The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Salem, OR for 2023

Salem, the capital of Oregon, is just a few minutes away from beautiful, natural areas and has a year-round moderate climate without extreme temperatures, making it a great place to retire for its almost 26,000 seniors. The city also stands out for its excellent air quality, reasonable cost of living and numerous award-winning health care facilities, including the Salem Hospital and Legacy Silverton Medical Center.

For many seniors in Salem, assisted living facilities represent a compromise between maintaining their independence and living safely with readily available professional assistance. These communities generally provide housing in a worry-free environment, help with laundry and housekeeping, meal preparation and, in some cases, medication management and amenities, such as fitness centers and game rooms. City seniors in this care level can expect an average fee of $5,500 per month, which is higher than the respective medians of $5,045 and $4,500 in Oregon and the United States.

This guide explains in detail how assisted living facilities can help local seniors, including average pricing and available services. In addition, readers will find out more about valuable resources in the area, as well as the advantages and drawbacks of retiring in Salem.

All assisted living facilities in Salem must meet certain quality standards to be licensed by the Oregon Department of Human Services. Along with the local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, this department deals with complaints regarding the life quality of community residents and conducts periodical, unannounced inspections to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations.

• Salem is consistently ranked as one of the best cities to live in Oregon due to its affordability, high quality of life and easy access to green areas. Additionally, it joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities in 2017 and has since implemented numerous measures to benefit city seniors, including improvements to housing conditions and the transportation system.
• Retirees in Oregon generally lead a healthy lifestyle, as evidenced by their life expectancy of 79.6 years, which is higher than the U.S. average of 78.8 years. As for the availability of medical facilities, seniors are only minutes away from the Salem Hospital, rated one of the best in Oregon by U.S. News and World Report, and health care costs are much lower than state and national medians.
• Cherriots, the Salem Area Mass Transit District, offers on-demand rides for people with disabilities and residents aged 60 or over and up to 50% off standard fares.
• The number of crimes per square mile almost triples that of Oregon. Thankfully, seniors who need ongoing assistance with daily tasks can move into one of 25 assisted living facilities in Salem, with 24/7 video surveillance, anti-wandering systems and other measures to help residents feel safer.
• From a financial standpoint, Salem is considered an excellent retirement option for seniors on a tight budget. Its cost of living is 11.3% lower than the state average, which aligns with the United States. Oregon’s fiscal policies are also friendly toward retirees; there is no sales tax, and Social Security income is generally exempt. However, pensions and withdrawals from retirement accounts may be taxed at full or partial rates.
• Salem’s elderly population enjoys comfortable temperatures all year round, mostly due to its privileged location and the moderating influence of the Pacific Ocean. Even in the winter, the city only sees around four inches of snow per year, compared to the U.S. average of 28 inches. However, local seniors should be prepared for constantly rainy weather and fewer sunny days.

According to Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey, the monthly cost for assisted living averages $5,500 in Salem. This is around 9% above the median in Oregon and even higher than the United States as a whole, with a substantial difference of 22%.

With a monthly rate of $5,623, Eugene is one of the most expensive cities in Oregon for assisted living, despite being similar in size to Salem. On the other extreme, facilities in Corvallis — approximately 40 miles south — charge the state’s lowest fees, at $4,485 per month. In Portland, Oregon’s largest city, seniors pay on average $4,975, which is also less than Salem’s rate.

In addition to assisted living, older adults in Salem have access to a wide array of care alternatives that may better suit their needs and budgets. Seniors who want to age safely from the comfort of their own homes can do so thanks to in-home care providers, which comprise homemaker and home health aide services, both costing around $6,101 per month. Furthermore, those who require specialist care can choose between a private or semiprivate room in a skilled nursing facility for a monthly fee of $11,163 and $10,615, respectively.

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 Oregon page.