10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Racine for 2024

Racine is home to numerous assisted living facilities. These facilities provide housing, meals, personal care and social and recreational programs, promoting a worry-free lifestyle for those who need some help with daily living activities. Some facilities provide amenities such as libraries, salons, pools and fitness centers, while others are smaller with family-like environments. Costs vary considerably depending on amenities, but seniors in Racine pay approximately $4,650 per month for care.  

This guide provides an overview of assisted living in Racine, including the benefits and drawbacks of living in this city and the cost of senior care. It also highlights some programs and services available to local seniors. 

In Racine, as in the rest of Wisconsin, assisted living facilities are officially called community-based residential facilities and are governed by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. This department enforces regulations regarding staffing, scope of care and intake and discharge procedures, and it ensures a high standard of care through an initial and annual licensing process and scheduled and unannounced inspections.   

• Racine is among the most affordable places to live in Wisconsin. Its overall cost of living is about 10% below the state median and 20% below the national average, making it a budget-friendly option for seniors with limited incomes. Housing is especially affordable, which may drive down the cost of assisted living, but residents also save money on transportation expenses and personal groceries.  
• Seniors in Racine don’t pay state taxes on their Social Security benefits, regardless of their income, and government pensions aren’t taxed at the state level under certain circumstances. Income from retirement accounts and private pensions is taxable. Property taxes in Wisconsin are very high, which may make assisted living a good option for those with budgetary considerations.  
• Crime is a little more common in Racine than in the nation as a whole. On a 100-point crime index, the city is rated 23.9 for violent crime and 45.2 for property crime versus the respective national rates of 22.7 and 35.4. However, the violent crime rate has been trending downward for the past two decades, which may provide peace of mind for those considering this city for their retirement.  
• While winters in Racine tend to be harsh, with lows around 15 degrees and 40 inches of snowfall, summers are very comfortable, with July highs around 80 degrees. July is the most humid month, but humidity levels are comfortably low for the rest of the year. 
• Racine Transit provides public transportation services in Racine and operates several bus lines throughout the region, which can supplement transportation services that assisted living facilities provide. The public buses help residents get to destinations such as grocery stores, restaurants and government buildings, and all buses comply with ADA guidelines. Discounted fares are available to those aged 65 and over.  
• There are several high-performing hospitals in and near Racine, providing easy access to primary and specialty care for older adults. Among the region’s hospitals is Ascension All Saints Hospital, a critical care hospital that provides cardiology services, geriatrics and orthopedics.   

Racine is a moderately expensive option for assisted living. According to Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey, facilities charge an average of $4,650 per month for lodging and services, which is $250 higher than the state rate of $4,400 and $350 above the national median of $4,300. 

With monthly assisted living fees coming in at $4,650, Racine is one of the more expensive surveyed cities for this type of care. Those seeking more affordable options may consider the La Crosse area, which encompasses La Crosse and Onalaska and has an average monthly assisted living rate of $3,845. Assisted living in Fond du Lac is priced similarly to Racine at $4,686. Milwaukee and Appleton are considerably pricier, with monthly fees coming in at $5,073 and $5,500, respectively.  

While assisted living fees in Racine exceed the state median at $4,650 per month, this type of care is among the more affordable options for local seniors. The only cheaper care option is adult day health care, which provides daytime services in a community setting for approximately $1,300 per month. Homemaker services, which offer a similar scope of care to assisted living in the individual’s own home, and home health aides, who perform some skilled nursing services, cost $5,148. Nursing home care is considerably more expensive at $9,277 per month for shared rooms and $10,494 for private rooms.  

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 Wisconsin page.