of care and security. It is worth noting that this figure can vary widely depending on the stage of the disease. Individuals in the early stages may experience zero additional costs, as they might not yet need additional care and security.

Home Care

In 2022, according to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, the hourly average rate for non-Medical home care (sometimes called homemaker services) is $26. This is an approximate 9.5% increase from 2021. Hourly fees in the most and least expensive areas of Ohio vary by approximately 20%. The urban areas are the most expensive ($28.50 – $29.50 / hour), and the rural areas are the least costly ($22.50 – $24 / hour). 

Home health care is also available for individuals who require minimal medical care. On average, this type of care costs approximately $.50 more per hour than home care.

Adult Day Care

Adult day care is also relevant to elderly individuals living at home. With a statewide average of $80 a day in 2022 (per Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey 2021), this is one of the most affordable ways to receive eldercare services. Contrary to assisted living where the state average is just above the national average, adult day care in Ohio is on par with the national average of $78 / day. Adult day care is even less expensive in Canton, where it can be found for as little as between $64 a day. In Toledo and Youngstown, the cost is closer to $99 – $85 a day.

Ohio Medicaid Assistance Programs for the Elderly

Medicaid Programs & Waivers

Medicaid Program Explanation

Medicaid can be somewhat confusing, as the name is used to describe a variety of programs. At the top level, Medicaid is an insurance program for low-income Americans that is co-managed by the U.S. government and each state government. Relevant to this webpage is “institutional” or “long-term care Medicaid,” which is intended for elderly and / or disabled individuals. Qualified residents can receive care in nursing homes or receive waivers, which allow them to receive care outside of nursing homes.

Waivers and Programs

There are three relevant Medicaid waivers and programs — also referred to as Home and Community Based Services Waivers — available in Ohio that offer assistance to the elderly. It’s important to note, waivers are not entitlement programs, which means all eligible applicants may not be able to receive services. There are a certain number of available participant slots, and once those slots are filled, there is a wait list for assistance.

PASSPORT Waiver

This waiver helps residents who might otherwise require nursing home care by providing a suite of home-based care services. Benefits may include personal care assistance, adult day care, meal delivery, and durable medical equipment. The PASSPORT Waiver allows for self-direction, meaning individuals can choose their caregiver, including select family members.

Assisted Living Waiver

The Assisted Living Waiver helps pay for the cost of certain services in assisted living at participating assisted living communities. Services may include skilled nursing, medication assistance, housekeeping, and personal care. It is worth mentioning, this waiver does not cover the room and board portion of the fees.

MyCare Ohio Plan (MCOP)

This new managed Medicaid program is available in 29 counties throughout the state. MCOP is for dually eligible Medicaid and Medicare individuals, and allows a single point of contact for services from both programs.

Note:It should be mentioned that a program called Choices Home Care Waiver, which many residents may have heard of, is no longer available as of 2014.

Medicaid Eligibility in Ohio

Medicaid evaluates applicants’ financial holdings, including their monthly income and total countable resources. In 2023, the monthly income of a single applicant for long-term care Medicaid or waivers cannot be greater than $2,742 a month. This amount is equivalent to 300% of the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR). For a single applicant, the countable resource limit in Ohio is $2,000. However, one’s home, limited to an equity interest value of $688,000 (if the applicant lives in the home or intends to return to the home), a vehicle, and other personal objects are exempt from this limit.

This is an over-simplification of Medicaid’s limits. Married individuals have different and less restrictive requirements, and eligibility requirements may vary slightly based on the Medicaid program in which one is applying. In addition, even individuals exceeding these limits can still qualify. For example, if one is applying for a Medicaid waiver and is over the income limit, one may utilize a Qualified Income Trust (QIT), also called a Miller Trust. In simple terms, a QIT is an irrevocable trust in which income over the limit is deposited, and a trustee is named. The trustee is then responsible for using the money for very specific purposes, such as payments toward long-term care.

Also, if only one spouse of a married couple is applying for institutional care or a Medicaid waiver, a portion of the applicant’s income can be allocated to the non-applicant (community) spouse. This is called the monthly maintenance needs allowance and allows up to $3,715 a month of the applicant’s income to be transferred to the non-applicant spouse. There is also a community spouse resource allowance in place that allows a non-applicant spouse to retain up to $148,620 of the couple’s joint assets. This prevents the community spouse from becoming impoverished and also effectively lowers the applicant spouse’s countable income and assets.

Free assistance is available to help one determine their Medicaid eligibility and also to help with the preparation of paperwork. If a family is uncertain about their loved one’s eligibility, or if an applicant is over the income and / or asset limit(s), it is recommended they contact a Medicaid expert.

Ohio (Non-Medicaid) Assistance Programs

Unfortunately, Ohio offers few programs that provide direct, non-Medicaid, financial assistance for care, as many other states do. However, there is one such program worth mentioning.

Ohio Elderly Services Program (ESP)

The Ohio Elderly Services Program provides in-home personal care and homemaker services. Other benefits include medical / non-medical transportation, durable medical equipment, personal emergency response systems, adult day care, meal delivery, and respite care.

Residential State Supplement Program

This program is provided by the Ohio Department of Mental Health. RSS provides financial assistance toward the cost of adult group homes, adult foster care, and assisted living. Personal care assistance, medication monitoring, and recreational activities may also be provided in the residential setting. In order to be eligible, one must be enrolled in Medicaid.

Additional Programs
The state also offers several programs intended to help low-income, elderly residents remain living in their homes. Some programs provide in-home assistance, while other programs reduce the recipient’s overall living expenses, which then frees up money that can be applied toward care services.

The Golden Buckeye program helps residents save money on many services they receive, most notably prescription drugs. More information on this program is available on the Ohio Department of Aging website. Another option for reducing one’s expenses is to receive assistance for home heating and cooling costs. More information is available about these programs here and here.  Finally, some in-home, non-care assistance services may be available locally from one of the state’s Area Agencies on Aging. Additional information about services for seniors under the Older Americans Act can be found here

PACE Programs in Ohio

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.

Seniors participating in the Ohio PACE program receive all their care services in a variety of institutional and community settings. These services include primary care, therapies, nursing home care, prescription medications, inpatient hospital care, personal care services, specialty care, and adult day health care. To be eligible for PACE in Ohio, participants must:

  • Be aged 55 or older
  • Live in the Cleveland area
  • Qualify for Medicaid if not paying for services out of pocket
  • Need an intermediate or skilled level of care
  • Be willing to receive all care from PACE providers
  • Be able to stay safely in a community setting

How To Get Started With PACE in Ohio

To start the intake process or ask questions about eligibility, call Ohio’s only PACE office listed in the table below. The Ohio Department of Medicaid is also a useful source of information and assistance.

PACE Provider

Contact

Areas Served

McGregor PACE 

(888) 895-7223

Cuyahoga County 

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, as well as eldercare loans.

Finding Affordable Care in Ohio

The two best strategies for affording the cost of care are 1) only opting for the level of care a loved one needs and 2) find a high-quality, affordable care provider. To help families make these strategies a reality, we have developed partnerships with several organizations who will, at no charge, help to assess an individual’s care requirements and match them with the most affordable care provider in their geographic area Click here to find affordable care.

Eldercare Financial Assistance Locator

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Top Cities for Senior Care in Ohio

For more information about the costs and resources available in Ohio cities, click on a link below. 

Top Cities for Memory Care

Top Cities for Assisted Living

Across Ohio in 2012, the average cost of assisted living is $3,713 / month which exceeds the national average by approximately $400 / month. Certain areas of the state average higher monthly costs, these include Akron, Columbus and to a lesser extent Dayton. Residents in these areas should expect to pay an additional $300 – $500 / month for assisted living care. The least expensive areas of Ohio to receive care are Youngstown, Steubenville, Mansfield and Springfield. Care recipients in these areas can expect monthly costs between $500 – $700 below the state average.

Alzheimer’s care (in assisted living residences) has traditionally been more expensive and Ohio is no exception. The additional monthly fees for residents suffering from Alzheimer’s is approximately $1,100. It is worth noting that that figure can vary widely depending on the stage of the disease. Individuals in the early stages may experience zero additional costs.