The 3 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Branson, MO for 2024

Branson also has several assisted living facilities to support those who are largely independent but need help with some daily activities. These facilities provide individualized care plans, daily meals and recreational activities in a residential setting, making them a popular option for seniors with minimal medical needs. On average, assisted living facilities in Branson charge $3,250 per month for care. While this is about $1,250 below the national norm, it exceeds Missouri’s average of $3,000.

This guide gives an in-depth look at how local assisted living rates compare to other communities in Missouri, and highlights available care payment options. It also outlines some of the state-mandated rules assisted living facilities follow related to services, staffing and scope of care.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Section for Long-Term Care Regulation, licenses assisted living facilities in Branson and enforces minimum standards related to staffing, housing, nutrition services and care planning. It also fields and investigates complaints regarding subpar care or living conditions.

• Branson is among the most affordable places to live in Missouri, which may help seniors maintain a comfortable standard of living throughout retirement. On a 100-point cost of living index based on national norms, the city rates 79.6, which is 6 points below Missouri’s average. This indicates living costs are 20% lower than those in a typical U.S. city.
• Crime, particularly property-related offenses, is somewhat prevalent in Branson. On a 100-point crime index that gives higher marks to cities with more reported crime, Branson rates 41.2 for violent incidents and 96.4 for property crime. By comparison, national scores come in at 22.7 and 35.4, respectively. While this may be a concern for vulnerable individuals who live alone, assisted living facilities offer protection with features such as security gates, controlled access and surveillance cameras.
• The weather in Branson is most pleasant in late spring and early fall, making the city a good fit for many older adults who enjoy seasonal changes. Winters are chilly with nighttime temperatures around 22 degrees, and the city sees about 8 inches of annual snowfall, much of which comes in January. Summers are warm with highs near 90, and humidity levels are generally low.
• Seniors in Branson can supplement transportation services available through assisted living with services from OATS Transit. This service is available throughout the region and includes deviated-fixed and intercity express routes, as well as special services for seniors, veterans and those with disabilities.
• One hospital, Cox Medical Center Branson, serves residents in the Branson region. This full-service hospital features a state-of-the-art emergency room, on-site radiology services, support groups and a full range of inpatient and outpatient services. The number of doctors per capita in Branson is about 30% below the national norm, but assisted living facilities promote access to care through on-call physicians and telemedicine services.
• Seniors whose incomes fall below a certain threshold don’t pay state income taxes on their Social Security benefits, and exemptions are available to reduce what seniors pay on withdrawals from retirement accounts. This can make assisted living in Branson financially viable for many older adults.

 

In Branson, assisted living facilities charge $3,250 per month for accommodations and care.

In Branson, assisted living costs come in at $3,250 per month. While this exceeds Missouri’s norm of $3,000, it’s about $1,250 below the national average. Local care costs make it a budget-friendly alternative to Kansas City, where rates average $4,585. However, most surrounding cities offer lower care costs, including Joplin, where monthly fees come in at $2,805. In Cape Girardeau, seniors pay $2,538 for services, and in Jefferson City, rates are even lower at $2,075.

Compared to other senior care options in Branson, assisted living is among the most cost-effective options at $3,250 per month. This is about $1,500 lower than the cost of nonmedical in-home care and home health care, which includes skilled nursing. Adult day health care is the only option that’s more economically priced, with rates coming in at $1,788. Nursing home care, which provides around-the-clock medical care and monitoring, costs about $2,000 more per month than 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 Missouri page.