There are 48 nursing homes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The costs per day of nursing home care in Pennsylvania range from $160 to $450, with a median expenditure running about $272. The per month cost averages about $8,160 and ranges between $4,800 and $13,500. On an annual basis, the median cost is about $99,196, which is higher than the US average of $77,380.
Costs of nursing home care in Philadelphia, PA can range between $155 per day and $420 per day. The median cost is about $350 per day, or around $127,750 per year.
Philadelphia is a large city in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metropolitan statistical area. With 1,526,206 residents living inside the city limits and 3,156,762 in the encompassing metro area, it is the biggest city in the state. Those who are over the age of 55 compose approximately 23% of the total population.
Philadelphia has an average SeniorScore™ of 63. The city has a mean per capita income of $22,000. The mean household income is $38,000 vs the average of $51,000 for the entire state of Pennsylvania. The current unemployment rate is around 13.96% and the mean home price is $145,500, which is much less than the state average of $213,000.
Philadelphia has tolerable mean temperatures, with comfortable winters and pleasant summers. The area gets large levels of rain each year. Philadelphia has very poor air quality ratings, poor water quality ratings, and a very high rate of crime in relation to similarly-sized cities.
Senior Living in Philadelphia
Among the ten largest cities in America, Philadelphia has a mix of hometown essence and bustling metropolis wrapped into one dynamic city. Widely referred to as "Philly", this unpretentious, yet refined city, welcomes residents and visitors from all walks of life. As with any established large and thriving city, there is a lot of history in Philadelphia. The "City of Brotherly Love," as it is called, is home to generations of locals who embody the warm spirit of Philly.
Also referred to as the Delaware Valley, the city has historical buildings, cobblestone streets and charming neighborhoods to explore. Rated as the 5th most walk-able large city in the nation, it received a WalkScore of 79. Most errands in the city can be accomplished on foot depending on the neighborhood. The city received a transit score of 67 from the website, and SEPTA transit operates its subway and train system, buses, trolley service and city-wide commuter rail, and beyond.
Although Philadelphia gets snowy and very cold in the winter months, the weather is friendlier the rest of the year which compliments all the outdoor activities it has to offer. There are several open spaces, parks, gardens, trails and terrain in and near the city for active seniors to enjoy. Not to mention, there are various activities to partake in on the Delaware River which hugs the city's east end, along the New Jersey border.
There are many options when it comes to good healthcare and health professionals in the city, which is important for quality of life for the aging population. There are over 50 hospitals in the Philadelphia area including the nationally ranked, regionally ranked and the high performing Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania-Penn Presbyterian, which is ranked 14th on the Overall U.S. Best Hospitals Honor Roll. Jefferson Health-Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals are also highly ranked.
An extensive amount of community and senior centers are located in Philadelphia which can be accessed on the PA Association of Senior Centers (PASC) website. There is a large number of churches in the area for those who enjoy being part of a religious community. There are over 250 senior living facilities in and around Philadelphia.
Philadelphia's seniors over age 65, make up about 13 percent of the population which is on par with the national average of 13 percent.
Resources in Philadelphia
There are a good number of useful resources for the aging population in Philadelphia. These facilities, services and programs are designed to help seniors live well and thrive in their communities. A number of resources from meal services and social activities to health screenings and wellness programs are in place specifically to meet the needs of seniors throughout the various neighborhoods in Philadelphia and the State of Pennsylvania.
Access to transportation is an important aspect of daily living for many seniors in their communities. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation offers free transit and shared-ride programs to help provide affordable transportation options for senior citizens. This allows seniors, age 65 an older, who meet the requirements to ride free on local fixed-route service whenever the local public transit system is operating. In addition, PA seniors can use shared-ride services and pay only a small portion of the regular shared-ride fare. Senior citizens or an approved third-party sponsor pay 15 percent of the fare, and the Lottery Fund pays the remaining 85 percent. The shared-ride program discount is available in every county of the state.
SeniorLAW Center provides services not only through its statewide HelpLine and walk-in intake at its Philadelphia offices, but throughout several communities in the city. The service provides home and hospital visits, outreaches, special projects offered at community and senior centers, and at its five community-based intake sites. SeniorLAW helps older people by educating the community and by the following special programs: Homeowners Assistance Program, PROJECT S.A.F.E. ("Stop Abuse and Financial Exploitation"), Protecting Older Veterans Who Once Protected Us, Kinship Car, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Initiative with AARP, Property and Inheritance Tax Aid for Elders, the Pension Rights Project, and many more specialties.
Meal service is essential for aging adults. Home-delivered meals provided by the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) is for frail older individuals and people with disabilities who struggle to afford balanced meals, are unable to cook or shop for food, and have no one to help prepare meals. Services include up to 7 frozen meals delivered on a weekly basis, and hot meals delivered Monday through Friday. All meals are designed to be healthy, appropriate for diabetics, and the service even offers kosher meals.
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Older Adult Program operates a handful of senior centers in the city to help older residents live fulfilling and independent lives, both at home and in their communities. The program is for all adults age 55 and over. Meals are available, as is transportation, wellness, social and recreational programs, among other services.
Held in May to coincide with Older Americans Month, the PCA hosts a month-long "Celebrate Arts & Aging" festival to encourage and showcase seniors' artistic talents. The festival began in 2003 with the goal of informing seniors about opportunities to experience the arts. Seniors are encouraged to attend a theatre performance or visit area museums during the month. The festival also facilitates senior participation in arts-related classes and workshops. Around 150 senior artists ages 55 and up display their works at various locations and senior communities in the city all month long.
Fun things to Do in Philadelphia
"The Cradle of Liberty" refers to its status as the first city in America, and today Philadelphia has many important historical gems and cultural attractions. In recent years, Independence Hall was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Giving it its rich history, are the city's many museums and landmarks, including the Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, the Constitution Center, Liberty Bell, and the Franklin Institute, among several others. Impressively, there are over 65 national historical landmarks in the city of Philadelphia. Undoubtedly, a city for any proud American or history buff to call home.
Art is a special aspect of Philadelphia and something to be enjoyed year after year. The city boasts that it has the most public art and murals of any other city in the U.S. It is also home to one of the largest art museums in the world, the Philadelphia Museum of Art (and you may remember the famous stair-climbing scene in the film, Rocky). Other art attractions in the city include the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the Rodin Museum and First Fridays which celebrate and feature local art galleries each month.
In addition, there are a good number of performing arts venues and events in the city. Take in a night at the Kimmel Center in the Arts District where the Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra perform. There are a number of other theatres in the city including the Walnut Street Theatre which is one of the oldest in the nation.
The city's short distance to other small and large cities like Boston, Baltimore, D.C. and the Big Apple, make it a great location for seniors who want access to other places with plenty to do. Other cities can be accessed by roads or train service. Living in Philadelphia also provides close access to other airports for added travel options.
You might find Philly Cheesesteaks at dozens of restaurants across the U.S. and in the freezer section at your local Costco, but there is only one place for the original iconic sandwich. For those wanting more than beef, cheese and bread, the city of Philadelphia offers an assortment of fine dining, casual eateries, food trucks and even the local bar food is impressive. Popular dining options include: City Tavern, Dante & Luigi's, and Ralph's Italian.
Active seniors can visit more than 35 gardens in the city, giving it its nickname of "America's Garden Capital". There are a number of parks throughout Philadelphia. The most popular is Fairmount Park which is a destination for outdoor lovers year round. It houses miles of trails for horseback riding, off-road cycling and deep-woods hiking, tours, tea ceremonies and even outdoor concerts among other activities.
Philly is a place with so much to offer by way of entertainment and festivals all year long. Annual events include music and film festivals, concerts, community functions, and parades. The Made in America festival, the Folk Festival and Jazz on the Ave are all widely attended music festivals in the city. Also popular is the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade and the New Year's Day Parade.
Sports fans have a choice of events year-round with Philadelphia's professional baseball, football, basketball, hockey, lacrosse, and soccer teams. In addition, the city is home to the U.S. Pro Cycling Championship, and the U.S. Pro Indoor Tennis Championship. College sports also have a long scorecard in Philadelphia.
Home to major universities such as Temple University, Drexel University, and the University of Pennsylvania, there are over a dozen colleges within the city limits. Some colleges offer no-cost or reduced tuition for seniors like the Pan-African Studies Community Education Program (PASCEP) at Temple University. It is a low-cost, non-credit continuing education service of the Office of Community Relations.