The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Bridgeport, CT for 2023

Home to over 1,300 acres of parkland, scenic shorelines and unique cultural amenities, Bridgeport provides an engaging environment for seniors. The city is home to nearly 150,000 residents, about 12% of whom are aged 65 and older. It features two hospitals, promoting high access to medical services, and it has a reliable public transportation service for older adults. The city also has a variety of long-term care solutions for seniors who need a helping hand throughout the day, including several assisted living facilities. 

Assisted living is an option for older adults who need daily help and are seeking a maintenance-free lifestyle. It offers comfortable housing and services such as medication reminders, housekeeping and daily meals, and residents can participate in social and recreational activities depending on their interests. On average, seniors in Bridgeport pay $6,273 per month for care, which is high compared to the respective state and national norms of $5,129 and $4,500.

This guide provides more details on assisted living in Bridgeport, including how local costs compare to rates in nearby cities and some options seniors have for paying for care. It also highlights some pros and cons of moving to Bridgeport for long-term care.

The Department of Public Health, Facility Licensing and Investigations Section, oversees assisted living facilities in Bridgeport and the rest of Connecticut. These facilities are officially called assisted living service agencies, and they comply with minimum standards for housing, nutrition and medication services, staffing and scope of care. The department enforces these guidelines through a strict licensing process and routine inspections.

• Connecticut seniors pay state income taxes on all forms of retirement income. While the state exempts taxes on Social Security benefits for those whose income falls below a certain threshold, public and private pensions and withdrawals from retirement accounts are taxed at normal rates. Fortunately, there are local nonprofit organizations that provide free tax filing assistance to help seniors claim the deductions and exemptions they qualify for.
• The air quality in Bridgeport is subpar and may adversely affect the health of some seniors. The American Lung Association gives the region an F for ozone pollution, also called smog. Particle pollution levels are more moderate, earning the region a C for levels over a 24-hour period and a passing score for annual levels. To keep residents comfortable, many assisted living facilities have air purification systems.
• CTtransit, the local public transportation service, offers reduced bus fares for those aged 65 and over. This provides a budget-friendly option for those who don’t drive, letting them attend errands and appointments without relying on a private vehicle or services through their assisted living facilities.
• Two hospitals serve Bridgeport, including St. Vincent’s Medical Center and Bridgeport Hospital, promoting access to diverse medical services. Additionally, there are about 288 doctors per 100,000 people compared to the national norm of 210. While local health care costs trend about 6% higher than the U.S. average, many assisted living facilities provide telemedicine services, letting residents avoid some doctor’s office visits.
• The cost of living in Bridgeport comes in at 114.3 on a 100-point index based on national norms. While this is consistent with statewide norms, local costs for groceries, utilities and transportation trend higher than nationwide averages, which may be a consideration for some. Opting for assisted living may help seniors predict and budget for month-to-month living costs.
• Bridgeport has comfortable summers and mild winters, appealing to seniors who enjoy relaxing outdoors. The city gets about 47 inches of rainfall and 30 inches of snow annually, with measurable precipitation falling about 116 days per year. Highs in July reach 83 degrees, and nighttime lows in January average 22 degrees.

 

In Bridgeport, assisted living facilities charge $6,273 per month for care.

Bridgeport is the costliest surveyed city in Connecticut for those seeking residential long-term care, with assisted living facilities charging $6,273 per month for services. This is over $1,100 higher than the state norm, and it’s about 40% higher than the national average of $4,500. Seniors may save about $1,050 per month by choosing an assisted living facility in Hartford, and in New Haven, rates are nearly $1,200 less than in Bridgeport. In Norwich, seniors pay $4,300 for care, and across state lines in New York, NY, care costs average $5,750.

At $6,273 per month, assisted living is among the costliest long-term care options in Bridgeport. While this option may be a budget-friendly alternative to nursing home care, which starts at $16,805 for around-the-clock medical services and monitoring, seniors may pay lower care costs by obtaining services in their own homes. Those who opt for in-home care and home health care pay $5,339 for services, and those who choose adult day health care pay $1,619 per month.

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 Connecticut page.