The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Columbia, MO for 2023

Columbia is set in the middle of Missouri, roughly equidistant from Kansas City and St. Louis. Livability.com rated Columbia #6 in its Top 100 Best Places to Live in 2019. Approximately 10.6% of the city’s 123,000 residents are aged 65 and over. Many are drawn in by the city’s blend of old-world charm and modernity. Boutique stores and artisan farmers’ markets abound, as do thrift shops and shopping malls. It’s also a city of parks with acres of unspoiled landscapes, such as Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary.

Assisted living facilities offer alternative residences for seniors who struggle with common tasks, such as housekeeping, dressing, and maintaining hygiene. Although each facility is unique, most provide residents with freshly-prepared meals, personal care and 24/7 security. In most other aspects, seniors continue to live independent lives. According to the 2020 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, monthly fees for assisted living in Columbia average $2,900, which is more affordable than the state average of $3,000 and the national average of $4,300.

This guide covers senior living costs in more detail, in addition to the pros and cons of living in Columbia. It also lists resources for seniors considering assisted living.

The Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services is responsible for regulating assisted living facilities throughout the state. Its work includes conducting unannounced inspections to ensure licensed facilities are complying with standards. Additionally, it reviews reports submitted by the Long-Term Care Ombudsman regarding complaints made by residents and others, which can influence decisions to issue and revoke licenses.

• According to Neighborhood Scout, Columbia is below the national average for violent crime and above for property crime. Generally speaking, those south of I-70 experience less crime than those in the north, although neighborhoods in the northwest and northeast have good reputations, too. It’s also worth noting that seniors are less likely to be involved in crime than all other age groups.
• Columbia’s climate can vary throughout the year. Winter months can see temperatures fall to 21 degrees Fahrenheit with up to six inches of snow, while summer months can regularly see temperatures of 88 degrees. Due to precipitation levels, the summer months can also be muggy. However, spring starts early in Columbia, its trees blooming with vibrantly colored flowers that decorate the city for many months to come.
• Seniors in Columbia have access to excellent health care services. Doctor.com records 292 Medicare registered physicians in Columbia, which includes family doctors, internists and orthopedic surgeons. There are also seven hospitals, including the University of Missouri Healthcare-Columbia and Boone Hospital Center, ranked #12 and #4 in the state by U.S. News & World Report.
• Sperling’s Best Places bases its cost of living indices on a national average of 100, with states above that figure being more expensive. Columbia’s cost of living is rated 87.9, indicating that the incomes of its residents can go further. Only health care, which comes in at 100.6, is generally more expensive. All other costs in the city, including transportation, are typically below-average.
• Columbia’s climate adversely affects the city’s air quality. However, with a score of 55, it’s only just below the national average of 58. Water quality is above average, scoring 60 against the U.S. average of 55. Columbia’s greatest contribution to improving the local environment is its commitment to clearing up contaminated land as part of the EPA’s Superfund project. The city scores an almost perfect 98, far above the national average of 87.

Upon publishing its 2020 Cost of Care Survey, Genworth revealed Columbia to be one of the most affordable cities in the state for assisted living. The survey also showed the sometimes surprising differences in costs between different types of senior care.

At $2,900 per month, Columbia’s assisted living costs are lower than every other city in Missouri except Joplin, where costs average at $2,500 — $500 below the state average. Despite being only 35 minutes from Columbia, seniors in Jefferson City typically pay $250 more per month. Costs in St. Joseph are even higher, at $3,488, while Kansas City has the most expensive assisted living costs in the state, at $4,460. 

The 2020 Genworth survey didn’t include figures for adult day care in Columbia, but the state average is $1,788 per month. Assisted living is the next most affordable type of care at $2,900, despite including accommodation. Its costs are $1,676 below those of home and home health care, which both average at $4,576. Nursing homes are the least affordable type of care, with the typical semiprivate room costing $4,940 per month and private rooms coming in at an average of $5,870.

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 Missouri page.