Assisted Living Pennsylvania

Single Applicant

$794

$2,000

Two-Person Household
(Only One Person Applying)

$1,191 

$2,000

Two-Person Household
(Both People Applying)

$1,191

$3,000

Social Security

(800) 772-1213

Visit the website to get information about online services. You can apply for benefits, get useful information, find publications and get answers to FAQs. If you don't have access to the Internet please call the contact number.

Information Referral Tool

(800) 753-8827

This tool helps you or your caregiver identify beneficial long-term services and supports based on your specific needs. If you have any questions or require any assistance, please call the PA Link Call Center.

Pennsylvania Health Law Project

(800) 274-3258

PHLP's Helpline is the central point of contact for seniors who need help resolving problems with Medicaid, such as coverage or service stoppage or reduction.

Aid and Attendance

Learn more and apply online at va.gov.

Veterans who receive a VA pension may also be eligible for the Aid and Attendance benefit, a monthly cash allowance that veterans receive in addition to their standard pension amount. The benefit is intended for veterans in need of long-term care services and may be used towards paying for Assisted Living.

Reverse Mortgages

Learn more about your options and how to apply at ftc.gov

If you own a home, you may be able to use a reverse mortgage to help pay for Assisted Living. Reverse mortgages are loans that one can take out against the value of their home, essentially converting some of the home's equity into cash. Reverse mortgage loans do need to be repaid with interest, typically within 12 months of receiving the loan.

Long-Term Care Insurance

Learn more about Long-Term Care Insurance and how to apply for a policy at acl.gov.

Seniors who already have long-term care insurance may be able to use it to pay for Assisted Living. Most policies cover at least a portion of the cost, but it depends on the specific policy terms. Note that older adults who are already in need of Assisted Living will not typically be eligible to sign up for a LTC insurance policy.

Office for Veterans Affairs

(215) 381-3040

Assisted living for senior veterans, their spouses or survivors is available in one of six veterans' homes in the state operated by the Office for Veterans Affairs. These facilities help with ADLs and other personal needs and provide senior veterans with the chance to be part of a larger community.

Area Agencies on Aging

(717) 783-1550

Pennsylvania has 64 Area Agencies on Aging offices throughout the state. They provide services for seniors or work with local organizations to ensure those services are present. Area Agencies on Aging work with seniors aged 60 and older, providing services that include tax assistance, legal help, information on assisted living facilities in the state and counseling on various issues. They also offer expert advice on Medicare and Medicaid issues.

Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman

(717) 783-8975

LTC ombudsmen fulfill several roles. They act as advocates for seniors in conflict with long-term care facilities. They investigate complaints of abuse and neglect made by seniors or caregivers, and when their investigations are complete, they attempt to negotiate a resolution between the senior and the facility. LTC ombudsmen also advise seniors on billing disputes and applying for Medicare or Medicaid. Ombudsmen can provide information on available resources and educate the broader community about the rights of seniors in LTC communities.

SeniorLAW Center

(877) 727-7529

Pennsylvania seniors requiring help with civil law matters can turn to the SeniorLAW Center for assistance. The Center can provide direct representation on some issues and information on problems with housing, exploitation or abuse of seniors, powers of attorney, wills, advanced medical directives and many consumer issues. The Center cannot help with criminal matters, divorce cases or lawsuits.

Medical Assistance and Payment of Long-Term Care Services

(800) 692-7462

If you are a low-income senior who needs help paying for some of the costs associated with assisted living, you may be eligible for Medical Assistance and Payment of Long-Term Care Services. The program, designed to help seniors remain in their communities or homes, provides health care benefits, long-term care support and financial assistance if needed. If you are a senior resident of Pennsylvania, you can check your eligibility at the state government's COMPASS website

Are loved ones allowed to visit to provide emotional support?

Are relatives allowed to visit for end-of-life care?

Are residents required to quarantine after visiting with a loved one?

Are visitors required to wear PPE (including masks) in order to visit residents?

Are non-medical contractors (such as hairdressers and entertainers) allowed in senior living facilities?

Does the state recommend or require that senior living facilities assist families with setting up virtual visit alternatives?

Are visitors checked for elevated temperatures?

Are visitors required to answer questions about health, travel, and potential virus contact?

Are residents allowed to leave (errands, visiting family, etc.) for non-medical reasons?

Are residents who leave required to quarantine when they return?

Are senior living communities required to cancel all group outings?

No

Are residents allowed to eat meals together in a common area?

Are residents allowed to gather in common areas for group activites?

Are staff members regularly required to do a temperature check?

Are staff members regularly tested for COVID-19?

Are staff members members regularly required to do a health and safety screening, including questions about travel, contact with positive cases, etc?

Are residents regularly screened for COVID-19 symptoms?

Are residents regularly checked for elevated temperatures?

Are residents regularly tested for COVID-19?

Licensing Types

In Pennsylvania, there are two types of licensed communities that assist senior adults with activities of daily living: an Assisted Living Residence (ALR) and a Personal Care Home (PCH). These community types are governed by different sets of laws and regulations. While an ALR is required to promote “aging in place” with onsite services such as hospice care, cognitive support, skilled nursing services and more, a PCH is not mandated to offer these supplemental services. See below for other specific regulation differences.

Physical Accommodations:

• An ALR must meet a specific minimum size for its public spaces and living units, while a PCH does not have size guidelines.
• No more than two residents can share a living unit in an ALR, while a PCH allows up to four residents to share a unit.

Staffing Requirements:

• A licensed nurse must be on duty or on call at all times at an ALR, and a registered dietician must be either on staff or under contract. Although a PCH does not have the same regulations, it may still employ nurses and dieticians.

• Both community types require staff to complete annual training. ALR 16 hours of general training and 3 hours of dementia training. PCH: 12 hours of general training and no dementia training.

Assisted Living Service Plan Requirements

New residents must be medically evaluated at least 60 days before ALR admission. A licensed doctor, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner using a Department-required form must perform the evaluation. If extenuating circumstances are involved, the assessment can be delayed until the senior moves into the ALR.

The evaluation includes a complete health check, including information on allergies, current medications and immunizations they have had recently or in the past. The individual performing the evaluation should also check mobility and ADL requirements.

When a senior has lived in the ALR for 30 days, the facility administrator will reevaluate them. This evaluation is used to create the support plan for the new resident. An appropriate individual appointed by the administrator, such as a registered nurse or licensed partitioning nurse under the guidance of a registered nurse, can perform this reevaluation.

Assisted Living Admission Requirements

Some seniors are prohibited from admission to an ALR. These include seniors who have reported infectious diseases that require isolation or nursing care. Seniors who require 24-hour continuous skilled nursing care are also prohibited. The state licensing agency may grant exceptions to these rules.

Some ALR facilities include a special care unit designed for residents with memory care issues. Proof of memory impairment is required for admission to these units.

Assisted Living Scope of Care

ALRs can provide one of two kinds of core services in Pennsylvania. The first includes an Independent Core Package that provides 24-hour supervision, social activities and help with laundry, grocery shopping and cognitive support. The Enhanced Core Package consists of all services offered in the Independent Package plus assistance with ADLs, transportation when needed, medication administration and helping residents self-administer their prescriptions.

Assisted Living Medicaid Policy

Medicaid or the Aging Waiver Program don't cover room-and-board services in an ALR in Pennsylvania. If an ALR accepts a senior eligible for Social Security Insurance payments, the rent paid by the senior can't exceed their monthly income, less any personal needs expenses.

Assisted Living Facility Requirements

Living requirements for ALR include well-lit interiors with additional markings for visually impaired individuals, handrails, ramps and other accessibility devices. These devices should be in good repair.

ALRs should include a common dining area that provides three meals a day. However, residents can eat in their rooms if they are ill or the ALR offers room service.

Individual rooms should include the following necessities:

• Fully equipped bathroom with a sink, toilet and shower or tub
• Exterior locking doors unless they pose a safety risk to the resident
• Individually controlled thermostats for heat and air conditioning
• Electrical outlets that support small appliances such as a microwave or a mini-fridge
• Telephone jack
• Storage space

Medication Management Regulations

Residents evaluated and approved by the appropriate staff can administer their own medications. These medications must be kept in a locked box in the resident's room, out of the reach of others. Staff can remind residents to take their medication daily or periodically.

For residents who cannot self-administer medication, a licensed staff member or student nurse under the authority of a registered nurse will administer it. 

Staffing Requirements

Direct care staff needs to be always awake and on duty and provide one hour of care to each resident during the day and two hours of care to any senior resident with mobility issues. A licensed nurse must work on site or be on call. ALRs need to work with a registered dietitian to design appropriate meals for residents. The ALR's administrator or director must be present at least 36 working hours a week. 

For every 35 residents in an ALR, at least one staff member trained in first aid, obstructed airway techniques and CPR must always be present.

Staff Training Requirements

All staff should be trained in fire safety and emergency preparedness. Personnel may not provide direct care until they have completed 18 hours of general training, with an additional 16 hours of annual training. All training records and training plans must be available for inspection.

Background Check for Staff in Pennsylvania

Both ALRs and PCHs require criminal history and background checks under Pennsylvania's adult protective services statutes and regulations. The facility must keep proofs of criminal histories and background checks on file.

Requirements for Reporting Abuse

The ALR will inform each resident of their right to lodge complaints of abuse or neglect without the threat of retaliation. The ALR or PCH will publicly display a poster detailing these rights. All residents should understand how to file a complaint.

Any allegation of elder abuse or neglect must be reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. A member of the state's Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program will investigate the complaint. The state's hotline number is available 24 hours a day at (800) 490-8505.