Bethlehem is a midsized city located on the Lehigh River. Around 16% of Bethlehem’s 75,000 residents are aged 65 or older, and seniors in the city have access to a wide range of resources to help them as they age. St. Luke’s University Hospital has a specialist senior health unit that offers services including geriatric assessments and a senior emergency room.
Seniors who require high levels of supervision and medical care may wish to consider transitioning to a nursing home. These facilities offer a level of monitoring that can’t be provided to people still living at home, with aides and skilled nurses available around the clock. This level of service can be costly, though. The Genworth 2020 Cost of Care Survey shows that the average price for a semiprivate nursing home room in Bethlehem is $12,471, which is significantly higher than the national average of $7,756. Older adults who don’t need that level of care may find that home health care or assisted living are more affordable and appropriate options.
This guide details the cost of different senior care options and lists resources available to help Bethlehem’s residents as they age.
29 Results
4025 GREEN POND ROAD, Bethlehem, PA, 18020
4.2
(5 reviews)
"My husband was at Country Meadows Nursing Center of Bethlehem. We chose them because they had skilled nursing there, which he needed. A lot of the places said would give him some rehab, but it wasn't a skilled nursing facility. There are Country Mead..."
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724 Delaware Avenue, Bethlehem, PA, 18015
3.7
(7 reviews)
"My mother is in Cedarbrook Fountain Hill. It's like a rehab and a nursing home. We chose it because it was very convenient. It was right across the street from the hospital and they were only one of the few places that had a room available. They're d..."
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1 Kirkland Village Cir, Bethlehem, PA, 18017
"My husband was at Kirkland Village. He got good care but it's very pricey. He was there for rehab. They were good; they treated him well. He was clean, and his room was always kept nice. I can't complain about anything there. The staff was friendly. ..."
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1200 Spring Street, Bethlehem, PA, 18018
3.3
(3 reviews)
"My mom was at Holy Family, where she was for her rehab. We were very happy with the service there. The nurses were pretty attentive to her, and they were nice. I think she liked the fact that she could socialize with some of the other people. They ha..."
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2021 Westgate Drive, Bethlehem, PA, 18017
1.2
(5 reviews)
"Do NOT put your loved one in Westgate Manor Care. My father was there for a month before we had him transferred out. I would not put my dog in this facility! I would not put my worst enemy in this facility! There is not one single compliment I can g..."
READ MORECaring's Family Advisors are here to help you with questions about senior living and care options.
2855 SCHOENERSVILLE ROAD, Bethlehem, PA, 18017
"Good Shepherd Home-Bethlehem is a senior living provider located in Bethlehem, PA, specializing in skilled nursing care. This community is d..."
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800 Hausman Road, Allentown, PA, 18104
4.2
(15 reviews)
"Luther Crest invited us to hear their speaker, have lunch, and see the facility. The food was good. The facility was excellent although they are a little bit expensive. The common rooms were very good and extremely well organized. The only proble..."
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175 West North Street, Nazareth, PA, 18064
4.8
(6 reviews)
"Refund Plans: 75% less $28,000 health care component; Declining balance with full LifeCare for Life (65% of Entrance Fee)."
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3000 Fellowship Drive, Whitehall, PA, 18052
3.9
(18 reviews)
"My friend is currently at Fellowship Community in Whitehall, and it looks like it might be a permanent arrangement. I didn't make the decisions, her son did. She's very happy there. She's a very easy person to please. She just moved into that portion..."
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1925 Turner St, Allentown, PA, 18104
4.2
(13 reviews)
"We were very impressed with Phoebe Housing Inc. The staff was nice. The food was good. The facility was nice but they lack enough parking for the visitors. They had some brand new refurbished places that we looked at and some of the rooms and com..."
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803 North Wahneta Street, Allentown, PA, 18109
4.8
(4 reviews)
"In addition to the benefits of Pennsylvania?s tax-friendly retirement environment, we offer the convenience and culture of city living. We..."
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108 South Main Street, Richlandtown, PA, 18955
3.5
(14 reviews)
"Phoebe Richland is amazing. They made my mom feel at home, and she's happy. The grounds are beautiful, and it's a wonderful place. She's in long-term care, so she's right by the nurse's station, and they take good care of her. They have great activit..."
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2 Gracedale Avenue, Nazareth, PA, 18064
4.5
(2 reviews)
"My father moved into Gracedale and I think they're wonderful. It's not fancy, but it's clean, the people are caring, and I have no complaints at all. They have concerts and woodworking. The staff is very nice..."
READ MORE498 Washington Street, Easton, PA, 18042
3.9
(8 reviews)
"The staff is very caring ..."
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350 S Cedarbrook Road, Allentown, PA, 18104
3.6
(7 reviews)
"My father-in-law was in Cedarbrook Nursing Homes. It's a county home, it doesn't have amenities, and it's fairly big. He was in the dementia unit. It's clean, the staff was five stars, they had a lot of staff members, and they were very attentive. Th..."
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601 ST JOHN STREET, Allentown, PA, 18103
4.0
(1 reviews)
"Within Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital, there is an assisted living facility that is contained in what they call the Raker building. Most of the staff I encountered seemed friendly and willing to help, although some of the nurse aides seemed mo..."
READ MORE1265 SOUTH CEDAR CREST BLVD, Allentown, PA, 18103
3.5
(4 reviews)
"I am here right now. The staff is pretty good. They are very caring and patient. The room is clean, but there are two other people in it, and it has air conditioning and central heating. The food is good. ..."
READ MORE535 NORTH 17TH STREET, Allentown, PA, 18104
3.5
(2 reviews)
"Provided excellent care to my mother. ..."
READ MOREThe average cost of a semiprivate nursing home room in Bethlehem is $12,471 per month. For private rooms, the cost rises to $13,688.
Using the average cost of semiprivate rooms for comparison, Bethlehem’s nursing home costs are $4,715 higher than the national average of $7,756 and $2,441 higher than the state average of $10,030. In fact, Bethlehem’s nursing home costs are the highest in Pennsylvania.
In the nearby cities of Reading and East Stroudsburg, seniors pay $11,724 and $11,323, respectively. The costs in Pennsylvania’s largest city, Philadelphia, average $11,285. The most affordable nursing home care in the state can be found in Bloomsburg, where seniors pay just $8,578 per month.
Bethlehem
$12,471
Pennsylvania
$10,030
The United States
$7,756
Reading
$11,724
East Stroudsburg
$11,323
Bloomsburg
$8,578
Philadelphia
$11,285
Before deciding whether nursing home care is the right choice, it can be useful to compare costs with other types of care available. Adult day health care is the most affordable option at $1,625 per month, while assisted living averages $3,550. Home care and home health care in Bethlehem both cost an average of $4,576. Nursing home care is the least affordable option, at $12,471 for a semiprivate room and $13,688 for a private room.
Home care
$4,576
Home health care
$4,576
Adult day health care
$1,625
Assisted Living
$3,550
Nursing home (semiprivate room)
$12,471
Nursing home (private room)
$13,688
Note: Data for Bethlehem was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Allentown, was used instead.
Many seniors and their families use some form of financial assistance to help them pay for nursing care. The main options available are Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans benefits. These programs can be complicated, especially when it comes to benefit terms. Below, we give a brief overview of how these programs may be used towards paying for skilled nursing care.
If these options aren’t available to you, check if your loved one has long-term care insurance or contact your Area Agency on Aging to ask about any local financial assistance programs for seniors.
Many resources are available to assist Bethlehem residents as they age. Some resources can be used to help older adults remain at home so they can delay the transition to nursing home care. Others may help seniors understand and access nursing home care once it’s required.
| Resource | Contact | Service |
|---|---|---|
| Northampton County Area Agency on Aging | (610) 829-4540 | Northampton County Area Agency on Aging provides services and programs that help seniors over the age of 60. Programs that help older adults remain living in the community include adult day care, home care, home health care and legal services. The agency also provides case management and respite services, and it runs senior centers throughout the city. |
| Lehigh County Office of Aging and Adult Services | (610) 782-3034 | Seniors who live in Lehigh County may be able to access services through the Lehigh County Office of Aging and Adult Services. The office provides information to older adults and refers people to local resources. It also has adult day centers, in-home support and a senior center in Bethlehem. Assessment and case management staff can help seniors develop a care plan to support them as they age. |
| Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley | (610) 691-1030 | Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley supports seniors and adults with disabilities in the region. Its main service is providing home-delivered meals that are cardiac- and diabetic-friendly. The organization can also provide frozen meals and has a grocery shopping program to help those who have difficulty getting to the store. Some services incur a small charge. |
| ShareCare Faith in Action | (610) 867-2177 | ShareCare Faith in Action is a nonprofit organization that provides services to seniors in the Lehigh Valley. In addition to one-on-one caregiving services, ShareCare can assist with shopping and transportation. ShareCare volunteers can visit homes to provide companionship to isolated seniors, and the organization offers a therapy dog visitation service. All ShareCare services are provided free of charge. |
Nursing Homes
Vicki
3
Review of Country Meadows Nursing Center of Bethlehem
My dad was at Country Meadows Nursing and Rehab Center. For cleanliness, overall it's pretty clean. They could have improved on some things. They only gave him one shower in the 14 days that he was...
Provider response
Thank you for sharing your experience as it gives us the opportunity to clarify some points related to care: the shower schedules are based on the medical care plan specific to that patient. In...
Nursing Homes
Elaine
5
Review of Country Meadows Nursing Center of Bethlehem
My husband was at Country Meadows Nursing Center of Bethlehem. We chose them because they had skilled nursing there, which he needed. A lot of the places said would give him some rehab, but it...
Provider response
Thank you very much for sharing your family's experience with Country Meadows. We are grateful to you for sharing your husband with our team.
Nursing Homes
unhappyjr
1
Review of Kirkland Village
Would not recommend this for anybody in the world. My family member developed severe diarrhea while in this rehab facility and was left sitting in her own feces 4x in one day until we finally...
Provider response
We appreciate you taking the time to review us, despite the fact that we weren’t able to provide the best experience. We discussed your review with the leadership team and are sorry we did not meet...
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