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New Hampshire's four-season climate and comfortable summers are among the reasons why the Granite State is one of the nation's top 10 retirement destinations, according to Kiplinger. Additionally, New Hampshire doesn't tax Social Security or other retirement income, and the state has no sales tax, which can leave seniors with more money in their pockets to cover the cost of care services. The general cost of living in the state is a little on the high side, but in categories that most affect seniors, specifically health care, it's well below the national average.
Of New Hampshire's population of more than 1.3 million, nearly 19% of residents are aged 65 and older. The state offers above-average access to medical care, with 247 physicians per 100,000 residents, along with a well-developed network of senior care services. This includes 74 certified nursing facilities that provide specialized care for aging or disabled adults, and those who need 24-hour access to nursing care. This guide discusses the costs of nursing home care in New Hampshire and provides an overview of state regulations, available financial assistance programs and resources that can provide information and guidance to seniors and their families.
New Hampshire offers a lot to seniors in need of nursing home care according to SeniorScore, which ranks the state one point higher than the national average with a 73. To generate this number, SeniorAdvice uses more than 100 variables pulled from both public and private databases and broken down into four senior-centric categories: Finances, Recreation & Leisure, Health & Safety and General Quality of Life.
The state scores lowest in the General Quality of Life category, likely due to the lower temperatures and winter weather that residents can expect every year. The annual low is 32.9 degrees and the average high is only 55.8 degrees. Add in nearly 43 inches of average annual rainfall, and seniors' access to outdoor activities may be limited at certain times of year, although for those seeking quality nursing home options, this may not be a concern.
Health & Safety was the highest scoring category at 71 points, which was influenced by the high number of hospitals and Medicare-registered doctors in the state. Another factor that may have helped propel this number so high is New Hampshire's average life expectancy of 80.3 years, which is well above the national average of 78.6.
Located at 3073 White Mountain Hwy, Merriman House is a senior housing facility serving North Conway, New Hampshire. The encompassing area has a sparse population, with approximately 5,000 individuals living in the 03860 zip code. With an average ...
Located at 442 Main St in Fremont, New Hampshire, Colonial Poplin Nursing Home is a 50 unit nursing facility. With about 5,000 individuals residing in the zip code of 03044, the neighboring area is sparsely populated. It is ...
Situated near by the South Hooksett neighborhood of Manchester, New Hampshire, Hanover Hill Health Care Center is a 124 bed nursing care facility. The facility is in a primarily middle income area, with an average per-household income of $61,017. ...
Golden View Health Care Center is a 131 room nursing facility. It is located at 19 Nh Route 104 in Meredith, New Hampshire. The neighboring area has a sparse population, with approximately 7,000 individuals living in the 03253 ...
Located at 117 North Rd in Brentwood, New Hampshire, Rockingham County Rehabilitation and Nursing Center is a 226 unit nursing facility. With an average household income of $74,806, the facility is in a mostly middle class area. It ...
Saint Teresa Rehabilitation and Nursing Center is a 51 bed nursing home facility located nearby the South Hooksett neighborhood of Manchester, New Hampshire. With about 34,000 individuals living in the zip code of 03104, the surrounding area is heavily ...
Ridgewood Center, Genesis Healthcare is a 150 unit nursing facility. It is located at 25 Ridgewood Rd in Bedford, New Hampshire. The facility is in a primarily well-to-do area, with an average per-family income of $117,684. It ...
Langdon Place of Dover is located at 60 Middle Rd in Dover, New Hampshire. It is a 30 room senior housing community. The surrounding area is densely populated, with roughly 31,000 individuals residing in the zip code of ...
Dover Center For Health and Rehabilitation is a 112 bed skilled nursing facility situated in Dover, New Hampshire. With about 31,000 individuals living in the 03820 zip code, the neighboring area is densely populated. It is a predominantly ...
Hackett Hill Healthcare Center is a 68 unit nursing care facility located in Manchester, New Hampshire. The encompassing area is densely populated, with about 32,000 individuals residing in the zip code of 03102. With a median family income ...
Located at 8 Peabody Rd in Derry, New Hampshire, Pleasant Valley Nursing Center is a 112 room nursing facility. The community is in a generally middle class area, with an average household income of $72,374. It is heavily ...
Country Village Center is located at 91 Country Village Rd in Lancaster, New Hampshire. It is an 86 bed senior care facility. The encompassing area is sparsely populated, with approximately 5,000 residents in the 03584 zip code. ...
Pleasant View Center, Genesis Healthcare is a 176 unit nursing home facility. It is located at 239 Pleasant St in Concord, New Hampshire. With around 34,000 individuals residing in the zip code of 03301, the encompassing area is ...
Kindred Transitional Care And Rehabilitation-Greenbr is located at 55 Harris Rd in Nashua, New Hampshire. It is a 290 unit skilled nursing facility. The neighboring area is heavily populated, with about 28,000 individuals living in the zip code ...
Havenwood-Heritage Heights is located at 33 Christian Ave in Concord, New Hampshire. It is a 70 bed senior community. The neighboring area has a dense population, with roughly 34,000 people residing in the 03301 zip code. With ...
Edgewood Centre is a 156 unit senior care community. It is located at 928 South St in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The community is in a largely middle income area, with a median household income of $63,815. It ...
Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center is a 62 room nursing facility situated in Greenfield, New Hampshire. The community is in a generally middle income area, with an average per-household income of $69,136. With around 3,000 people residing in the ...
Located at Rr #1 Box 13k 24 Old Etna Rd in Lebanon, New Hampshire, Lebanon Center, Genesis Healthcare is a 110 room nursing care facility. The facility is in a largely middle income area, with a median per-household ...
Exeter Center is an 81 unit senior housing facility situated in Exeter, New Hampshire. The encompassing area is heavily populated, with about 22,000 poeple living in the zip code of 03833. With an average household income of $74,806, ...
Situated near the South Hooksett area of Manchester, New Hampshire, Villa Crest is a 126 bed senior community. The neighboring area has a dense population, with around 34,000 individuals living in the 03104 zip code. With a median ...
Nursing homes costs in New England, which includes New Hampshire, are among the highest in the country. The national average for nursing home care is $7,756 per month; however, New Hampshire seniors can expect to pay $10,646 or $2,890 more. Costs in the neighboring states of Vermont and Maine are a bit closer to the national average at $9,779 and $9,642, respectively. In New York ($12,319) and Massachusetts ($12,623), the respective costs exceed the average in New Hampshire by almost $1,700 and $2,000 per month.
The Cost of Nursing Home Care in New Hampshire's Top Cities
In Manchester, nursing home care costs an average of $11,330, which is well above the statewide median. Cities in some neighboring states offer more affordable rates, including Portland and Lewiston, Maine, at $10,220 and $9,125, respectively. Costs are higher in Burlington, Vermont, and Worcester, Massachusetts, where the respective monthly averages are $10,737 and $12,486.
Senior Care Cost Comparison in New Hampshire
Nursing homes have the most expensive type of senior care available in New Hampshire at $10,646 per month. Memory care averages $8,313, while assisted living costs $6,650 per month. In-home and home health care services average $5,434 and $5,577, respectively, whereas adult day care is the least costly option at $1,842 per month.
As you can see above, Nursing Home Care is often the most expensive senior care option – sometimes even 2-3 times the cost of other types of senior living. The primary reason for this is the 24/7 skilled nursing and other medical services that are provided. Thankfully, most people aren't forced to pay for skilled nursing care entirely out-of-pocket. Rather, many qualify for financial assistance programs to help cover the cost of nursing care.
Medicaid is the most comprehensive financial assistance program – but, not all seniors are eligible for Medicaid. And because each state operates its own Medicaid program within federal guidelines, eligibility and benefits vary from state to state. Below, we provide more information on Medicaid in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire expanded its Medicaid program in 2013, which made coverage available to over 87,000 additional residents. Since then, the number of Medicaid enrollees has increased to approximately 214,000, or 14% of the state's population. Approximately two-thirds of New Hampshire's nursing home residents are enrolled in Medicaid, which provides financial assistance through the Nursing Home Medicaid entitlement program that's available to all eligible applicants. The vast majority of the 74 registered nursing homes in the Granite State accept Medicaid coverage. New Hampshire also offers various Home and Community Care programs to seniors who meet the medical and financial eligibility requirements.
Medicaid Eligibility in New Hampshire
New Hampshire Medicaid, also referred to as Medical Assistance, is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. It's funded by the state and federal governments and offers health insurance coverage to low-income individuals. Medical Assistance programs designed to cover the costs of nursing home and other long-term care solutions have both functional and financial eligibility requirements. In general, to qualify for Medicaid for long-term care, seniors must:
Seniors in New Hampshire have multiple paths to Medicaid eligibility. For those who don't meet the financial criteria, there's a medically needy option that allows seniors to deduct certain healthcare costs from their income. Once those payments are made, all additional healthcare expenses could then be Medicaid-eligible.
The Department of Health and Human Services Commission's Bureau of Family Assistance (BFA) determines the financial eligibility of Medicaid applicants. For more information about New Hampshire's Medicaid coverage for nursing home care or to apply for assistance, seniors can contact their local DHHS office. They can also submit an application online through the NHEasy Gateway to Services portal, or call the BFA's Customer Service Center at 800-852-3345.
Nursing homes in New Hampshire are licensed and inspected by the Department of Health and Human Services' Bureau of Health Facilities Administration to ensure that residents receive a consistent level of quality care. Here are some of the rules and regulations New Hampshire nursing facilities must follow, including the scope of care, medication management, staff screening and training and how to report abuse.
Scope of Care | All nursing homes provide residents with 24-hour access to medical care, typically through registered nurses carrying out a plan of care developed by a physician, physician's assistant or other practitioner qualified to diagnose and prescribe necessary care. Nursing homes must employ or have access to pharmacists, rehabilitative therapy services and personal care aides. Some nursing homes may have a floor or ward dedicated to memory care for patients with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia. |
Care Planning | Facilities must complete a comprehensive assessment of a new resident's minimum care needs within 14 days of admission. This document is called an MDS. Within 14 days of completing the MDS, facilities must develop a care plan that details how to meet the individual's needs. Every quarter, the MDS should be reviewed to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the patient, with annual reassessments. |
Pharmacy Services | Nursing homes must provide all physician-ordered medications to residents as directed and in accordance with state regulations for the storage and dispensing of prescription drugs. Staff must implement prescribed changes within 24 hours. All medications must be stored in a locked area that's only accessible to authorized staff. Patients require a doctor's order for over-the-counter medications. All prescription medications must be provided by a licensed pharmacist and only the pharmacist may make alterations to prescription labels. |
Staff Screening | Before making a final offer of employment, New Hampshire requires nursing homes to complete a criminal records check on all successful applicants. Any felony or misdemeanor convictions involving sexual assault, violent crime, assault, fraud, abuse, theft, neglect or exploitation make an individual ineligible for employment at a licensed nursing facility. |
Staff Training | All nursing home staff must complete annual training that includes emergency response preparedness. Following emergency drills, administrators must provide feedback and report on performance within 72 hours. Staff members must receive specific training on when and how to use restraints on elderly residents, along with alternate strategies to deescalate. |
Medicaid Coverage | For those who qualify, New Hampshire Medicaid offers financial assistance for nursing home care. In most instances, the program pays the difference between a resident's income and the costs associated with long-term care in a nursing facility. |
Reporting Abuse | To report suspected instances of abuse or neglect, contact the BEAS at (603) 271-7014 or toll-free at (800) 949-0470. |
NH CarePath is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. This program is designed to connect seniors with services and resources that may benefit them. It includes access to health information and long-term care planning, in addition to home and community-based services such as home-delivered meals, transportation assistance, and adult day care services.
Home Health & Hospice Care is a nonprofit organization established in 1883 that provides hospice and palliative care services to individuals who may be dealing with chronic pain or a terminal diagnosis. These services are available to seniors where they reside, including those living in nursing facilities.
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Address: 129 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH, 03301
Phone Number: (844) 275-3447
Website: https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/
The Department of Health and Human Services is the agency that handles applications and eligibility determinations for all public assistance programs available in New Hampshire. This includes Medicaid programs that help seniors pay for nursing home costs, community-based alternatives for long-term services and supports, and Medicare premium assistance.
In New Hampshire, the Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services is the division that handles all Area Agency on Aging services. Through the BEAS, seniors can access a variety of supports and services, including home and community-based options prior to placement in a nursing home. A statewide network of ServiceLink Resource Centers offers locations where seniors and their families can receive in-person assistance and counseling on available benefit programs.
The New Hampshire Division of Veterans Services works to ensure former members of the U.S. military and their spouses and dependents can access local, state and federal benefits they've earned through their service. The department can assist with applications for VA health care, disability compensation, pensions and Aid and Attendance benefits and help with appeals for denied benefit claims. Seniors and their families can contact the DVS to schedule a benefits consultation with a veterans service officer in their area of New Hampshire.
The Social Security Administration is a federal agency that administers several programs that may benefit elderly New Hampshire residents. The SSA administers the Social Security retirement and disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income programs and handles applications for Medicare. New Hampshire seniors can get answers to questions about available benefits or help with completing an application by calling (800) 772-1213 or visiting the SSA office in their area.
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