The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Chester, PA for 2023

Benefits and Drawbacks of Assisted Living in Chester

• Chester's weather is generally milder than Pennsylvania's more mountainous regions further inland, especially during the winter. The average low temperature in January is 26 degrees, while the average high temperature in July is 87 degrees. Seniors may find the weather in Chester to be comfortable for a relatively large portion of the year.

• Chester’s cost of living is only 82.5 percent of the national average, which is quite low for this part of the country. However, the extremely low cost of housing accounts for the great majority of this difference. Essential living expenses that will be of greatest interest to seniors are all above the national average, especially utilities.

• The economic difficulties in Chester have resulted in a very high overall crime rate. The rate of violent crimes is especially high at 15.83 per thousand people per year, as compared to an average of 3.16 for Pennsylvania. Seniors living in Chester should use extreme caution to protect themselves.

• The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority serves Chester with one of its regional rail lines, which originates in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and ends in Newark, New Jersey. Seniors 65 and over pay only a nominal fare for destinations in Pennsylvania and half the standard fare for destinations in Delaware and New Jersey. These discounts require a senior ID card.

• The Chester Senior Center maintains a full calendar of activities that includes games such as cards, dominos and bingo. Exercise classes, arts and crafts and adult education are also part of the regular schedule. This senior center also serves hot lunches Monday through Friday.

• The Chester area is home to world-class medical facilities, including Community Hospital and Crozer Chester Medical Center, in the event of medical emergencies or illness.