The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Plainwell, MI for 2024

Assisted living is a senior housing option for aging adults who need some personalized support and light nursing care but want to retain their independence and have numerous socialization opportunities. The average cost of assisted living in Plainwell is $3,950, which is lower than the state and national averages.

This guide covers assisted living in Plainwell and helps older adults compare their senior care options. It provides cost comparisons, a list of benefits and drawbacks of living in Plainwell and mentions several free local resources that offer senior services and programs.

In Michigan, assisted living facilities are licensed as Homes for the Aged if they provide room and board, assistance and supervised personal care to residents aged 55 or older. The Adult Foster Care and Homes for the Aged Licensing Division handles licensing and regulation of these facilities. This division operates under the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

• Michigan’s state sales tax rate is 6%, and the state doesn’t allow cities or counties to charge local sales taxes. Prescription drugs and groceries, two potentially large expenses for seniors, are tax-exempt.
• Michigan isn’t usually considered tax-friendly towards retirees, but that’s largely due to above-average property taxes, which seniors in assisted living don’t have to worry about. The state charges a flat income tax rate of 4.25%. While some cities add local income taxes, Plainwell isn’t one of them. Seniors in Plainwell don’t pay taxes on Social Security benefits or military pensions but might on most other retirement income, depending on when they were born and their income level. Seniors born before 1946 enjoy the largest exemptions.
• The overall cost of living in Plainwell is slightly lower than the state average but it’s significantly lower than the national average by nearly 14%. Health care and groceries, which can be larger expenses for seniors, are lower than state and national averages by about 5% and 7%, respectively.
• Plainwell’s crime rates are lower than the state and national averages. Property crimes, such as burglaries and auto thefts, are rated 26.4 on a scale from one to 100 with 100 meaning high crime. The state average is 28.1, and the national average is 35.4. Violent crimes, such as robberies and murders, are rated 19.6 in Plainwell, 25.3 statewide and 22.7 nationwide.
• Seniors who loathe hot, muggy summers benefit from Plainwell’s mild climate during the summer months. The average July high is only about 83 degrees, which is lower than average, and Plainwell rates an impressive 9.1 out of 10 on the comfort index in the summertime. Alternately, it averages 75 inches of snow annually, compared to the national average of 28 inches. However, residents in assisted living don’t have to worry about shoveling snow.

According to Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey, the average monthly cost of assisted living in Plainwell is $3,950. Seniors in Plainwell who choose this care option pay $250 less than the state average and $350 less than the national average.

Plainwell’s lower-than-average cost of assisted living is also lower than many surrounding cities, but in Battle Creek, the cost is even lower by $225 per month. While the average cost is $53 higher per month in Niles, it’s substantially higher in Grand Rapids by $1,050 and in Lansing by $1,275.

When comparing other types of senior care, the average cost of adult day health care statewide is $2,080 per month. An average cost for adult day care isn’t available for Plainwell, but homemaker services cost an average of $4,481 and home health aide services run $4,576. Nursing homes provide a much higher level of care, but they’re the highest cost option. Semiprivate rooms in Plainwell cost an average of $10,159 per month, and private rooms cost about $10,965.

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 Michigan page.