The 3 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Wooster, OH for 2024

The Ohio Department of Health oversees all assisted living facilities, officially called residential care facilities, in Wooster and enforces rules for housing, care planning and services. It also investigates complaints, which individuals can report by calling (800) 342-0553 or submitting an online complaint form.

 

• Seniors in Ohio don’t pay state income taxes on their Social Security benefits, which provides significant savings for those who mainly rely on their benefits. While other types of retirement income are taxable at rates of up to 3.99%, qualified individuals may be able to reduce their tax bill by claiming certain credits.
• Seniors in Wooster have access to award-winning medical care through Wooster Community Hospital. This 173-bed hospital provides a full range of inpatient and outpatient services, including urgent and emergency care, cardiac rehabilitation and diabetic services. 
• Wooster residents who are veterans or aged 62 and over may qualify to receive transportation through the Wooster Transportation program. Through this program, individuals can get transportation services for nonemergency medical appointments, errands and recreational outings without relying on a private vehicle. This can help supplement paid transportation services available through assisted living facilities.
• Wooster experiences a full range of seasons, with comfortably warm summers and manageable cold winters, ideal for seniors who enjoy variety. The temperatures typically stay above 3 degrees Fahrenheit in winter and below 89 degrees Fahrenheit in summer, avoiding the extremes found in many other regions. To help residents stay comfortable, many assisted living facilities have individually controlled thermostats in residents’ apartments and host indoor events and activities.
• Wooster’s overall cost of living is about 19% lower than the national norm and consistent with what’s typical for the state, which may make it a financially viable option for those with limited resources. While transportation and utility expenses are low here compared to the rest of Ohio, residents spend more than the Ohio average on housing, health care and groceries. Fortunately, choosing assisted living may allow seniors to have greater control over their monthly expenses.
• Property crime is a little more common in Wooster than in a typical U.S. community, but violent crime is relatively unusual. On a 100-point index, the city scores 47.2 for property crime, about 12 points higher than the national average. However, its violent crime score of 18.4 is modest compared to 22.7 nationally, which may give assisted living residents peace of mind.

 

In Wooster, assisted living facilities charge $4,798 per month to cover care and housing costs.

Assisted living facilities in Wooster charge monthly median rates of $4,798 for care, which is a little higher than Ohio’s average of $4,635 and the national norm of $4,500. While local care costs are competitive compared to rates in nearby Canton, where monthly fees exceed Wooster’s norm by about 2%, other cities in the region may offer more economically priced care. In Lima, for example, rates are lower than in Wooster at $4,603, and in Columbus, seniors pay $4,085 for services. Springfield is even more affordable, with monthly assisted living costs that are 24% below Wooster’s average.

At $4,798 per month, assisted living is moderately priced compared to senior care options in Wooster. Seniors who obtain personal care or skilled nursing services at home pay about $4,576 per month for services, although this option doesn’t include housing and meals. On the other hand, assisted living is a cost-effective alternative to nursing home care, which starts at $6,631 per month for semi-private accommodations.

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 Ohio page.