In Pennsylvania, assisted living residences provide food, shelter, personal care, and supplemental health care services to individuals requiring assistance or supervision with activities of daily living or medication administration. On average, assisted living in Pennsylvania costs $4,489 per month, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. To keep up with Pennsylvania’s increasing senior population, the state has a range of assisted living communities — from Allentown to Philadelphia — to accommodate various budgets, care needs, and lifestyles.
Trying to decide on the best place for mom was not easy!! Visits to many facilities, but after visiting Arden Courts it was clear this was the place!! [name removed] and [name removed], caring staff, lots of...
My father loved living here, it became home to him within a few days. The staff in the dining room were attentive and treated him like a member of their family. The caregivers were prompt and respectful...
The staff was very kind and caring. My mother ended up needing hospice, and the KV staff were wonderful. The facility was very clean at all times, the food was also well prepared. The administrative staff...
First, they have a great staff and friendly residents. Here they have activities every day if you wish to participate. The facility is clean and they do come clean the apartments depending on your needs...
It has been wonderful. The staff is great and so easy to work with. Mom is really happy and her apartment is beautiful! I didn't know that she had already toured the facility and was looking at their...
They have wonderful facilities, staff very accommodating. My Aunt just needed more hands on care. I would recommend them to others who are searching for a place for their loved one.
My mother is as happy as one can be in a memory care facility. [Name Removed] the activities director, is wonderful. The nurses and caregivers seem very nice as well. .om seems well cared for.
They were the easiest to work with and we were in a crunch which they worked with for personal care. We like the facility. It's a great place. The price is high though.
All the staff seem nice, there is a nice selection of activities to choose from, food is good. Room and building are clean. I would like to see better up keep with the walkways, especially since so many...
Everything was excellent from the staff going overboard to please a very angry and difficult client to wonderful food and superb attention at every step from all staff. Room was good size and many furniture...
Room size is great even in memory care. The staff and level of care are all a 10. The memory care director [name removed] is amazing. She works very hard and is very communicative. Their activities list is...
Staff is extremely friendly. They all know the residents names. The residents are also very friendly and caring for each other. The food is very good. The facility is spacious with activities going on all...
I would definitely give it a five star rating. They took care of Mrs. Leap very well. The food is fabulous there. The activities that they do is fabulous there. I would definitely recommend it to anyone....
Room is a nice size and is very well kept. They do a lot of activities and rides to Valley Forge. My mom likes it. I have not eaten at the facilities but the food looks very good. The staff is friendly every...
Pennsylvania seniors and their families can expect a monthly cost of $4,489, or $53,868 per year, for assisted living, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. This is about $340 lower than the national average cost. These prices reflect the room and board rate at our partner communities. Location, extra amenities, the level of care needed, and other factors can affect the total cost.
Pennsylvania is generally less expensive than its neighbors when it comes to assisted living. For example, assisted living in Maryland costs about $1,000 more per month on average. Costs also vary throughout the state. In Philadelphia, assisted living generally costs about $5,593 per month, while the Steel City of Pittsburgh offers savings of about $690 per month.
Assisted living costs in Pennsylvania typically fall in the middle of the senior care spectrum. Nursing homes tend to cost slightly more, while memory care communities generally run about $1,000 more per month due to their specialized services and staffing. While cost is an important factor, choosing the level of care that best supports your loved one’s health, safety, and quality of life is often the more meaningful decision in the long run.
Read more:Assisted Living vs. Memory Care: 5 Key Differences
Average monthly costs
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US National average
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Average monthly costs
Average monthly costs
| Community type | Pennsylvania | U.S. | Cost difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assisted Living | $5,655/mo | $5,830/mo | 3.0% below national average |
| Memory Care | $7,186/mo | $6,999/mo | 2.7% above national average |
| Independent Living | $3,724/mo | $3,520/mo | 5.8% above national average |
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In Pennsylvania, most families use a combination of private funds and public 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 is the most common way for families in Pennsylvania to pay for assisted living. Options may include savings accounts or retirement pensions, as well as the proceeds from selling house, life insurance, or long-term care insurance. Keep in mind that your loved one’s Social Security benefits are also a source of personal income, which can be used to pay for assisted living.
Seniors who served in the military and their surviving spouses may qualify for veterans benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Payments from these programs are made directly to the recipient and may be used to pay for assisted living. Seniors who have questions about their veterans benefits, or who need help with the VA benefits application process, should contact an accredited benefits counselor. Each county in the Commonwealth has a Director of Veterans Affairs, who is an accredited veterans service officer (VSO). Find a local VSO or call 800-547-2838.
Medicaid is a publicly funded program that provides support to people who have low incomes and certain conditions and disabilities. In Pennsylvania, the Medicaid program is called Medical Assistance, and covers certain health and personal care services in two ways: through the state’s regular Medicaid plan and through a home- and community-based services (HCBS) waiver program.
The state’s regular Medicaid plan for aged, blind, and disabled residents is an entitlement, and can help cover the costs of services and products such as skilled nursing, dietary services, medical and surgical supplies, and more. The Community HealthChoices HCBS waiver is not an entitlement and covers the cost of help with activities of daily living (ADLs), transportation, personal emergency response systems, and more depending on the recipient’s needs and circumstances.
Entitlement programs are open to all eligible Pennsylvania residents, while waiver programs tend to have limited availability and waitlists may apply. If you or your loved one has questions about Pennsylvania Medicaid’s benefits or the application process, contact a county-based caseworker or call 866-550-4355.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for seniors 65 years or older and younger people who are living with certain conditions. Medicare doesn’t cover room and board in assisted living, but it can help cover the cost of medically necessary services and products for residents in an assisted living community, such as doctor’s appointments, physical and occupational therapy, medications, medical supplies, and more.[04]
Pennsylvania’s state health insurance assistance program (SHIP) operates PA MEDI, or Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight. PA MEDI counselors are specially trained to help the state’s seniors understand and make decisions about their insurance coverage, including Medicare, Medicaid, and long-term care insurance.
In Pennsylvania, the Bureau of Human Services Licensing within the Department of Human Services grants two types of assisted living licenses in the Commonwealth. The two differ primarily in the level and type of care they provide and in the living arrangements they offer.
Both personal care homes and assisted living residences must be inspected each year and are required to provide appropriate care and support to residents who are living with dementia.
Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services maintains the Human Services Provider Directory, which provides an overview of a facility’s ownership, license status, and recent inspection reports.
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.
Let our care assessment guide you
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
A Place for Mom. (2026). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Medicaid/Medical Assistance.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Community HealthChoices.
U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Get started with Medicare. Medicare.gov.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Personal care homes.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Assisted living residences.
Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in PA
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