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The population of Rhode Island has remained relatively steady since 2010, with an increase of just 5,000 people in nine years, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. While Rhode Island has a higher senior population than the national average, 17.2% compared to 15.6%, many people aged 65 and over are unable to afford the high cost of living. The state ranks very well, however, for its health and safety.
The average monthly cost for assisted living in Rhode Island is $5,199, according to the Genworth 2019 Cost of Care survey, which is considerably more expensive than the national average of $4,051.
More specific cost data with comparisons to other states can be found further on in this guide. There's also information about the quality of life for seniors, state regulation on assisted living facilities and financial assistance programs.
Rhode Island's current SeniorScore is 71%, which is just one point less than the United States average of 72%. This score is calculated using more than 100 data points from a wide array of both private and public sources. Seniors can use this score to figure out the benefits and drawbacks of living in Rhode Island.
The SeniorScore™ is calculated based on over 100 variables, some of which are shown below. The final score is curved based on a linear curving method. For More info visit senioradvice.com/seniorscore.
Rhode Island receives a score of 57% for general quality of life, which is the same score as Connecticut but lower than the score of 62% for Massachusetts. Rhode Island gets high scores for its public school safety and graduation rates, but the score is brought down for cold temperatures and high rainfall and finances.
Rhode Island is one of the least friendly states for seniors when it comes to income taxes. A tax rate between 3.75% to 5.99% applies to all types of retirement funds, including Social Security.
Other financial factors used to determine Rhode Island's SeniorScore include its relatively high cost of living, expensive property taxes and greater costs in nearly every aspect of senior care. The state's financial score of 54% could be even lower if not for the above-average per capita income, above-average household income and average sales tax.
Woonsocket Health and Rehabilitation Centre is a 150 unit nursing home facility. It is situated near the Cumberland Hill neighborhood of Woonsocket, Rhode Island. With approximately 42,000 individuals residing in the 02895 zip code, the surrounding area is ...
Located at 660 Commonwealth Ave in Warwick, Rhode Island, Kent Regency Center is a 153 unit senior care facility. The surrounding area is heavily populated, with around 30,000 individuals living in the 02886 zip code. With a median ...
Evergreen House Health Center is situated near the Riverside neighborhood of East Providence, Rhode Island. It is a 160 room skilled nursing facility. The surrounding area has a dense population, with roughly 23,000 people residing in the 02914 ...
Cortland Place is an 80 room senior care facility located in Greenville, Rhode Island. The neighboring area has a medium-density population, with around 9,000 residents in the 02828 zip code. It is a predominantly affluent area, with a ...
Grandview Center is a 72 room senior housing community. It is located in the Valley Falls area of Cumberland, Rhode Island. With around 34,000 people residing in the zip code of 02864, the neighboring area is densely populated. ...
Brookdale Smithfield is a 60 bed senior housing facility for individuals over 55. It is located at 171 Pleasant View Ave in Smithfield, Rhode Island. The surrounding area has a medium-density population, with approximately 15,000 individuals residing in ...
Wingate at Blackstone is a 55 room senior community located within the Blackstone area of Providence, Rhode Island. With approximately 29,000 people residing in the 02906 zip code, the surrounding area is heavily populated. It is a mostly ...
Situated in the South Elmwood area of Cranston, Rhode Island, Scandinavian Home Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is a 74 bed nursing care facility. The community is in a generally low income area, with an average per-family income of ...
Located within the Manton neighborhood of Johnston, Rhode Island, Cherry Hill Manor Nursing and Rehab Center is a 170 unit nursing home facility. The neighboring area is densely populated, with approximately 30,000 individuals living in the zip code of ...
The Holiday Retirement Community is a 170 unit senior care facility located in the Cumberland Hill neighborhood of Manville, Rhode Island. With approximately 4,000 individuals living in the 02838 zip code, the surrounding area has a sparse population. ...
Located at 181 Davis Dr in Pascoag, Rhode Island, Bayberry Commons Nursing and Rehabilitation is a 110 bed skilled nursing facility. With around 8,000 individuals living in the zip code of 02859, the encompassing area is sparsely populated. ...
Linn Health Care Center is located within the Wayland neighborhood of East Providence, Rhode Island. It is an 84 unit nursing home facility. With a median per-household income of $46,275, the community is in a largely middle class ...
Roberts Health Centre is located at 25 Roberts Way in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. It is a 66 room nursing home facility. With an average per-household income of $76,449, the community is in a primarily wealthier area. ...
Located at 333 Green End Ave in Middletown, Rhode Island, Grand Islander is a 146 unit senior care facility. With approximately 17,000 individuals living in the 02842 zip code, the encompassing area has a medium-density population. It ...
Located around the Ocean Grove area of Warren, Rhode Island, Grace Barker Nursing Center is an 86 bed nursing care facility. With an average per-household income of $54,317, the community is in a generally middle income area. It ...
Located in the Elmhurst neighborhood, Capitol Ridge at Providence is a senior housing facility in Providence, Rhode Island. The encompassing area is heavily populated, with about 38,000 residents in the 02908 zip code. It is a generally middle ...
Hattie Ide Chaffee Home is a 60 room senior care facility. It is situated around the Riverside neighborhood of East Providence, Rhode Island. The community is in a primarily middle income area, with an average household income of ...
Located at 735 Putnam Pike in Greenville, Rhode Island, Greenville Center is a 131 room senior care community. The neighboring area has an average population density, with around 9,000 people residing in the 02828 zip code. With an ...
Located in the Fox Point area of East Providence, Rhode Island, Tockwotton On The Waterfront is a 52 bed senior housing facility. With roughly 23,000 residents in the zip code of 02914, the encompassing area has a dense population. ...
Elmwood Health Center is a 70 bed skilled nursing facility. It is situated within the West End area of Providence, Rhode Island. The encompassing area has a dense population, with around 28,000 individuals residing in the 02907 zip ...
At an average of $5,199 compared to the country's overall average of $4,051, Rhode Island has quite expensive monthly rates for assisted living. The nearby states of Connecticut and New York have monthly rates of $4,880 and $4,630, respectively, making them slightly less expensive than Rhode Island. Massachusetts is more expensive at $5,640, as is New Hampshire at $7,021.
The Cost of Assisted Living in Rhode Island's Top Cities
Rhode Island is the smallest state in the country, meaning there is no detectable difference between assisted living prices among cities. The average monthly cost in each city is $5,199. Most of the population lives within the Providence metro area and along the Rhode Island Sound leading out to the Atlantic Ocean.
Senior Care Cost Comparison in Rhode Island
Rhode Island and the rest of the United States have five main categories of senior care, and there can be very large differences in costs between the most affordable and most expensive. The two types of in-home care both have the same average monthly cost of $5,148; although, the services offered by each differ significantly. Nursing home care is the most expensive type of care at $9,961 per month, almost double the average cost of assisted living.
Address: 3 West Road, Cranston, RI 02920
Phone Number: (401) 462-5274
Website: http://www.eohhs.ri.gov/Consumer/ConsumerInformation/Healthcare/LongTermServicesandSupports.aspx
Seniors in Rhode Island who qualify for the state's Medicaid program may be able to get help paying for long-term care services through the Long Term Service and Supports program. Within this program, home and community support is available for seniors who need care but don't want to move to a nursing home. It can pay for environmental modifications, medical equipment, personal care services, companionship and room and board at an assisted living facility. LTSS also pays for community transition services, which can help qualified seniors move from their home to the assisted living facility of their choice.
Seniors who want to benefit from LTSS need to fill out and submit the Application for Assistance (DHS-2). They also need to meet certain income thresholds and not have more than $4,000 in savings. A representative from the Department of Human Services can help seniors with their application if necessary.
Address: 50 Valley Street, Providence, RI 02909
Phone Number: (401) 462-4444
Website: http://oha.ri.gov/what-we-do/access/
Seniors in Rhode Island who don't qualify for Medicaid may be able to take advantage of the co-pay program through the state's Division of Healthy Aging. The program pays partially for a wide range of services delivered within a senior's residence, including an assisted living facility. These services include personal care assistance and adult day services. To qualify, seniors must not earn more than 125% of the federal poverty limit for Level 1 and 200% of the federal poverty limit. Seniors can apply for the program at their nearest Healthy Aging office.
Address: 3 West Road, Cranston, RI 02920
Phone Number: (401) 462-4444
Website: http://www.dhs.ri.gov/Programs/SSIEnhancedAssistedLivingProgramEligibility.php
Seniors who already qualify for Social Security may be able to take advantage of the agency's Enhanced Assisted Living Program, which can help pay for room and board as well as services received within an assisted living facility. The program increases existing SSI payments so that beneficiaries can pay for these services directly.
To qualify for this program, the applicant must be a resident of Rhode Island, be aged 65 years or older, have a monthly income of $1,212 per month or less, not have assets exceeding $2,000 and not require extensive medical services that are provided at nursing homes. Applications should be submitted through The Point. Forms are available online.
Assisted living facilities in Rhode Island, officially known as assisted living residences, are licensed by the Center for Health Facilities Regulations. The state offers several levels of licenses, including basic services, special care or memory care services, limited health services and additional licenses for administering medication. Licensing standards are contained in R23-17.4-ALR of Rhode Island State Law.
Scope of Care | Assisted living residences in Rhode Island provide a combination of housing, personal assistance and meals that are designed for seniors who are unable to take care of all their own daily needs. Other services can include housekeeping, exercise programs, recreational activities, personal laundry and medication management. A special fire code license is necessary at facilities with residents who can't leave without assistance. |
Care Plan Requirements | In order to find out if a senior's needs can be met by an assisted living residence, each applicant must be evaluated by a registered nurse to determine their social, functional, cognitive, physical and health needs. This assessment must be conducted before moving into the facility, and it must be updated annually. In addition, a registered nurse must evaluate the resident at least once every 30 days. |
Medication Management Requirements | ALRs that offer medication management can be classified as either M1 or M2. At M1 facilities, licensed medical staff or unlicensed staff under the supervision of a professional may administer topical or oral drugs and monitor vital signs. At M2 residences, staff can give reminders, observe and help with self-administration of medications. They can also organize and give residents medi-sets, which are pre-poured packaging distribution systems. |
Staffing Requirements | Enough staff must be available to provide the highest level of practical care to residents at ALRs, but there are no minimum required ratios. At least one staff member who is currently trained and certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation must be at the facility and ready to respond at all times. There must also be at least one Department-certified administrator who manages the staff. |
Staff Training Requirements | All employees at assisted living facilities must go through two hours of orientation and 10 hours of training within 30 days of hire. Their instruction must cover a wide range of topics, including medical emergency procedures, personal assistance, safety, record keeping, reporting and universal precautions. They must also gain some basic knowledge of cultural differences. |
Medicaid Coverage | Seniors in Rhode Island who make under a certain income threshold may be eligible to have their room and board paid for by Medicaid through the Long-Term Services and Supports program. Not all assisted living residences accept Medicaid payments. |
Reporting Abuse | Families or friends who believe their loved one is being abused, including financial exploitation, in an assisted living residence can contact Rhode Island's Office of Healthy Aging or the local police. The phone number for the Office of Healthy Aging is (401) 462-3000. The Elder Abuse Unit, which is part of the RI Office of the Attorney General, is responsible for investigating reports. |
The Rhode Island Assisted Living Association advocates for the highest level of quality of life and independence for seniors living in ALRs throughout the state. They provide their visitors and members with information, training and education resources. They also have an extensive directory of ALRs with detailed information about their services, amenities and financial options.
Anyone can access an abundance of resources on the RIALA website, but additional benefits can be found for a fee through three different membership levels.
Contact: Call (401) 435-8888 or fill out the contact form on the website.
Age-Friendly Rhode Island is a publicly funded organization that's based at Rhode Island College. Its goal is to help build a community that empowers and supports elderly adults, including those who reside in assisted living facilities. Their coalition of members works together to raise awareness of senior issues and catalyze change. They have links to an abundance of resources that can help seniors in the state.
All seniors are welcome to take advantage of all the resources available on the Age-Friendly Rhode Island website, including events at their Virtual Community Center.
Contact: Email [email protected] or visit the Contact Us page on the website.
Department of Human Services
Address: List of DHS Offices
Phone Number: (401) 462-1000
Website: http://www.dhs.ri.gov
The Rhode Island Department of Human Services is responsible for an array of programs and services that can help protect and support seniors living in the state's assisted living facilities. DHS staff are available online and over the phone to help seniors apply for benefits, contact health and quality of life vendors and locate assisted living residences. Many services are available to anyone 65 and older, but some are reserved for seniors with disabilities or low incomes.
Area Agencies on Aging in Rhode Island
In Rhode Island, Agencies on Aging are officially known as Offices of Healthy Aging. They are responsible for helping seniors find assisted living residences that fit their needs and access additional benefits, including financial assistance, and resources once they are part of an assisted living community. Their central office is located in Providence, and they have six additional offices throughout the state.
OHA can help seniors apply for programs over the phone or through The Point online system. They can be reached at (401) 462-4444 or by dialing 2-1-1 when in the state.
Veterans Affairs Offices in Rhode Island
Many veterans in Rhode Island are eligible for monthly pensions provided by the VA. In addition, veterans living in assisted living residences may be able to take advantage of the health care advocacy program and the Aid and Attendance benefit. To qualify for Aid and Attendance, a veteran must meet certain income requirements and require daily care, such as bathing, dressing and toileting. For assistance, call the national VA helpline at (844) 698-2311 or visit the Providence regional office. Additional help may be available through the state's Office of Veterans Services.
Social Security Offices in Rhode Island
Thousands of Rhode Island seniors can pay for assisted living due to the benefits they receive from Supplemental Security Income. Those seniors who meet certain income requirements may also qualify for the SSI Enhanced Assisted Living program. These benefits provide some additional help for families who don't have other means.
Information about Social Security programs and benefits for Rhode Island seniors are available at the agency's website or by telephone at 1-800-772-1213. Seniors who wish to speak with a representative in person may want to visit one of the five social security offices in Rhode Island.
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