The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Cullman, AL for 2024

Cullman is a charming community with a vibrant downtown area that reflects its German heritage, unique museums and a wide selection of locally owned stores and restaurants, offering an engaging backdrop for retirement living. It supports its senior population, an age group that makes up a fifth of its 19,000 residents, through retiree-friendly tax laws, a dedicated public transportation service and medical and social services through its local hospital.

Cullman also has several assisted living facilities to meet the needs of those who need a daily helping hand. These residential facilities provide hands-on help with activities such as showering, dressing and personal grooming, and they provide daily meals and recreational activities to promote residents’ health and wellness. Assisted living residents in this city pay approximately $3,439 per month for care and housing, although rates may vary considerably depending on the amenities a facility has. This is lower than Alabama’s norm of $3,503, and it’s over $1,000 less than the nationwide median.

This guide provides more information on how assisted living rates in Cullman compare to care costs in other Alabama communities. It also outlines some rules that all facilities in the city follow. 

All assisted living facilities in Cullman are regulated by the Alabama Department of Public Health, Bureau of Health Provider Standards. This agency defines what assisted living facilities are and sets minimum standards for food services, services, staffing and safety. To ensure compliance with these rules, it conducts scheduled and unannounced site inspections.

 

• In Alabama, seniors pay state income taxes at rates ranging from 2% to 5% on the income they draw from their retirement savings accounts. However, the state exempts Social Security benefits and all public and private pension income, which may make assisted living in Cullman financially viable for those who rely on these forms of income.
• Cullman Regional Medical Center, located in Cullman proper, is a 151-bed hospital with 50 physicians on staff. It offers a wide range of specialties, including orthopedics, cardiovascular services and pulmonology, along with emergency and primary care services. To support access to care, many assisted living facilities in the city provide medical concierge services and transportation to medical appointments.
• Cullman experiences long, hot summers and mild, wet winters, making the city a favorable option for older adults sensitive to cold weather. Average temperatures range from 34 to 89 degrees Fahrenheit over the course of the year, and extreme temperatures are rarely below 19 degrees Fahrenheit or higher than 95 degrees Fahrenheit. To help residents stay comfortable during the hottest months, assisted living facilities often have amenities such as swimming pools and individual climate controls.
• Seniors in Cullman may obtain transportation services through the Cullman Area Rural Transportation System. This organization operates a fleet of buses that provide transportation on weekdays to area medical facilities, shopping destinations and government offices. In addition to this, free transportation is available to and from local senior centers.
• Based on the American Lung Association’s data for the Birmingham metro area, Cullman residents should prepare for poor air quality throughout the year. Out of 227 metropolitan regions nationwide, this area ranks in the 35 worst for high ozone days. Additionally, it’s the 18th worst out of 200 regions for annual particle pollution. Fortunately, many assisted living facilities have air purification systems to support residents’ safety and comfort.

 

Assisted living facilities in Cullman charge $3,439 per month for care.

In Cullman, assisted living residents pay $3,439 per month for housing and personal care services. This is a little lower than Alabama’s norm of $3,503, and it’s about 24% lower than the national average. Even so, some nearby cities have more competitive costs, including Huntsville, where assisted living facilities charge $3,345 for services, and Gadsden, where monthly fees are about 18% lower than in Cullman. On the other hand, Cullman may be a cost-effective alternative to Birmingham and Florence, where respective monthly rates come in at $4,028 and $4,150.

In Cullman, assisted living facilities charge $3,439 per month on average for care. This is several hundred dollars lower than the cost of in-home care, which features personal care services in the individual’s home for $3,956 per month. Similarly, assisted living costs 18% less than home health care, which includes skilled nursing services, and it’s 57% lower than the cost of nursing home care.

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 Alabama page.