Outback Care Group III
6930 Buena Vista Road, Columbus, GA, 31907
"Truly a Blessing Veteran Home is a premier assisted living and memory care community located in East Columbus Georgia. Nestled in a pecan or..."
READ MORESeniors in Columbus who struggle with common chores, such as cleaning, but are determined to retain their independence, sometimes gravitate towards assisted living communities. Although each community is unique, common to most is 24/7 security and daily tasks, such as preparing meals, fulfilled by trained staff. For many seniors, assisted living is a more affordable form of care, with the added attraction of not infringing on their autonomy. Typical monthly costs in Columbus, according to the Genworth 2020 Cost of Care Survey, are $3,650. Although this is $150 above the state average, it’s also $650 below the national average.
This guide details care costs in Columbus, in addition to discussing the city’s advantages and disadvantages. It also lists some resources for seniors considering assisted living.
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6930 Buena Vista Road, Columbus, GA, 31907
"Truly a Blessing Veteran Home is a premier assisted living and memory care community located in East Columbus Georgia. Nestled in a pecan or..."
READ MORE6726 Buena Vista Road, Columbus, GA, 31907
"Outback Care Group offers Family Style Living that will make you feel right at home! Truly a Blessing is clean and homey with a traditio..."
READ MORE6934 Buena Vista Rd, Columbus, GA, 31907
"Truly a Blessing Veteran Home is a premier assisted living and memory care community located in East Columbus Georgia. Nestled in a pecan or..."
READ MORE3020 Lee Road 430, Smiths, AL, 36877
5.0
(1 reviews)
"My father has been at Lakewood Senior Living of Smiths for seven years, and he is happy. It is small, there are only 16 residents, and the people that work there are just wonderful. He has a one-bedroom apartment with a big closet, a big bath, and a ..."
READ MOREThe Georgia Department of Community Health is ultimately responsible for ensuring the state’s assisted living facilities operate to a high standard. The department has the authority to issue and revoke licenses. Although the Long-Term Care Ombudsman conducts monitoring services that feed into the data held by the Department of Community Health, it has no direct authority over assisted living facilities.
Although the average assisted living costs of $3,650 place Columbus at the higher end of the scale within the state, the 2020 Genworth Cost of Care Survey shows the city’s seniors pay $650 per month less than the typical American.
Despite seniors in Columbus paying, on average, $3,650 per month, which is $100 above the state average, there are more costly locations, such as Atlanta at $4,000. However, Columbus is the most expensive in the immediate area. Approximately 90 minutes south in Albany, it’s not unusual to see costs of $2,835, while in Macon, they’re $105 per month less than that. The most affordable city is Warner Robins, where it’s normal to see averages of $2,300.
Columbus
$3,650
Georgia
$3,500
The United States
$4,300
Warner Robins
$2,300
Macon
$2,730
Albany
$2,835
Atlanta
$4,000
Even though assisted living offers accommodation with care, its costs of $3,650 are still $163 per month below those of home and home health care, which each have average costs of $3,813. If the senior is able-bodied, an adult day center is the most affordable option, with fees of around $1,300. The most expensive is nursing home care. Families can expect a semiprivate room to cost around $6,494 and a private room, $6,798.
Home care
$3,813
Home health care
$3,813
Adult day health care
$1,300
Assisted living
$3,650
Nursing home (semiprivate room)
$6,494
Nursing home (private room)
$6,798
Eligible seniors can apply for financial assistance with assisted living in Columbus through two state-operated programs: Service Options Using Resources in a Community Environment (SOURCE) and the Community Care Service Program (CCSP). Both of these are Medicaid waiver programs and are subject to availability.
Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Assisted Living in Georgia page.
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:
For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in Georgia page.
Seniors and families looking for resources that may help make assisted living more affordable should consider the following options, which also list where to get help if an assisted living facility’s practices are concerning.
Resource | Contact | Service |
---|---|---|
VA Aid and Attendance Benefits | (762) 408-1327 | Veterans of the U.S. military and their spouses who currently reside in senior living facilities can apply for the VA Aid and Attendance benefit to help cover some of their costs. Various criteria can affect the monthly payments, with the maximums being $1,881 for an individual vet, $2,230 for a couple and $1,209 for a surviving spouse. Vets who are unsure if they’re eligible can check by using the free online tool provided by VeteranAid.org. |
GeorgiaCares | (866) 552-4464 | Georgia Cares is a program administered by the Division of Aging Services. It’s for seniors who need more information and assistance regarding Medicare and is entirely free of charge. Seniors meet face-to-face or by phone with counselors who can help them access their coverage requirements and identify potential shortfalls. The counselors can then explain the different Medicare-related options available, which may include private health care insurance. However, the counselors are unbiased. They won’t try to sell insurance plans. Their additional services include helping with appeals. |
Georgia Medicaid – Long-Term Services and Supports | (404) 657-5468 | Medicaid is unable to help low-income seniors cover room and board costs in their assisted living facilities. However, it may be able to meet some other costs, such as transportation for medical appointments and medications. The Community Care Services Program (CCSP) is a waiver available to seniors who satisfy certain conditions. These include that their income levels don’t exceed the maximum allowed by the waiver, that they are U.S. citizens, or legal residents, and that their main home is in Georgia. Seniors must also provide proof that the care they receive is suitable for their needs. |
Long-Term Care Ombudsman | (229) 432-1124 | Seniors in residential care communities can call on the help of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman if they have issues with the care they are receiving. The ombudsman will investigate complaints and pursue a resolution between the senior and their facility’s owners. Families and third parties can also register their concerns about care standards. |
Columbus-area assisted living communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all assisted living communities in Georgia are required to follow. Visit our Assisted Living in Georgia page for more information about these laws.
Assisted Living
Pat32
5
Review of Oaks at Grove Park
My mother-in-law moved to Oaks at Grove Park. It looks very good and they've got all kinds of activities and different care levels, three meals a day, seven days a week, and the food is very good....
Provider response
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review of our community. We are grateful for the opportunity to care for your mother-in-law.
Assisted Living
My Mom
5
Review of The Landings of Columbus
I was at my lowest looking for a place for my mom. I called the Landings on a Friday and the voice on the other end sounded so friendly. When I told her I was calling from out of town she said...
Assisted Living
Yolanda
5
Review of Oaks at Maple Ridge
We moved my mother to Oaks at Maple Ridge. We like the location and the facility itself. We like the staff that we met there. We liked everything about it. We had a meal there and it was delicious....
Provider response
Thank you for the kind words and five star review. We are grateful for the opportunity to provide care for your mother.