The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Wausau, WI for 2024

Wausau seniors who need daily assistance and want freedom from the obligations of homeownership may be good candidates for assisted living. This long-term care option includes housing, meals, personal care and recreational amenities. Some facilities are pet-friendly, and many feature on-site amenities such as beauty salons and heated pools. Monthly fees depend on factors such as a facility’s amenities and the apartment type a resident chooses, but according to the Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey, Wausau seniors pay $4,125 per month for this type of care.

Through this guide, readers can learn how assisted living rates in Wausau compare to care costs in surrounding cities and get information on how to fund services.

Assisted living facilities in Wausau are officially called community-based residential facilities, and they’re governed by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. This department publishes details on residents’ rights and the rules assisted living facilities must comply with. It also provides instructions on how to report instances of substandard care.

• The cost of living in Wausau is low, coming in about 10% below the state median and 20% below the national average. This may enable older adults with fixed incomes to maintain a comfortable standard of living.
• In Wausau, as in the rest of Wisconsin, seniors don’t pay state income taxes on their Social Security benefits or public pension income. Private pension income and withdrawals from retirement investment accounts are fully taxed. Some local agencies provide free income tax assistance to help seniors identify deductions and exemptions they qualify for.
• Metro Ride provides ADA-accessible bus service for Wausau residents, helping older adults who don’t drive to complete errands. Service is available on weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and older adults can ride for half-fare when they show their Medicare card or a Reduced Fare card.
• Wausau is a member of the AARP Age-Friendly Network and has a livability score in the top half of U.S. communities. This indicates that local officials have taken steps toward making Wausau a safe and comfortable environment for people of all ages.
• Aspirus Wausau Hospital is located within Wausau proper, ensuring quick access to quality care for routine exams and medical emergencies. The hospital has 325 beds and is staffed by 350 doctors across 35 specialties. Health care costs in this city are consistent with national costs and the total number of physicians per capita is 258 compared to the national rate of 210.
• Wausau is among the cooler places in Wisconsin, which may appeal to those who don’t prefer hot weather. Summers are comfortable with high temperatures around 80 degrees, and humidity levels tend to be low. Winters are very cold, however, with residents seeing low temperatures in the single digits and 56 inches of annual snowfall. Assisted living facilities host indoor activities throughout the year, helping seniors avoid boredom during the winter months.
• Crime is relatively uncommon in Wausau, offering peace of mind to seniors and families. On a 100-point crime index, the city scores 15.1 for violent crime and 32.5 for property crime, which is below national norms.

Assisted living residents in Wausau pay approximately $4,125 per month for services, though fees may differ depending on apartment size, facility amenities and location.

Wausau seniors pay $4,125 per month for assisted living, which is hundreds of dollars lower than the state rate of $4,600 and the national norm of $4,500. In Fond du Lac, monthly rates are comparable at $4,175. However, seniors in other surveyed cities pay more, including Eau Claire and Green Bay, where rates are a couple hundred dollars higher at $4,375 and $4,450, and Appleton, where fees are about $1,000 higher at $5,138. 

Assisted living rates in Wausau average $4,125 per month, making this a relatively affordable option for those who need daily care services. Adult day health care is cheaper at $2,600 but doesn’t include housing, making it a pricier option for some. Local cost data isn’t available for in-home care or home health care, but statewide, seniors pay respective monthly rates of $5,529 and $5,720, over $1,000 more than assisted living costs. Nursing home care is the costliest local option at $9,155, more than double the cost of assisted living.

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 Wisconsin page.