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The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Bay City, MI for 2024

Bay City is located at the base of Saginaw Bay and is known locally for its scenic river walks, antique stores and charming downtown populated by boutique shops and a diverse range of restaurants. According to the 2020 Census, 14.8% of the 32,661 residents are aged 65 and older. The city’s appeal to elders may lie in its exceptionally low cost of living, affordable and easily accessible transportation options and quality health care.

Assisted living facilities provide nonmedical care for seniors struggling with daily living functions, such as bathing and dressing. Caregivers assist with personal care, medication management, cleaning and preparing meals. Most facilities allow seniors to furnish rooms with objects from their homes, and all manage a social calendar that enables residents to participate in group activities. The median monthly fee for assisted living in Bay City is $4,423, which is slightly above Michigan’s average but less than the national average.

In this guide, we discuss the pros and cons of living in Bay City and provide comparisons between costs for assisted living and alternative types of senior care. There’s also a list of free resources for seniors.

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Assisted Living Facilities in Bay City, Michigan

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What to Consider About Assisted Living in Bay City

Michigan doesn’t license assisted living facilities. However, if the level of care within a home for the aged or adult foster care facility meets the threshold for a specific license type, then the facility must apply for a license from the Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Community & Health Systems.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Assisted Living in Bay City

  • One of Bay City’s benefits is the low cost of living, which Sperling’s BestPlaces gives an index of 72.3. This is significantly lower than Michigan’s average of 89.6 and the country’s 100. Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume most residents get more for their money than their peers across the United States. Health care costs are a little above the state average, but these may be offset by traditionally lower costs in other living necessities, such as transportation.
  • Bay City experiences higher levels of crime than normal. BestPlaces’ U.S. ranking for violent crime is 22.7, while Bay City’s is 33.0. Property crime is also above the norm, ranking 42.5 for the city and 35.4 for the country. Although these figures reflect poorly on Bay City, seniors should know assisted living facilities take security seriously, often installing surveillance systems, and they have awake staff on-site around the clock.
  • BestPlaces rates Bay City more comfortable than most cities in Michigan, giving it a Comfort Index of 6.7 out of 10. It can get quite cold in January, with temperatures averaging 14 degrees and snowfall above the norm, but July’s temperatures average a pleasant 82 degrees and summer sees some of the driest days. Consequently, seniors with weaker respiratory systems shouldn’t encounter hot and humid days very often.
  • Bay City has a very good Health Cost Index score of 89.1/100. Although the city’s water quality is below-average and its work sanitizing contaminated land is slightly behind schedule, there are other factors that make it a healthier city overall. These include its air quality, which scores a very good 65 out of 100.
  • McLaren Bay Region is the largest hospital in Bay City. It’s a 415-bed facility specializing in primary and preventative care. U.S. News and World Report rates it high-performing in treating heart attacks, heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
  • Bay City Metropolitan Transportation Authority charges adults aged 60+ $0.50 for using its fixed route services. DART is a dial-a-ride paratransit service for seniors unable to use the fixed route system. Fares are $1.50 per one-way ride.

Paying for Assisted Living in Bay City

Although Bay City’s median monthly fee for assisted living of $4,423 is a little above the state midpoint of $4,250, it’s below the country’s average cost of $4,500. Consequently, the typical Bay City resident saves about $924 annually when compared to the typical American.

The Cost of Assisted Living in Nearby Cities

Bay City’s median fee for assisted living is at the costlier end of the spectrum for the area, although not as expensive as Midland’s $4,460. However, fees are typically more affordable in the nearest cities included in the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey. These include Saginaw ($4,225), Flint ($4,375) and Detroit ($4,215).

Bay City

$4,423

Michigan

$4,250

The United States

$4,500

Midland

$4,460

Flint

$4,375

Saginaw

$4,425

Detroit

$4,215

The Cost of Other Types of Senior Care

Assisted living is possibly the best value senior care option in Bay City because its median fee of $4,423 pays for personal care services, meals, accommodations and organized social events within the facility. In comparison, home care costs around $4,957, but seniors must still pay for their homes. Home health care’s median fee is also $4,957, although this covers basic medical assistance. Adult day care has the most affordable median fee at $1,647 per month, while nursing home care is the costliest at $9,125 for a standard semiprivate room.

In-Home Care

$4,957

Home Health Care

$4,957

Assisted Living Facility

$1,647

Assisted Living Facility

$4,423

Nursing Home (semiprivate room)

$9,125

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Bay City

Eligible Bay City seniors will find several federal and state programs to help them pay for assisted living. These include Healthy Michigan, MI Choice and Supplemental Security Income Category G.

Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Assisted Living in Michigan page.

Financial Assistance in Michigan

More Ways to Pay for Assisted Living

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:

  • Veterans Benefits
  • Life Insurance Policy
  • Long-Term Care Insurance
  • Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in Michigan page.

Free Assisted Living Resources in Bay City

Bay City seniors don’t need to handle problems on their own, as there are numerous government agencies and nonprofit organizations operating locally that can help. The following list includes those that specialize in legal issues, durable medical equipment loans, dispute resolutions with care providers and veterans’ benefits.

ResourceContactService
Michigan Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program(866) 485-9393The Michigan Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is a state-sponsored advocate for seniors residing in licensed residential care facilities, such as homes for the aged and adult foster homes. Its ombudsmen educate residents about their rights and investigate complaints, ensuring the complainant's anonymity at all times.
Bay County Department of Veteran Affairs(989) 895-4108The Bay County Department of Veteran Affairs provides information and support services to U.S. military vets and their dependents. These include helping vets get the state and federal benefits they're entitled to and some military-related allowances, such as the burial benefit.
Medical Loan Closet(989) 895-5444The Disability Services Resource Center operates a medical loan closet that provides durable equipment to needy Bay City residents for free. As the center relies on donated equipment, there may be a delay before the senior can get what they need. Common equipment includes wheelchairs, crutches, walkers and canes.
Lakeshore Legal Aid(888) 783-8190Funded by a grant from Bay County, Lakeshore Legal Aid provides free advice to Bay City residents of all income levels who are aged 60+. Appointments take place at Bay City's Department of Aging main office twice per month. Lakeshore Legal Aid can assist in civil law matters only.
Bay County Volunteer Program(989) 895-4100Bay County's Volunteer Program helps older adults use their free time to support others in the community. Some roles allow seniors to use existing skills, while others require training. They include providing tax assistance, delivering meals to homebound seniors, assisting in a senior center and supporting special events.

Assisted Living Laws and Regulations in Bay City

Bay City Assisted Living Communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all Assisted Living Facilities in Michigan are required to follow. Visit our Assisted Living in Michigan page for more information about these laws.

Assisted Living Laws and Regulations in Michigan

Reviews of Communities Nearby

Assisted Living

Eldest Daughter

I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident

Review of Bayfield Assisted Living & Memory Care

I spent a year looking at assisted living places for Mom and Dad. My friend, who is an RN that worked with elderly patients and families for 35 years, recommended I look into Bayfield. My parents...

Provider response

Hello, It's great to hear that you have peace of mind when it comes to your mom and dad's care at Bayfield! Thank you for taking the time to write this review.

Read more

Assisted Living

Daughter

I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident

Review of Bayfield Assisted Living & Memory Care

Bayfield is so lovely … such wonderful people work there! My mom has made many new friends. She is in her 5th year living there and is flourishing. We are very happy!

Provider response

Hello, We love hearing that your mom is thriving at Bayfield Assisted Living and Memory Care for so long! It's great to hear you have peace of mind. Thank you for your review!

Read more

Assisted Living

Julie

I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident

Review of Bayfield Assisted Living & Memory Care

My Dad had care in his home and then transitioned to Assisted Living at a different facility for the past year. I cannot stress how important it is to trust your gut instincts when your loved one...

Provider response

Hi Julie, We are so happy to read your review! Thank you for highlighting our amazing team and community on being dedicated to your dad's care. We love having him in the community.

Read more

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Caring.com

Caring.com is a leading online destination for caregivers seeking information and support as they care for aging parents, spouses, and other loved ones. We offer thousands of original articles, helpful tools, advice from more than 50 leading experts, a community of caregivers, and a comprehensive directory of caregiving services.

 

The material on this site is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, financial, professional, or medical advice or diagnosis or treatment. By using our website, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

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