The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Baton Rouge, LA for 2023

Baton Rouge is the second-largest city in Louisiana and the state’s capital. Out of its 227,470 residents, 14.7% are seniors aged 65 and older. With its diverse population, warm climate, rich history and low taxes, Baton Rouge remains a popular retirement destination for Louisiana’s seniors. Baton Rouge’s older adult population can take advantage of the city’s many hospitals, health care centers and Medicare-registered physicians.

Along with hospitals and health care centers, Baton Rouge has many assisted living facilities for seniors who can live independently if they have assistance with some activities associated with daily living. These activities can include bathing, dressing, grooming and many other services, depending on the needs of the resident. On average, seniors in Baton Rouge pay $4,125 per month for assisted living care. That’s below the national average and competitive with other cities in Louisiana.

This guide will help seniors and their families learn more about assisted living costs in Baton Rouge and how these costs compare to nearby cities and the U.S. as a whole. It also features the pros and cons of assisted living in Baton Rouge and an overview of the free resources available to seniors living in the city.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is the stage agency that oversees and regulates all assisted living facilities statewide. The department is in charge of licensing for all Adult Residential Care Providers (ACRP), which include assisted living, nursing homes and memory care facilities. ACRPs are divided into four levels depending on the number of residents. 

• Baton Rouge has a number of financial benefits for seniors. The state of Louisiana does not tax Social Security payments or pensions. Additionally, residents aged 65 and older can exclude up to $6,000 of their annual retirement income from their taxable income. Property taxes and cost of living are low, so seniors living on limited incomes can make the most of their money.
• There are 11 hospitals in Baton Rouge, including the nationally recognized Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. The hospital also ranks as the best in Baton Rouge and the 3rd best in Louisiana overall. In addition to its 11 hospitals, there is a high number of health care facilities and Medicare-registered physicians throughout the city.
• Baton Rouge averages more than 60 inches of rain each year, making it one of the rainiest cities in the United States. But the city also has mild winters with no snow, and warm summers with plenty of sunshine. 
• The air quality in Baton Rouge has improved in recent years, but it’s generally still worse than the national average. The city received an F grade from the American Lung Association because of high levels of ozone pollution.
• Rates of violent crime and property crime in Baton Rouge are more than twice the national average. However, as with any large city, there are safe neighborhoods and not-so-safe neighborhoods. Neighborhoods located further away from the city’s center generally have lower crime rates than in the middle of downtown. 
• Only 14.7% of Baton Rouge’s population are seniors, and the city’s median age is 31. The city ranks at or near the national average ratings for the AARP’s Livability Index, most notably scoring a 59 rating for housing compared to the national average of 50. 

Assisted Living Facilities in Baton Rouge cost an average of $4,125 per month. This is higher than Louisiana’s statewide average of $3,748, but slightly lower than the nationwide average of $4,500. 

At $4,125 per month, Baton Rouge is one of Louisiana’s more expensive cities for assisted living. Only the southern Houma area has a higher monthly average cost at $4,800 per month. The populous New Orleans area averages $3,973 per month, while the city of Alexandria averages $2,900 per month. The least expensive city is located in the northernmost part of the state: Monroe residents pay an average of $2,650 per month for assisted living. 

Assisted Living is one of the more expensive types of senior care in Baton Rouge, second to only a semi-private room in a nursing facility, which costs $5,627 per month. Adult day health care services are the lowest priced at $2,513 per month, while both in-home care and home health care cost an average of $3,813 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 Louisiana page.