La Plata, a suburb of Washington, D.C., has 9,631 residents. Seniors 65 and over make up 17.2% of its population. For health care, the town’s seniors have access to UM Charles Regional Medical Center and multiple specialists available for geriatric care. Nursing home care costs here are above the national average, but they are relatively low compared to other Maryland cities. According to the Genworth 2020 Cost of Care Survey, a semiprivate room in La Plata has an average monthly rate of $8,137, in contrast to the national median of $7,756 and the statewide average of $10,190.
Nursing homes are designed to care for frail or chronically ill older adults who need supervision and assistance with daily living activities. These highly regulated facilities provide personalized services including round-the-clock monitoring, skilled nursing, physical, occupational and speech therapy and social programming. These make nursing homes dramatically costlier than other senior living options. Home health care or assisted living may be more affordable alternatives for those who do not yet require institution-level care.
This guide reviews the costs of senior care options in La Plata. It also provides some local services that support the town’s elders and their families.