The 5 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Ithaca, NY for 2023

Ithaca is a city of about 32,000 residents, 6% of whom are aged 65 and over. While its senior community is small compared to national norms, it offers a range of benefits to seniors, making it a preferred retirement option for many. It’s among the most affordable places to live in New York with a cost of living that’s well below the state average, and it offers some of the lowest violent crime rates in the nation. Health care is affordable and widely available, and reliable public bus service makes it easy to attend medical appointments, as well as shopping centers and entertainment venues.

Ithaca has the highest recorded assisted living rates in the state, with seniors paying $8,075 per month for residential care. This is a few thousand dollars over the state and national averages of $4,580 and $4,500, which may be a consideration for some retirees. Assisted living facilities are ideal for seniors who need daily assistance and limited skilled nursing services. These facilities provide personal care, meals and recreational activities in a residential setting.

Through this guide, readers can find information on paying for assisted living and connecting with community-based programs in the region.

New York’s Department of Health licenses assisted living facilities in the state, including those in Ithaca. Through the department’s website, individuals can learn more about the rules assisted living facilities follow related to housing and care planning, see the outcomes of recent inspections and learn about residents’ rights.

• Ithaca’s overall cost of living is comparable to the national norm and about 23 percentage points lower than the state average on a 100-point index. While miscellaneous expenses such as clothing, entertainment and restaurant meals cost about 50% more here than in a typical U.S. city, transportation costs are below national norms.
• Property crime rates in Ithaca are slightly higher than in the U.S. as a whole, with the city rating 42.3 on a 100-point crime index compared to the national norm of 35.4. Violent crime is rare, scoring seven points below the national average at 15.7, which may appeal to older adults considering the Finger Lakes region for assisted living.
• Ithaca has pleasant summers with daytime high temperatures in the high-70s to low-80s, although humidity levels may be high on some days in July and August. Winters are very cold with nighttime temperatures in the teens and approximately 63 inches of snowfall. Assisted living facilities in Ithaca provide or arrange transportation services, letting seniors avoid driving in icy conditions.
• Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca is located in Ithaca proper and has numerous providers who administer primary and specialty care. The city has 220 doctors per capita, which is a little higher than the national average of 210, and health care costs trend slightly lower here than in a typical U.S. city.
• Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, Inc., provides fixed-route bus services in Ithaca, making it easy for older adults who don’t drive to visit local points of destination. Seniors aged 60 and over are eligible for a discounted fare, which lets them ride for half the normal fare. Riders using the discount program can pay one-way fares individually, or they can purchase a 15-ride pass.
• Seniors in Ithaca don’t pay state income taxes on Social Security benefits, and there’s a $20,000 deduction they can claim to offset taxes on other types of retirement income. The region has volunteer tax experts, which seniors can contact through the Area Agency on Aging, to help them claim the deductions they’re eligible for.

Assisted living residents in Ithaca pay approximately $8,075 per month for services.

In Ithaca, assisted living facilities charge $8,075 per month for care. This is a few thousand dollars higher than state and national respective norms of $4,580 and $4,500, as well as rates in nearby cities. In Elmira, care costs are considerably lower at $5,600, and in Buffalo and Binghamton, respective monthly fees come in at $4,741 and $4,597. Rochester has the lowest assisted living rates in the region at $3,775.

In Ithaca, assisted living is among the most expensive long-term care options at $8,075 per month. By comparison, seniors who live in their own homes pay $6,101 for in-home care and home health care, which are similar in scope to assisted living. Adult day health care costs even less, with monthly rates at $1,625. Only nursing home care, which starts at $9,885, is costlier than 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 New York page.