Seniors looking for a very small city to retire in may enjoy Plainwell. It’s home to less than 3,800 residents, and 19% of them are seniors aged 65 or older. Despite its small size, Plainwell has a unique variety of restaurants and shopping opportunities, including some quaint boutiques downtown. It’s also conveniently located about 15 miles from Kalamazoo and 37 miles from Grand Rapids. Taxes are senior-friendly, summers are mild and crime rates are relatively low.

Assisted living is a senior housing option for aging adults who need some personalized support and light nursing care but want to retain their independence and have numerous socialization opportunities. The average cost of assisted living in Plainwell is $3,950, which is lower than the state and national averages.

This guide covers assisted living in Plainwell and helps older adults compare their senior care options. It provides cost comparisons, a list of benefits and drawbacks of living in Plainwell and mentions several free local resources that offer senior services and programs.

Directory of Assisted Living Facilities in Plainwell, MI

Stanford Lodge of Plainwell

409 Naomi Street, Plainwell, MI, 49080

My mom is 90 years old and she needed immediate assistance. I needed an assisted living facility that fit my budget and included range of services. I was glad that Stanford was one stop Shop and provi … (read more)
My mom is 90 years old and she needed immediate assistance. I needed an assisted living facility that fit my budget and included range of services. I was glad that Stanford was one stop Shop and provi … (read more)

Life Care Center of Plainwell

320 Brigham Street, Plainwell, MI, 49080

My friend is currently at Life Care Center of Plainwell, and we are very happy with it. The staff is very attentive. They answer any questions. They’re very caring and helpful. They have activities. T … (read more)
My friend is currently at Life Care Center of Plainwell, and we are very happy with it. The staff is very attentive. They answer any questions. They’re very caring and helpful. They have activities. T … (read more)

William Crispe Community House

203 W Bridge St., Plainwell, MI, 49080

I love it there. It seems like such a friendly environment for residents to make friends. They always have something exciting going on, and/or crafts and projects for the residents to do. It’s a very … (read more)
I love it there. It seems like such a friendly environment for residents to make friends. They always have something exciting going on, and/or crafts and projects for the residents to do. It’s a very … (read more)

Friendship Village Kalamazoo

1400 North Drake Rd, Kalamazoo, MI, 49006

We have been very pleased with the care that mom has been getting at Woodside at Friendship Village. I noticed there were turnovers of different caregivers and nurses and that’s understandable, but th … (read more)
We have been very pleased with the care that mom has been getting at Woodside at Friendship Village. I noticed there were turnovers of different caregivers and nurses and that’s understandable, but th … (read more)

StoryPoint Kalamazoo

1700 Bronson Way, Kalamazoo, MI, 49009

Caring, compassionate, caregivers. Excellent PT, OT, SLP therapists.
Caring, compassionate, caregivers. Excellent PT, OT, SLP therapists.

Kauhale Otsego

700 Eley Street, Otsego, MI, 49078


Friendship Village

1400 N Drake Rd, Kalamazoo, MI, 49009

Friendship Village offers residents a warm welcome and an accommodating stay at all levels of care. Nestled amid the cozy woodlands of Kalamazoo, Michigan, this facility actively promotes physical and … (read more)
Friendship Village offers residents a warm welcome and an accommodating stay at all levels of care. Nestled amid the cozy woodlands of Kalamazoo, Michigan, this facility actively promotes physical and … (read more)

Diana’s Care LLC

328 E Morrell St, Otsego, MI, 49078

We chose Diana’s Care LLC for my grandma, and she already moved in. It’s been great so far, it’s a small community, and they only have nine other people. She likes it, the people who work there are ve … (read more)
We chose Diana’s Care LLC for my grandma, and she already moved in. It’s been great so far, it’s a small community, and they only have nine other people. She likes it, the people who work there are ve … (read more)

Butterfly Oasis

3113 Parchmount Ave., Kalamazoo, MI, 49004


Morrell’S Family Home

1212 110Th Ave, Martin, MI, 49070


Docate Manor

5297 Clato Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49004


What to Consider About Assisted Living in Plainwell

In Michigan, assisted living facilities are licensed as Homes for the Aged if they provide room and board, assistance and supervised personal care to residents aged 55 or older. The Adult Foster Care and Homes for the Aged Licensing Division handles licensing and regulation of these facilities. This division operates under the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Assisted Living in Plainwell

  • Michigan’s state sales tax rate is 6%, and the state doesn’t allow cities or counties to charge local sales taxes. Prescription drugs and groceries, two potentially large expenses for seniors, are tax-exempt.
  • Michigan isn’t usually considered tax-friendly towards retirees, but that’s largely due to above-average property taxes, which seniors in assisted living don’t have to worry about. The state charges a flat income tax rate of 4.25%. While some cities add local income taxes, Plainwell isn’t one of them. Seniors in Plainwell don’t pay taxes on Social Security benefits or military pensions but might on most other retirement income, depending on when they were born and their income level. Seniors born before 1946 enjoy the largest exemptions.
  • The overall cost of living in Plainwell is slightly lower than the state average but it’s significantly lower than the national average by nearly 14%. Health care and groceries, which can be larger expenses for seniors, are lower than state and national averages by about 5% and 7%, respectively.
  • Plainwell’s crime rates are lower than the state and national averages. Property crimes, such as burglaries and auto thefts, are rated 26.4 on a scale from one to 100 with 100 meaning high crime. The state average is 28.1, and the national average is 35.4. Violent crimes, such as robberies and murders, are rated 19.6 in Plainwell, 25.3 statewide and 22.7 nationwide.
  • Seniors who loathe hot, muggy summers benefit from Plainwell’s mild climate during the summer months. The average July high is only about 83 degrees, which is lower than average, and Plainwell rates an impressive 9.1 out of 10 on the comfort index in the summertime. Alternately, it averages 75 inches of snow annually, compared to the national average of 28 inches. However, residents in assisted living don’t have to worry about shoveling snow.

Paying for Assisted Living in Plainwell

According to Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey, the average monthly cost of assisted living in Plainwell is $3,950. Seniors in Plainwell who choose this care option pay $250 less than the state average and $350 less than the national average.

The Cost of Assisted Living in Nearby Cities

Plainwell’s lower-than-average cost of assisted living is also lower than many surrounding cities, but in Battle Creek, the cost is even lower by $225 per month. While the average cost is $53 higher per month in Niles, it’s substantially higher in Grand Rapids by $1,050 and in Lansing by $1,275.

$3950

Plainwell

$4200

Michigan

$4300

The United States

$3725

Battle Creek

$4003

Niles

$5000

Grand Rapids

$5225

Lansing

The Cost of Other Types of Senior Care

When comparing other types of senior care, the average cost of adult day health care statewide is $2,080 per month. An average cost for adult day care isn’t available for Plainwell, but homemaker services cost an average of $4,481 and home health aide services run $4,576. Nursing homes provide a much higher level of care, but they’re the highest cost option. Semiprivate rooms in Plainwell cost an average of $10,159 per month, and private rooms cost about $10,965.

$4481

Assisted living

$4576

Adult day care

$3950

Home health care services

$10159

Nursing home (semiprivate room)

$10965

Nursing home (private room)

Note: Data for Plainwell was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Kalamazoo, was used instead.

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Plainwell

Michigan provides personal care services through the Medicaid State Plan, which covers homes for the aged. It also provides an optional state supplement for supplemental security income recipients who reside in a home for the aged that limits room and board charges.

Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Assisted Living in Michigan page.

Paying for Assisted Living Facilities in Michigan

More Ways to Pay for Assisted Living

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 Michigan page.

Free Assisted Living Resources in Plainwell

Seniors in Plainwell who are looking for services and programs that help them remain healthy and active can find several free resources offering services from transportation to legal assistance.

Resource

Contact 

Services

(888) 456-5664

The AAAWM provides information about programs, services and housing options to seniors in nine counties, including Allegan County. The agency works with a statewide network of more than 1,200 service providers, including state agencies, county commissions on aging and local senior citizen centers.

(866) 485-9393

MLTCOP strives to improve the quality of care and quality of life of residents in licensed long-term care facilities, including assisted living. Trained ombudsmen advocate for residents and help them resolve any concerns or questions they have about these facilities.

(269) 673-5472

Community Action of Allegan County provides senior services to residents aged 60 or older who meet income eligibility. It offers nutrition programs, medical benefits assistance, volunteer opportunities and outreach, information and referrals. Community Action also provides senior transportation throughout the county to medical or legal appointments, nutrition programs and other necessary outings. Transportation must be scheduled in advance and is based on availability.

(877) 673-5333

Senior Services is committed to helping seniors in Allegan County remain independent by providing necessary support. Programs include personal emergency response systems, nutrition programs, senior transportation and outreach and assistance. Senior Services offers volunteer opportunities and elder abuse presentations.

(616) 394-1380

Legal Aid of Western Michigan’s Holland Office supplies free legal help to seniors in Allegan County. The organization helps when legal problems threaten a senior’s basic living needs, such as housing, income security, food security, access to health care and protection from domestic violence. Attorneys at the nonprofit law office only handle civil matters, not criminal matters. They negotiate settlements and provide counsel, advice and representation in court and administrative hearings.

Assisted Living Laws and Regulations in Plainwell

Plainwell-area assisted living communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all assisted living communities in Michigan are required to follow. Visit our Assisted Living in Michigan page for more information about these laws.

Assisted Living Laws and Regulations in Michigan