Known for strong health care options, Topeka has become a retirement destination for many: Seniors 65 years of age and older represent 17.4% of Topeka’s 125,310 residents. For medical attention, they have access to facilities such as those in the Stormont Vail Health network, which includes a dedicated neurology team, and the University of Kansas St. Francis Campus, featuring cancer and joint replacement specialists. In Topeka, according to the Genworth 2020 Cost of Care Survey, the average semiprivate room in a nursing home costs $7,612 per month. That’s slightly cheaper than the analogous national rate, which is $7,756.

Nursing homes provide a level of care unmatched outside of hospital settings, making them more expensive than other options for older adults. Their relatively high rates allow them to provide staffing around the clock and have licensed nurses, therapists and other professionals attend to seniors regularly. If a senior’s capabilities make home health care or assisted living viable, opting for one of those will likely save money.

This guide takes a closer look at what seniors can expect to pay for nursing home care and other arrangements, and it concludes with a list of Topeka-area senior-focused resources.

Directory of Nursing Homes in Topeka, KS

Aldersgate Village Life Plan Community

My mom-in-law is in the rehab unit at Aldersgate Village for two weeks. It’s very homey, very light, and bright. They push her to help her get better. We’re very happy. The staff is very friendly, car … (read more)
My mom-in-law is in the rehab unit at Aldersgate Village for two weeks. It’s very homey, very light, and bright. They push her to help her get better. We’re very happy. The staff is very friendly, car … (read more)

Legacy On 10th Avenue

The Legacy on 10th Avenue was very nice, but they didn’t have an available room at the time. The room was just fine, and the grounds were very nice.
The Legacy on 10th Avenue was very nice, but they didn’t have an available room at the time. The room was just fine, and the grounds were very nice.

Topeka Presbyterian Manor

My friend is in Topeka Presbyterian Manor on the nursing side. She’s really pleased with the service she’s getting there. She can now talk again and she’s getting her movement back. They’re working wi … (read more)
My friend is in Topeka Presbyterian Manor on the nursing side. She’s really pleased with the service she’s getting there. She can now talk again and she’s getting her movement back. They’re working wi … (read more)

Rolling Hills Health Center

I spent 2 months there after a stroke right when the covid virus scare was ramping up. Staff was caring and attentive. Food was very good. Therepy personel were very good and friendly. If you are kind … (read more)
I spent 2 months there after a stroke right when the covid virus scare was ramping up. Staff was caring and attentive. Food was very good. Therepy personel were very good and friendly. If you are kind … (read more)

Topeka Center

My sister is in Topeka Center. She went there after the hospital. She said it’s adequate, they seem to be conscientious, calling me about things. She said the food is tolerable, it’s clean, and it doe … (read more)
My sister is in Topeka Center. She went there after the hospital. She said it’s adequate, they seem to be conscientious, calling me about things. She said the food is tolerable, it’s clean, and it doe … (read more)

Tanglewood Nursing and Rehabilitation

Tanglewood Nursing and rehabilitation Topeka This place is full of negative issues within the staff that are above the floor workers,. I was lied to by Conner saying it was their policy but it wa … (read more)
Tanglewood Nursing and rehabilitation Topeka This place is full of negative issues within the staff that are above the floor workers,. I was lied to by Conner saying it was their policy but it wa … (read more)

Plaza West Regional Heath Center

Don’t put any of your loved ones in there. The rooms are filthy, foods raw, old and nasty. You don’t get showers unless your family members complain. They lie to you constantly and shift the blame els … (read more)
Don’t put any of your loved ones in there. The rooms are filthy, foods raw, old and nasty. You don’t get showers unless your family members complain. They lie to you constantly and shift the blame els … (read more)

Topeka Community Healthcare Center

I went to the facility one time because my grandmother was in very bad health and was expected to pass soon. I got to the front door and it seemed as if the security of the facility was top notch. Onc … (read more)
I went to the facility one time because my grandmother was in very bad health and was expected to pass soon. I got to the front door and it seemed as if the security of the facility was top notch. Onc … (read more)


Mccrite Plaza Health Center

I had to make the decision to get my dad ‘outta there’ ASAP! I had to beg to get any type of communication from the social worker and the therapy team regarding his progress. My dad never met the s … (read more)
I had to make the decision to get my dad ‘outta there’ ASAP! I had to beg to get any type of communication from the social worker and the therapy team regarding his progress. My dad never met the s … (read more)









Nursing Home Costs in Topeka, Kansas

Semiprivate nursing home rooms in Topeka cost an average of $7,612 per month, and private rooms cost an average of $8,030.

The Cost of Nursing Home Care in Nearby Cities

In a comparison of monthly semiprivate nursing home room rates, Topeka is slightly less pricey than the average American city, which has a typical cost of $7,756. However, the Kansas state average is $6,692, or $920 less than Topeka’s.

Topeka is near the high end of the price spectrum of Kansas cities. Of the cities for which data is available, only Lawrence is more expensive on average by $251. At a monthly cost of $6,829, Wichita is $783 less expensive each month than Topeka. The gap is even larger between Topeka and Manhattan, where the rate is $5,735.

$7612

Topeka

$6692

Kansas

$7756

The United States

$7863

Lawrence

$6829

Wichita

$5735

Manhattan

The Cost of Other Types of Senior Care

When considering care options, comparing data on nursing home prices versus other arrangements can be useful. In Topeka, the average monthly rate that home care and home health care providers charge is $4,099. Residents of assisted living facilities, meanwhile, pay a median rate of $4,025 per month. Higher on the price spectrum are nursing homes, where semiprivate rooms cost an average of $7,612 per month. Private nursing home rooms, at a typical rate of $8,030 per month, are the most expensive option.

$4099

Home care

$4099

Home health care

$4025

Assisted living

$7612

Nursing home (semiprivate room)

$8030

Nursing home (private room)

Financial Assistance for Nursing Home Care in Topeka, Kansas

Many seniors and their families use some form of financial assistance to help them pay for nursing care. The main options available are Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans benefits. These programs can be complicated, especially when it comes to benefit terms. Below, we give a brief overview of how these programs may be used towards paying for skilled nursing care.

  • Medicare: Medicare will typically cover all skilled nursing costs for the first 20 days of one’s stay in a nursing home and a portion of the costs until day 100. After 100 days in a skilled nursing facility, Medicare will not cover any part of the cost of the stay. While this is adequate when short-term care is needed, those in need of long-term care will need to either pay out-of-pocket or use another source of financial assistance.
  • Medicaid: Medicaid covers most of the costs of living in a skilled nursing facility for those who qualify. Care, room, and board are covered with no time limit, but residents may be charged for extras like specially prepared food or cosmetic services. Medicaid eligibility standards are strict and complex, so not all seniors are eligible for Medicaid benefits.
  • Veterans Benefits: Veterans receiving a VA pension may also be eligible for the Aid and Attendance benefit administered by the VA. Aid and Attendance is a monthly allowance that beneficiaries may use to pay for their long-term care, including skilled nursing care.

If these options aren’t available to you, check if your loved one has long-term care insurance or contact your Area Agency on Aging to ask about any local financial assistance programs for seniors.

Free Resources for Seniors in Topeka, Kansas

The Topeka area is home to several organizations that support older adults. Seniors who wish to continue living at home can make use of some of the following offerings to make doing so easier and more affordable. Other services make learning about, accessing and receiving long-term care easier processes to navigate.

ResourceContact Service
Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging(785) 235-1367
The JAAA works with both seniors and their caregivers. It can provide information on transportation options and link older adults with in-home assistance providers. Another offering is the Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas program, a resource for Medicare beneficiaries who want to learn about insurance-related topics, including prescription plans, claims and appeals. Seniors may also be interested in the Aging and Disability Resource Center, a broad-ranging information source.
Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs Office(785) 559-0061
Through local branches, the KCVAO educates and assists Kansas’s military veterans as well as their spouses and dependents. At no cost, the office’s representatives help clients file Veterans Administration claims for health care, pension and disability compensation benefits. 
Midland Care Connection(785) 232-2044
MCC oversees the Meals on Wheels program that serves the Topeka area. It provides meal support to homebound or isolated seniors 60 years of age and up, plus certain caretakers and disabled individuals. Enrollees’ spouses are eligible in some circumstances, too. Safety checks take place during meal deliveries. MCC also runs the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, which aims to assist those who need advanced levels of care, helping them to delay or avoid placement in institutional settings.
Client Assessment, Referral and Evaluation(785) 296-6446
Individuals considering entry into a nursing home can receive personalized information from the CARE program. Its representatives educate clients on long-term care choices and identify suitable facilities. They perform initial assessments, and when a clients’ situation calls for it, additional in-depth assessments take place. The CARE program works in conjunction with Area Agencies on Aging. 
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program(785) 230-0715The LTC Ombudsman Program’s representatives work with residents of long-term care facilities to seek resolutions of their problems. They also serve as educators on residents’ rights and long-term care options. Additionally, the program supports and informs seniors’ families.