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The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Altoona, PA for 2024

The scenic city of Altoona may be an ideal retirement option for seniors seeking mild weather, a low cost of living and access to health care. It has a large senior community that makes up 17% of its 44,000 residents, which it supports through a dedicated transportation service, four city-funded senior centers and a wide range of long-term care options.

Assisted living is one of the most popular long-term care solutions for Altoona seniors looking for a maintenance-free lifestyle. This residential option includes daily meals and snacks, dynamic social and recreational activities and personalized care services. Many assisted living facilities let residents keep pets and have on-site amenities, such as walking paths, libraries, movie theaters and fitness centers. Some facilities also coordinate skilled nursing services for those who qualify for nursing home care but want a less intensive environment. On average, seniors in Altoona pay $4,030 per month for assisted living, which is affordable compared to the state norm of $4,100 and the national average of $4,500.

This guide provides more information on assisted living costs in Altoona and options for paying for care. It also highlights benefits and drawbacks of moving to this city for retirement. 

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Assisted Living Facilities in Altoona, Pennsylvania

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What to Consider About Assisted Living in Altoona

The Department of Human Services licenses, monitors and regulates assisted living facilities in Altoona and the rest of Pennsylvania. This department publishes general information on the rules and minimum standards facilities comply with, and it has an online complaint form to let individuals file concerns or complaints regarding substandard care or incidents that take place.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Assisted Living in Altoona

  • Altoona has a low cost of living, making it an attractive option for older adults living on fixed incomes. On an index set to a national norm of 100, the city rates 74.8, about 20 points lower than the statewide rating. Housing costs are about 60% lower here than the national average, and costs for utilities, transportation and groceries trend lower than in other U.S. cities, which may promote competitive assisted living costs.
  • Altoona seniors don’t pay state income taxes on withdrawals from retirement accounts or Social Security benefits, providing significant savings for those who rely on these forms of income. Additionally, the state exempts all pension income for taxpayers aged 60 and over, which may help seniors afford assisted living expenses.
  • The air quality in Altoona is good, supporting the health and comfort of older adults considering the region for long-term care. The American Lung Association gives the region a passing score for annual particle pollution and B grades for short-term particle and ozone pollution levels.
  • Blair Senior Services provides low-cost door-to-door transportation services to those aged 60 and over in the Altoona region. This service can supplement paid services available through assisted living facilities to help older adults attend errands, medical appointments and social and recreational outings. To use this service, seniors must schedule their trip at least 24 hours in advance by calling the office toll-free at (800) 458-5552.
  • UPMC Altoona is a 380-bed acute-care nonprofit community hospital that provides surgical services, emergency care and inpatient and outpatient services to Altoona residents of all ages. The city has 245 doctors per capita compared to 210 nationally, promoting access to prompt primary and specialty services.
  • Altoona is one of the cooler places to live in Pennsylvania and rates 9.1 on a 10-point comfort index for its mild weather and generally low humidity levels. Over the course of the year, the city’s temperature ranges from 17 degrees in the winter to 82 in the summer. To help residents stay comfortable, many assisted living facilities provide individual climate controls in residents’ rooms and host indoor activities year-round.

 

Paying for Assisted Living in Altoona

In Altoona, assisted living facilities charge approximately $4,030 per month for care.

The Cost of Assisted Living in Nearby Cities

Seniors in Altoona pay monthly median rates of $4,030 for assisted living. This is $70 below the Pennsylvania norm, and it offers significant monthly savings over the national norm of $4,500. Despite this, several nearby cities have more affordable care costs, including Pittsburgh, where monthly fees are competitive at $3,250, and Johnstown, where older adults pay $1,300 less per month for care than assisted living residents in Altoona. Rates in State College are about $500 higher than in Altoona, and in Chambersburg, monthly care fees average $4,823.

Altoona

$4,030

Pennsylvania

$4,100

United States

$4,500

Johnstown

$2,725

State College

$4,518

Chambersburg

$4,823

Pittsburgh

$3,250

The Cost of Other Types of Senior Care

Seniors in Altoona pay $4,030 per month for assisted living services, including housing and daily meals. Assisted living is an affordable alternative to home care and home health care, which feature a similar scope of services in the individual’s home for $4,290 per month. Nursing home rates are about double the cost of assisted living at $9,946 per month for a semiprivate room. Adult day health care is the only surveyed option with lower care costs, with seniors paying $1,625 for services. 

In-Home Care

$4,290

Home Health Care

$4,290

Adult Day Health Care

$1,625

Assisted Living Facility

$4,030

Nursing Home Facility (semiprivate room)

$9,946

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Altoona

The state of Pennsylvania does not offer any explicit resources for financial assistance for assisted living (PCH). The state's official website that discusses options for paying for long-term care suggests enrolling in long-term insurance or paying with personal savings.

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

Financial Assistance in Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania page.

Free Assisted Living Resources in Altoona

Altoona and the surrounding area are home to numerous government agencies and non-profit organizations offering help for seniors searching for or currently residing in an assisted living community. These organizations can also provide assistance in a number of other eldercare services such as geriatric care management, elder law advice, estate planning, finding home care and health and wellness programs.

To see a list of free assisted living resources in Altoona, please visit our Assisted Living in Pennsylvania page.

Assisted Living Laws and Regulations in Altoona

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

Laws and Regulations in Pennsylvania

Reviews of Communities Nearby

Assisted Living

jesshoover

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

Review of Graystone Manor at Bellmeade

My great aunt lives here and loves it. She enjoys the sense of community it gives her. The staff there is so kind and helpful with her as well.

Read more

Assisted Living

C.Hav

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

Review of Graystone Manor at Bellmeade

No one here is qualified for the position. Girls giving meds take a one week test and carehelpers are CNA without any schooling at all. Also very dirty. Only one girl on one shift for all the...

Read more

Assisted Living

Betsy

I visited this facility

Review of Graystone Manor at Bellmeade

Graystone Manor at Bellmeade was unimpressive. The apartments were a lot smaller and a lot of them were shared rooms, which we did not want. Activities were limited, too. The dining area was...

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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