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

Harrisburg has numerous colleges and universities in the surrounding area, which may factor in why the 65+ community comprises a below-average 11.1% of its 50,000 residents. Despite this, the city has plenty to offer seniors, such as competitive taxes and quality health care, both of which help it appear on lists of the best places to retire in Pennsylvania.

Many Harrisburg seniors find assisted living a good solution to the challenges of aging. These facilities take on typical household chores for their residents, such as cleaning, cooking and laundry, and providing staff to assist with personal care. They also manage social programs that entertain residents and encourage new friendships. According to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, Harrisburg’s typical senior pays $4,828 per month for assisted living. This is about 15% more than Pennsylvania’s median fee, although the gap with the national average is narrower.

This guide reviews the pros and cons of living in Harrisburg and compares its median fee for assisted living with some neighboring cities. It also examines costs for other types of senior care and lists some free resources suitable for assisted living residents.

The Department of Health licenses, regulates and monitors assisted living providers in Pennsylvania. It operates from offices covering the state’s four regions, each with the authority to make unannounced inspections to determine if facilities continue to abide by the terms of their licenses. The department can remove licenses from assisted living facilities that don’t meet minimum standards.

• Harrisburg’s seniors, like their peers throughout Pennsylvania, don’t pay taxes on their retirement income. This includes their Social Security benefits and distributions from IRAs and 401(k) plans. Pennsylvania’s sales tax of 6% is above-average but generally in line with its neighboring states.
• A major factor in Harrisburg’s appeal is the cost of living, which has an average index of 74.9, compared to 100 for the United States and 92.5 for Pennsylvania. Health care costs are above the norm, but more common costs, such as groceries and transportation, are below average. 
• Crimes involving violence in Harrisburg are more common than average in Pennsylvania. Gov. Wolf has provided significant funding to support local organizations working to reduce the problem to tackle the issue. Crimes of property are slightly above the norm for Pennsylvania but below the national average.
• Sperling’s BestPlaces gives Harrisburg a comfort index of 7.2 out of 10, placing it among the most pleasant places to live in Pennsylvania. Although January typically sees temperatures of around 22 degrees, the summer months compensate, with temperatures averaging 85 degrees in July. Snowfall is a little below the national average and rainfall a little above. Air quality could be better, but the water quality is notably above the national average.
• Despite its relatively small population, Harrisburg has excellent health care facilities. More than 10 hospitals serve its residents, including the high-performing UPMC Harrisburg Hospital and the nationally-ranked Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The city’s number of physicians registered to treat Medicare beneficiaries is also far above the norm for the country.
• Capital Area Transit provides shared-ride paratransit services for Dauphin County residents aged 65 and older who are unable to use fixed-route services. The Senior Shared Ride Program provides curb-to-curb transportation at a discounted rate, while the ADA Complimentary Service provides door-to-door rides for residents with physical or mental impairments. Capital Area Transit also operates a Medical Assistance Transportation Program to take eligible residents to and from their medical appointments.

The 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey found the average monthly fee for assisted living in Harrisburg is $4,828. This indicates the city’s seniors typically pay an additional $728 per month when compared to the state average of $4,100. The difference isn’t so great with the national average of $4,500, although $328 per month still equates to $3,936 annually.

Although significantly more than the state average, Harrisburg’s median fee of $4,828 isn’t unusual in the region. In Chambersburg, the median is only $5 per month less, at $4,823, while York’s seniors are more likely to pay more, at around $5,510. However, some nearby cities are more affordable, although still above the state average. They include Gettysburg ($4,515) and Lebanon ($4,768). 

Adult day health care offers basic levels of care with fewer overheads for its providers, resulting in the most affordable median fee of $1,629. Despite the differences in their services, home care (non-medical) and home health care (medical) share an average fee of $4,767. Assisted living is the least costly option offering care and accommodation at $4,828, while the most expensive is nursing home care, at $10,828 for a semiprivate room.

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 Pennsylvania page.