Assisted Living in Rhode Island

Assisted living in Rhode Island offers seniors long-term housing and care in a safe, social community setting. The average cost of assisted living in Rhode Island is $5,228 a month according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. From charming New England towns such as Woonsocket to beach communities like South Kingstown, Rhode Island has a variety of benefits for seniors seeking assisted living in one of the nation’s most historic states.

The average monthly cost of assisted living in Rhode Island is $5,228 or $62,736 per year, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. This amount is slightly than the monthly national average of $4,826 per month and reflects base room and board at our partner communities. Services, amenities, and care needs affect the overall cost, as do location and apartment size and layout.

Assisted living costs in Rhode Island are lower than in other New England states such as Massachusetts and Connecticut. Throughout the state, costs vary considerably: communities located in Providence are typically more costly than those in smaller towns like North Kingstown and Wakefield Peacedale.

For seniors who are living with dementia and who need a higher level of care, memory care in Rhode Island costs about $1,000 more per month than assisted living, but offers families peace of mind that their loved one is receiving the right level and type of care.

Read more:Assisted Living vs. Memory Care: 5 Key Differences

In Rhode Island, most families use a combination of private and publicly funded programs to cover the costs associated with 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. For an in-depth look at different payment options, visit our complete guide to paying for long-term care.

Private pay options

Private pay is the most common way that seniors in Rhode Island cover the cost of assisted living. Options include pensions, retirement accounts, and personal assets, as well as Social Security benefits. Families can also leverage home equity through a sale or reverse mortgage. Additionally, some life insurance policies can be converted to cash.

VA benefits

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) makes several benefit programs available to veterans and their surviving spouses and payments from these programs can be used to offset the cost of assisted living. Because navigating these resources can be complex and time-consuming, it’s a good idea to work with an accredited benefits counselor. The RIVETS Veterans Resource Center in Providence helps elderly veterans understand their options and apply for benefits. Call 401-921-2119 to speak with an accredited veterans service officer (VSO).

Medicaid

Medicaid is a public health insurance program jointly funded by the state and federal governments. It provides health and other benefits to eligible people who have low incomes and those who have certain disabilities and conditions. Rhode Island Medicaid can be used to cover certain expenses associated with assisted living in three ways:

1. Medicaid for Elders and Adults with Disabilities, or EAD, is part of the state’s regular Medicaid plan and is an entitlement, meaning that all eligible seniors will receive services.
2. The Long-Term Services and Supports program is a home- and community-based services (HCBS) waiver program and isn’t an entitlement. Waitlists may apply.
3. The SSI Enhanced Assisted Living Program offers financial assistance to eligible seniors who need the kind of services and supports provided in assisted living. The SSI enhanced benefit is an increased Supplemental Social Security Income payment that qualifying seniors can use to pay for room and board in an approved assisted living community.

For more information and help in applying for Medicaid, contact MyOptionsRI at 401- 462-4444 or visit a local chapter of the Office of Healthy Aging.

Medicare

Medicare is a federal health insurance program available to adults over 65 years of age. Medicare benefits may cover some medical expenses in assisted living, such as on-site therapy services, prescription drugs, skilled nursing, and medical supplies, but it won’t cover room and board.

Rhode Island’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is a network of trained, compassionate volunteers and community partners dedicated to helping seniors find the right Medicare coverage. They provide free, unbiased, personal guidance based on your loved one’s individual health and personal care needs. Call them at 888-884-8721.

In Rhode Island, the Center for Health Facility Regulation within the Department of Health, licenses the state’s assisted living communities, also known as assisted living residences (ALRs). These communities are designed for seniors who don’t need significant medical or nursing care, but who do need help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and personal grooming, and medication assistance.^[05]

Residences are licensed according to fire code requirements, medication management needs, and whether they provide dementia care.

• Fire code: Level 1 applies to residents who can’t self-evacuate in an emergency. Level 2 applies to residents who.
• Medication: Level 1 is required when one or more residents need medications to be centrally stored or administered by staff. Level 2 applies when residents only need help with self-administering their medications.
• Dementia care: This type of license is required when one or more residents have dementia-related symptoms that affect their ability to function and meet specific regulatory criteria. Communities that provide dementia care must hold Level 1 licensure for both fire safety and medication management.

A residence may operate distinct areas under separate licenses, depending on the level of care provided.

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

Use the license lookup tool provided by the Rhode Island Department of Health to find a community’s license status, inspection reports, and disciplinary actions.

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.