Assisted Living in Maryland

Assisted living communities in Maryland are designed to promote independence, dignity, and healthy aging. They provide supervision, supportive services, and assistance with activities of daily living in the state known for steamed crabs, Old Bay™ seasoning, and “The Star Spangled Banner.” The average monthly cost of assisted living in Maryland is $5,386, about $1,000 higher than the national average, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data.

The average monthly cost of assisted living in Maryland is $5,386, or $70,032 per year, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data.^[01] This is about $1,000 higher than the national average cost, and reflects base room and board costs at our partner assisted living communities. Location, room size, and certain amenities affect the total cost.

Pricewise, assisted living in Maryland compares favorably with neighboring states. Delaware, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. cost more on average. In nearby Pennsylvania, the average monthly cost for assisted living is about $1,350 lower. Generally, assisted living costs more in larger cities, but this isn’t the case in Maryland. In the Baltimore area, the cost of assisted living is  about $850 lower per month than the state average. Communities in Silver Spring, a suburb of Washington, D.C., have some of the highest rates in the state.

For seniors who can live independently and want to downsize, independent living costs a little under $4,000 per month, on average.

Read more:Assisted Living vs. Independent Living: What’s the Difference?

Families generally use a combination of personal funds and public assistance programs to cover the costs of assisted living. Because costs and eligibility can vary widely, it’s best to plan early to understand which payment options apply to your loved one’s situation. We’ll explore some of these options below. For a high-level overview of payment options, read the complete guide to paying for long-term care.

Private pay options

Personal funds, or private pay methods, are the most common source of payment for assisted living. These include retirement accounts, pensions, personal savings, assets, and funds contributed by family members. Social Security benefits are another source, as are health savings accounts (HSAs), and some life insurance policies.

Read more: Does Long-Term Care Insurance Cover Assisted Living?

VA benefits

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) makes several benefit programs available to eligible veterans and their surviving spouses. Navigating the benefit application process can be complicated, so consider working with an accredited VA benefits counselor. The Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families maintains offices around the state to assist with benefits applications. Find your local office to make an appointment for assistance or call the main office in Annapolis at 410-260-3838.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a jointly funded program of federal and state governments. It’s designed to help people who have low incomes or who are living with disabilities. In Maryland, the Medicaid program is known as Medical Assistance (MA), and while it doesn’t cover room and board in assisted living, it can cover some health and personal care expenses.

In addition to the state’s regular Medicaid plan for aged, blind, and disabled residents, Maryland’s MA program offers the following home- and community-based services programs:

• Home and Community Based Options Waiver. This program provides assisted living, case management, medical day care, respite care, senior center plus, behavior consultation services, family training, and nutritionist/dietitian services to individuals 65 and older and younger individuals who have physical disabilities and who require a nursing home level of care.
• Medical Day Care Services Waiver. This program provides help with activities of daily living, nursing services, medication management, meals, and socialization opportunities.
• Increased Community Services Program. Through this program, assisted living residents may receive personal care services from an agency or from their caregivers of choice, as long as they meet program requirements.

Maryland’s regular Medicaid plan is an entitlement program, meaning that all eligible residents will receive services. Waiver programs aren’t entitlements, so enrollment is limited and waitlists may apply.

If you or your loved one has questions about Maryland’s long term care programs, contact a local Department of Human Services office.

Maryland’s Senior Assisted Living Subsidy Program

Maryland offers a unique Senior Assisted Living Subsidy Program for older adults who have low or moderate incomes. The program doesn’t require recipients to qualify for Medicaid, but it does have income and asset limits. The program uses state funds to subsidize recipients care needs in assisted living facilities that are licensed by the Maryland Department of Health. The subsidy covers the difference between monthly income and senior living costs, up to $1,056 per month.

Medicare

Medicare is a federally funded health insurance program available to all people 65 and older and to younger people who have certain conditions. While Medicare doesn’t cover room and board in assisted living communities, it can help with medically necessary services and products that seniors in assisted living may need, such as medication management, wound care, physical or occupational therapy, medical supplies, doctor’s visits, and durable medical equipment.^[07]

The State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) in Maryland offers free, personalized, and unbiased insurance counseling for seniors. For help in choosing and applying for the right Medicare plan, call 410-767-1100 to speak with a local representative.

The Maryland Office of Health Care Quality within the Department of Health is responsible for regulating and licensing assisted living communities. The state doesn’t set a minimum number of residents for licensure, so any facility with two or more unrelated residents can be licensed as an assisted living community.

There are three types of assisted living licenses in Maryland, and they’re classified according to the level of care they provide. Level 1 provides the lowest level of care; level 2 communities provide moderate care, and level 3 communities provide the highest level of care. Most assisted living communities in Maryland are licensed at level 3, meaning they can also admit people who need level 1 or level 2 care.^[08]

Regulations that set minimum standards for resident care, facilities operations, and staff training for Maryland’s assisted living communities are designed to ensure that residents receive safe, high-quality care.

How to check license status and inspection reports for Maryland assisted living facilities

Use the Maryland Quality Reporting website to find information about assisted living communities, including costs, ownership type, and services offered, as well as inspection and complaint reports.

Why do licensure and inspection reports matter to families?

State regulations — and a community’s track record with inspections and licensing — offer important insights into safety and quality of care in senior living communities.

Download the Guide to Senior Living Licensure and Inspection Reports to learn what to look for in inspection reports and what questions to ask when touring communities. This resource explains how to use state licensure and inspection information to evaluate a community’s compliance, care standards, and responsiveness to issues.