Assisted Living in Pennsylvania

Community HealthChoices (CHC) is Pennsylvania's Medicaid long-term care program, and it can help pay for the care and support a person receives in an assisted living residence or personal care home. However, like all Medicaid programs, it never pays for room and board, so families still need a plan to cover the residential portion of the bill. Eligibility requires meeting Medicaid's financial limits and needing a nursing-facility level of care.

Costs vary widely depending on the community, the region of the state, the apartment size, and how much daily care a resident needs. The monthly base rate (room and board) is usually separate from care fees, which can rise as needs increase. See the pricing tables below for current rates at specific Pennsylvania communities.

Assisted living residences and personal care homes provide housing, meals, and help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication, but they are not medical facilities. Nursing homes provide round-the-clock skilled nursing and medical care for people with more complex health needs. Assisted living is licensed by the Department of Human Services, while nursing homes are licensed by the Department of Health.

To qualify for Community HealthChoices long-term services, a person generally must be 21 or older, meet Medicaid's income and asset limits, and need a nursing-facility level of care. You apply for the financial side through Medicaid (online via COMPASS or at a county assistance office) and for long-term services through the Independent Enrollment Broker, who arranges a needs assessment.

Use the state's official Human Services Provider Directory to confirm that a personal care home or assisted living residence holds a current license and to review its licensing status. The Bureau of Human Services Licensing inspects these communities and investigates complaints, and those records are public. If you have a concern about a community, you can file a complaint at 1-877-401-8835.

No. Medicare does not pay for assisted living room and board or for ongoing custodial care, which is the main service assisted living provides. Medicare may still cover medically necessary services such as doctor visits, short-term skilled nursing or rehab after a qualifying hospital stay, and some home health care. For free help understanding your Medicare coverage, contact PA MEDI (formerly APPRISE) at 1-800-783-7067.