Assisted Living Facilities in New Iberia, LA

Assisted living facilities provide 24/7 care for seniors with varying levels of nonmedical needs, although they can discharge limited medical care when necessary. Residents’ needs can vary, but a typical inhabitant is someone requiring assistance with daily living tasks, such as bathing and dressing. The facilities also have staff to take care of housekeeping duties, including laundry, and chefs to prepare fresh meals daily. New Iberia’s average monthly fee is $3,850, which is around $100 more than the state average but significantly less than normal for the country.

This guide discusses the advantages and disadvantages of living in New Iberia, as well as costs for assisted living and other types of senior care. There’s also a list of resources seniors may find useful.

The Health Standards Section of the Louisiana Department of Health is responsible for licensing assisted living facilities in the state as well as managing certifications for those authorized to accept Medicaid and Medicare. To check on facilities’ regulatory compliance, it frequently conducts unannounced surveys and inspections. It investigates service complaints and abuse and exploitation allegations. 

• Property crime in New Iberia is above the national average but below the norm for the state, with the chances of being a victim 1 in 42, compared to Louisiana’s 1 in 35. Violent crime is below the state median also, but by a much more significant margin of 1 in 453 against 1 in 157. Seniors concerned about crime may be interested to know assisted living facilities frequently employ security systems that include surveillance cameras and have staff on-site 24/7.
• Several medical facilities serve New Iberia’s population, including the Iberia Medical Center and the Iberia Rehabilitation Hospital, a resource with an excellent reputation for helping patients recover from an array of ailments as well as surgery. There’s also the New Iberia Behavioral Health Clinic, which supports clients dealing with a range of mental health conditions.
• Summers in New Iberia can be trying for seniors with respiratory conditions due to regular highs of 92 degrees and significantly above-average rainfall, the combination of which makes the frequent sunny days occasionally oppressive. However, the subtropical climate has also created a landscape brimming with lush trees and green lawns. In winter, average temperatures are much more comfortable at 42 degrees, which, although cool, isn’t so chilly that New Iberia’s seniors need to worry about slipping on icy sidewalks.
• At 81.5, the average cost of living index for New Iberia is below the state median of 86.9 and significantly lower than the national average of 100. Health care costs can be a little above the norm for Louisiana, but they’re still below what the average American expects to pay.
• SMILE is a nonprofit community action agency that provides low-cost transportation throughout Iberia parish, as well as limited services in the parishes of Lafayette and St. Martin. Although its primary purpose is to help needy residents get to critical appointments on time, it can also be used for trips to grocery stores.

The results of the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey show New Iberia’s average monthly fee for assisted living is above the state median of $3,748 by around $102 per month. However, it’s also below the national average by approximately $650.

Despite costing more, New Iberia’s average assisted living fee compares favorably with other cities in southeastern Louisiana, such as Lake Charles ($4,000), New Orleans ($3,973) and particularly Houma ($4,800). However, fees further north are frequently lower, such as in Monroe, where $2,650 is the norm.

Despite offering different services, in-home care and home health care cost around the same, at $3,813 per month. Assisted living is costlier at $3,850, but this also pays for accommodations and meals. Nursing home facilities also deliver medical care with accommodations, which is why fees increase to $5,272 for a semiprivate room. The Genworth survey doesn’t record New Iberia’s adult day health care fees, but the state average of $1,788 may hint at likely costs.

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 Louisiana page.