There are 85 assisted living facilities in Rhode Island. Although each is unique, they generally offer similar types of care for seniors who no longer feel able to live independently. According to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, the monthly median fee for assisted living in the state is $6,826. The precise fee the senior will pay depends on the facility’s location and its pricing structure. For example, a facility with a smaller staff-to-resident ratio and more luxurious amenities is likely to be costlier.

What Do Assisted Living Communities Offer Rhode Island’s Seniors?

As a minimum, seniors can expect a private or shared room (furnished or unfurnished) that will include closets, a kitchenette and a bathroom with a walk-in shower. They should also receive assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing and dressing. Most facilities will have awake staff on-site 24/7. Although each facility is unique, it’s not unusual to find that staff includes a registered nurse or a licensed nurse and certified nursing assistants. 

An assisted living facility is the resident’s home, so seniors should expect many homelike comforts. These typically include three chef-prepared meals served daily in a communal dining room, a lounge where residents can socialize together and a room set aside for exercise (many facilities have purpose-built fitness centers). It’s also common to find an on-site library, beauty salon/barbershop and landscaped grounds with walking paths. Some of the more luxurious facilities have swimming pools and spas. 

Paying for Assisted Living in Rhode Island

Rhode Island’s Medicaid program is unusual in the U.S. as it will pay for some nonmedical services provided in an assisted living facility. The SSI Enhanced Assisted Living Program can help cover room and board costs for people who satisfy the qualifying criteria. These include being a Rhode Island resident aged 65+ who doesn’t require nursing home levels of care and has an income on or below the program’s guidelines at the time of application. 

Medicare won’t pay nonmedical costs in an assisted living facility, such as room and board, but can pay medical costs. Some of the most common methods seniors employ to pay for assisted living include reverse mortgages, long-term care insurance and annuities. Veterans, their spouses and surviving spouses in receipt of a VA pension may be able to claim care costs if they qualify for the VA Aid and Attendance benefit.