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

Scranton is located in northeastern Pennsylvania, just 40 miles from the New York State border. Out of the city’s 75,874 residents, 17.3% are seniors. The city’s low cost of living makes it an ideal location for retired adults. Seniors also enjoy pleasant summer weather and high access to physicians for their medical needs. For additional health care services, older adults can access several assisted living facilities or the local Geisinger Community Medical Center.

Assisted living is a good option for seniors who can no longer live comfortably on their own and need assistance with activities of daily living, such as grooming, dressing, meal preparation or transportation. Care costs for assisted living in Scranton are around $2,875 per month, but prices vary depending on the services and amenities offered. This is about $1,225 less than Pennsylvania’s monthly average and $1,625 less than the national median.

This guide will explore the costs of assisted living facilities and how they compare to other facilities and types of care in Pennsylvania. It also provides an overview of financial assistance and local resources that serve seniors.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services oversees assisted living facilities in Scranton and throughout the state. On its website, older adults can access information on how to find facilities and providers in their area. Resources are also available for community-based and personal care services. 

• Based on a 100-point cost of living score that ranks average living expenses across the country, Scranton scores 79, while Pennsylvania scores 94.6. This means the city has a lower cost of living than both the nation and the state. On average, seniors enjoy lower grocery, housing, utility and transportation costs. 
• Using a similar 100-point index that ranks average health costs, Scranton scores 108.7, putting the city nearly 10% higher than the national average. However, Scranton is ranked as having better water and air quality than the nation. The city also has a higher number of physicians, with 235 available for every 100,000 people. The U.S. average is 210 physicians for every 100,000.
• Violent crime rates in Scranton are relatively low, making it a good option for seniors looking to live in peace. On a 100-point scale, the city is ranked at 13.4, whereas the nation is ranked at 22.7. However, property crime ranks are slightly higher, with a ranking of 38.3. The national average is 35.4.
• For seniors who enjoy pleasant summer weather, Scranton has milder summers than most places in Pennsylvania. The humidity can sometimes be unpleasant, especially in July and August. January tends to be the snowiest month in Scranton, with an average accumulation of around 13.2 inches. Six months of the year can see significant snowfall, which may make it difficult for older adults to run errands or get to appointments. 
• Scranton is home to five hospitals and is ranked 145th out of over 2,000 cities in hospitals per capita. Seniors have access to a wide variety of services between the five hospitals, including home nursing, prescription services, counseling and family support. Emergency care for severe illnesses, injuries or surgeries is also available. 

Monthly costs for assisted living in Scranton are around $2,875, but this price can vary depending on the location or the amenities and services offered. 

On average, assisted living services in Scranton are lower than the Pennsylvania monthly rate of $4,100 and the national median of $4,500. In Pittsburgh, prices are about $375 more than in Scranton at $3,250. Allentown and Harrisburg also have higher costs at $4,784 and $4,828 per month, respectively. The southeastern city of Philadelphia has some of the highest fees in the state at $5,685, which is roughly $2,800 more than Scranton. 

Seniors pay around $2,875 per month for assisted living care in Scranton. In-home care and home health care offer similar services to older adults in the comfort of their homes. The cost of monthly care for both is $4,576, which is $1,701 more than assisted living. For a less expensive option, adult day health care has lower rates at $1,603 per month. Nursing homes provide seniors with the most extensive services, and monthly care costs for a shared room are several thousand more than assisted living at $9,429.

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.