Your Guide to Jewish Senior Living Communities

The Jewish faith revolves around weekly rituals and seasonal traditions that are meaningful at every stage of life. A Pew Research survey found that 72% of Jews said cooking traditional food was important to them, 62% enjoy sharing holiday traditions with their non-Jewish friends and nearly 60% say they visit Jewish historic sites and attractions. These traditions may become even more important to you as you age. If you’re at a point where you feel like you need extra help or want to have assistance available just in case, residential facilities are a great option. The good news is that you don’t have to give up your faith to gain security, comfort and peace of mind.

With a faith-based assisted living facility built on the guiding principles of Judaism, you don’t have to give up your Friday night Shabbat dinners or your latkes and rugelach during the holidays. Jewish senior living communities offer regular religious services, special celebrations and activities that honor Jewish culture. If you’re one of the 1.3 million Jews who follow a kosher diet, your assisted living facility can accommodate these restrictions, although you’re welcome to bring in non-kosher items to stock your pantry or fridge.

Jews are recognized far and wide for their strong sense of community, and this attribute is on display at Jewish retirement homes and continuing-care communities across the country. This guide highlights some of the unique features of Jewish senior living communities, along with information about average costs and typical amenities. We’ve also included tips for locating providers, comparing facilities and paying for care to help you make a smooth transition.

The main difference between Jewish senior living communities and traditional assisted living facilities is that they place a greater emphasis on religious values and spiritual activities in daily life. In fact, many are owned and managed by religious organizations and nonprofits that are guided by the same principles.

Faith-based facilities provide regular religious services, traditional kosher foods and fun cultural activities, such as baking classes where you can make traditional breads or desserts, including babka. Being in a community of like-minded seniors who share similar culture, values and religious beliefs can be very comforting for seniors and their families. Unfortunately, traditional long-term care facilities only provide limited religious services or holiday celebrations for residents who follow the Jewish faith. 

While residents in these communities are predominantly Jewish, you don’t have to identify with a particular religion to be admitted. For example, the traditionally Jewish Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles is recognized as one of the nation’s top hospitals, and many patients seek out this faith-based facility for its world-class care. Seniors in your area may also give preference to faith-based senior living communities that are known for upholding high quality standards.

Conventional senior living communities provide housing and supportive services to help seniors maintain their independence. Since residents have different needs, families can choose from several levels of care. These facilities also offer meals, structured activities and specialized services for specific medical needs. Here are some potential long-term care options, including an overview of their services.

Jewish senior communities make it easy to stay in touch with your roots and gain a greater understanding of your faith. Some of the unique offerings you may find in a Jewish assisted living facility include weekly Shabbat services, holiday celebrations, discussion groups and presentations from experts on Jewish history, travel and other topics. Learn more below about what makes these communities so unique.

Jewish senior living facilities are sure to have weekly Shabbat services that are held on Friday evening and Saturday morning. They may also offer additional afternoon services. One of the best things about Shabbat is that it’s followed by a satisfying Oneg dinner. Most large and midsize facilities have an on-campus synagogue for these services. Jewish communities are generally good about providing additional religious services for non-Jewish residents, as well as free transportation for those who want to worship with friends or family off-site.

Assisted living facilities make it easy to celebrate the high holidays without all the preparation, work and cleanup. Most communities with Jewish affiliations offer religious services, food and fun activities to celebrate the holidays, including Passover, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah and Hanukkah. Religious and recreational activities may also mark other holidays, such as Sukkot and Purim. As a bonus, seniors may be able to invite relatives to these holiday events and dinners.

Recreational activities and special events give residents additional ways to express their faith. The calendar of events at these facilities may feature Judaic study groups or Torah classes, as well as presentations from guest speakers and lecturers. You may also have a chance to practice your Yiddish during weekly language classes or discussion groups. Arts and crafts projects may involve Jewish themes, and facilities often arrange on- and off-site volunteer opportunities, including options for international travel and missionary work in some cases.

While some mainstream assisted living chains offer special dietary options, Jewish facilities take things a step further. Most offer kosher-style dining programs featuring certified ingredients prepared using approved methods that separate meat and dairy and utensils, just as you would when preparing items at home. Some larger facilities operate fully certified kitchens that are overseen by a Vaad-approved supervisor recognized by the local kosher certification body. If you have health-related dietary restrictions or follow a strict kosher diet, make sure to discuss your needs with the admissions team, and ask to sample a meal when you tour the facility.

Long-term care costs aren’t usually influenced by a facility’s religious affiliation. They’re more likely to be affected by the level of assistance you need and the local cost of living. Other factors, such as the facility’s amenities and staffing ratio, can play a role, as can the service plan that you select.

It’s worth noting that a disproportionate number of Jewish households report incomes above $100,000 per year. Some of these individuals may live in affluent areas or expect a higher standard of living. However, there are faith-based retirement communities at all price points. To help you estimate potential costs, we’ve provided data from Genworth Financial’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey. This annual study has been tracking long-term care costs in over 400 major cities for more than 15 years.

This study shows that long-term care costs range from $1,690 per month for adult day health care to $7,908 for skilled nursing. Residential living options may cost anywhere from $2,925 to $5,625 per month, with a median of $4,500 for assisted living. Home health aides cost nearly $5,000 per month or approximately $27 per hour.

Long-term care costs may or may not be comprehensive, depending on the living arrangement you select. For this reason, seniors should use their ordinary living expenses as a baseline when comparing different options. The cost of adult day health care and personal care aides must be added on top of your monthly living expenses, for example.

If you’re looking at a residential senior community, monthly fees typically include housing, personal care and meals for all levels of care above independent living. Nursing homes provide 24-hour medical care in addition to these services, which is why they cost so much more than alternatives.

The facilities you’re considering will provide detailed information about their fees before admission. Different floor plans and service packages may be available depending on your needs and budget, and seniors may be able to save money by sharing a companion suite with a spouse, friend or sibling.

Some continuing-care or life plan retirement communities may have an initial buy-in fee that gives you a stake in the property or interest in a specific apartment or villa. This fee may also pay for care in perpetuity. However, residents still pay monthly fees for meals, utilities and upkeep. One advantage of life plan communities is that your rates won’t increase if you need a higher level of care in the future. Regardless of which option you choose, make sure that you understand all the terms and know what you’re getting before you sign any paperwork. Moving into a senior living community is a big commitment, so you want to ensure you’ll be happy with the location you choose.

Chances are there’s at least one Jewish-affiliated senior living community in your area. You may have even more options if you live in a state with a large percentage of Jewish residents, such as New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Maryland. Connecticut, California, Florida and Nevada are also strongholds for the Jewish community. If you’re looking for personal recommendations, check the following sources:

• For a list of senior living communities in your area, contact the Association of Jewish Aging Services. This nonprofit association represents nearly 100 long-term care providers and community organizations that adhere to Jewish values.
• Reach out to your rabbi, Jewish community center or family services agency for advice. Synagogues and Jewish federations often provide funding that helps to provide affordable housing and sustain senior living communities, so they should be familiar with local options.
• Your doctors may have some ideas about which faith-based long-term care providers are located in the area. They may be able to suggest a high-quality option that has benefited other patients.
• Check with friends or relatives, especially those in the Jewish faith. They may be aware of a facility you haven’t heard of, and they can provide insight into the services and lifestyle offered at different properties.
• State licensing boards are another way to locate qualified long-term care providers based on the level of assistance they provide. In most cases, you can request inspection reports through Medicare.gov.
• Online searches and sites, such as Caring.com, can give you an inside look at the amenities and services offered at individual facilities. You can also get a better feel for the community’s offerings by reading reviews from residents, family and folks who have visited these facilities.
• Once you have a list of candidates, reach out to communities individually to schedule a tour. You’ll have a chance to see the facility, meet the residents and learn more about the activities. Don’t forget to try a meal to see if you enjoy the food. 

Choosing a senior living community is a personal decision because everyone is different. However, there are a few things you should check, regardless of your needs or personal preferences:

• Staffing requirements
• Activities
• Meal plans
• Physical therapy options
• On-site medical care
• Medication management
• Pricing options
• Transportation
• Pet policies

For more details, download our free PDF checklist, featuring a comprehensive list of questions to ask when looking for a Jewish senior living community. You can use it the next time you visit a facility to ensure you’re making an informed decision.

To help with your search for the ideal retirement community, we’ve prepared a directory of Jewish senior living providers across the country. This will give you a better idea of the amenities and services they offer and help you find communities in your area. View some of our top selections below.

Although Jewish households often report above-average incomes, not everyone is as fortunate. Approximately one in four Jews report that they struggled to pay for housing, food, medical care or other bills in the past year. This number increases to one in two households for those earning less than $50,000 per year. Individuals with the lowest incomes tend to be adults under 30 or over 65.

Fortunately, thanks to faith-based groups and government funding, numerous resources may be available to help you pay for long-term care depending on your finances and medical needs. Seniors who have a limited income or high medical bills may qualify for Medicaid. Your assisted living facility or long-term care provider may be able to help with the application process or refer you to your local Area Agency on Aging.

Some faith-based long-term care providers offer direct assistance to seniors who have exhausted their resources or are experiencing a short-term hardship. You’ll also find a variety of services through your local Jewish community center or family services organization. The table below details more about these options.