Assisted Living Communities in Reading, PA

According to the 2024 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, Reading’s assisted living communities set monthly rates near $4,914. This price falls well below the Pennsylvania median of $5,550, as well as costs in many nearby cities. For example, seniors in Allentown and Lancaster pay respective monthly rates of around $5,274 and $6,135, and facilities in Philadelphia charge approximately $6,986.

Assisted living residents often rely on a mix of public and private funds to pay for long-term care. The state’s Medicaid program, Medicare and veterans’ benefits can reduce out-of-pocket costs for qualified individuals, while private funds help cover funding gaps. To budget for long-term care services, individuals should ensure the community they choose accepts their preferred payment methods.

• Medicaid: Pennsylvania Medicaid administers the Community HealthChoices Program, a managed care program that covers assisted living for qualified individuals. Benefits of this program include personal care services, meals, housekeeping and personal emergency response systems.
• Medicare: Medicare beneficiaries can use their Part B coverage to pay for skilled nursing services, rehabilitative therapies and durable medical equipment. However, Medicare doesn’t cover nonmedical assisted living services.
• VA Benefits: Aid and Attendance, Housebound benefits and the Geriatrics and Extended Care program can help seniors cover personal care services, housing, medical support and transportation.
• Private payments: Assisted living communities accept private payments for all types of expenses, including move-in and housing fees, personal care, meals and recreation. Common private payment sources include retirement savings, home equity, long-term care insurance and Social Security benefits.

In Reading, assisted living residents pay around $4,914 per month. This amount exceeds the cost of home health care, which hovers near $4,195, but it offers an affordable alternative to nursing home placement, which costs about $10,768 for semi-private rooms.

• The American Lung Association gives the Reading region a passing score for annual particle pollution levels and the lowest grade for ozone and 24-hour particle pollution. However, many assisted living facilities have air purification systems to support residents’ comfort.
• Although living expenses in Reading run about 4% over the national average, the city offers affordable food and housing costs. This impacts assisted living costs and may make long-term care accessible to those with budgetary constraints.
• The hot season in Reading spans late May through mid-September and brings average daytime temperatures of around 85 degrees Fahrenheit. During the cold season, which lasts from the beginning of December until the first week of March, nighttime temperatures fall to around 23 degrees. Fortunately, assisted living residents enjoy amenities such as unit-controlled thermostats and indoor activities.
• Reading’s livability score of 54 puts the city in the top half of U.S. communities for favorability for seniors. It offers a range of benefits for assisted living residents, including high access to parks and grocery stores, numerous cultural institutions and walkable neighborhoods.
• Reading seniors don’t pay state income taxes on their Social Security benefits and payments from retirement accounts, and those aged 60 and over don’t pay state taxes on pension income. This helps many seniors afford living and long-term care expenses.