Assisted Living Communities in Lake Charles, Louisiana

Assisted living prices in Lake Charles are about midrange when compared to other regional cities. Residents pay about $250 more than the state median but $500 less than the national average. More affordable locations include Lafayette at $3,850 and Alexandria at $2,900, which provides an estimated savings of $1,100 per month. Seniors in the state capital of Baton Rouge pay just $125 more per month for care. However, prices increase by $800 to $4,800 in Houma.

With a median cost of $4,000 per month, assisted living in Lake Charles is between the state median of $3,748 and the national average of $4,500.

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in Louisiana page.

Seniors who aren’t ready to transition to a residential care facility can use home care or home health care for approximately $3,909 per month depending on how many hours of assistance they need. Alternatively, seniors can travel to a daytime health care center. These programs have a median cost of $1,788 statewide. Seniors who choose assisted living facilities can save over $1,800 per month compared to those who reside in nursing homes or skilled rehabilitation centers.

Assisted living facilities in Lake Charles are licensed as adult residential care providers by the Louisiana Department of Health, Health Standards Section. The state has four licensing categories based on the size of the facility as well as the type of accommodations and services they offer.

• Lake Charles offers residents a competitive cost of living that’s about 15% lower than the national average and slightly lower than other parts of the state. Nearly all essentials, including housing, groceries, health care and utilities, are more affordable than average, which benefits budget-conscious seniors.
• Health care access in Louisiana’s fifth-largest city is about average. Although the area has fewer physicians compared to similarly sized cities, there are a number of hospitals nearby. Lake Charles Memorial Hospital and Ochsner St. Patrick Hospital are both rated as high-performing by U.S. News & World Report.
• Louisiana is tax-friendly for older adults despite the area’s high sales tax rate of 10.3%. Social Security benefits aren’t taxed, however, and seniors can claim a $6,000 exemption on other forms of retirement income, which increases to $12,000 for couples filing jointly. The state has low property tax rates and generous homestead exemptions for seniors.
• Older adults in Lake Charles who don’t have reliable transportation or need help getting around town may qualify for free rides through the Calcasieu Council on Aging. Rides are available through fixed-route bus lines, door-to-door paratransit services and volunteer drivers.
• Crime in Lake Charles is higher than the national average, but numbers have improved in recent years. The city has a violent crime index of 40.5 compared to the national average of 22.7. Property crime is nearly twice the national average at 61.2 versus 35.4. For seniors who live alone, assisted living may be a safer alternative due to staffing and other security measures.
• Lake Charles is a comfortable location for most seniors. The city has a mild Gulf-influenced climate with winter lows around 40 degrees and summer highs around 90. The area receives an above-average 62 inches of rain annually. However, there’s no snow, and residents can enjoy approximately 213 sunny days for outdoor recreation.