Assisted Living Communities in Brooklyn, New York

The Brooklyn area is among the highest-priced for assisted living within the state. Rates in areas such as Poughkeepsie ($4,770), Kingston ($4,500) and Binghamton ($4,597) are at least $980 more affordable than Brooklyn. However, further north, in the Albany area, the rate for assisted living of $5,269 is only a few hundred dollars below Brooklyn. 

Seniors have several options for paying for assisted living expenses in Brooklyn, depending on their functional needs, veteran status and financial resources. By using multiple funding sources, older adults can receive the residential care they need without compromising financial stability.

• Medicaid: Qualified seniors in Brooklyn pay for assisted living services through several Medicaid programs, including the Managed Long Term Care Program Waiver, Assisted Living Program, Community First Choice Option and the Personal Care Services Program. These programs pay for long-term care expenses such as personal care, meals and transportation.
• Medicare: Medicare doesn’t pay for custodial services that aren’t medically necessary, meaning its coverage doesn’t apply to standard assisted living. However, seniors who arrange home health care services through third-party providers may use their Medicare coverage for skilled nursing services.
• VA Benefits: Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits, as well as the VA Health Care for the Elderly Veterans program’s Geriatrics and Extended Care program, help seniors pay for assisted living services. According to the proprietary Caring.com database, more than 50 local assisted living communities accept veterans’ benefits.
• Private Payments: Assisted living communities accept private payments for all housing and care expenses. This includes funds from monthly Social Security and pension income, retirement savings and long-term care insurance policies.

Assisted living is designed for adults who need help with daily tasks, such as bathing and dressing. This type of care costs $3,388 per month. Seniors who are self-sufficient but want access to social activities and maintenance-free housing can save $1,339 a month by opting for an independent living apartment. Individuals who have dementia or Alzheimer's can be admitted to a memory care unit for about $110 more per month.

In the state of New York, assisted living communities are classed under the umbrella term Adult Care Facilities. These units must adhere to a robust list of laws and regulations as determined by the state’s Department of Health.

• Brooklyn seniors have access to several high-quality hospitals, including  Brooklyn Hospital Center, a nationally recognized facility that specializes in emergency medicine, surgical care and primary care services. Other local hospitals include Brookdale Hospital Medical Center and Mount Sinai Brooklyn. 
• Living expenses run about 77% higher in Brooklyn than in a typical U.S. city, impacting the affordability of medical and long-term care services. Fortunately, many local assisted living facilities accept Medicaid and veterans’ benefits.
• Annually, Brooklyn reports about 1,124 crimes per square mile and 27 incidents per 1,000 people. To promote residents’ safety, assisted living communities have features such as alarm systems, 24-hour security staff and access control systems.
• With warm summers and cold winters, Brooklyn appeals to prospective assisted living residents who enjoy seasonal weather. The city’s warm season brings average daytime temperatures ranging from 75 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit, while the cold season has nighttime lows around 28-38 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Brooklyn is part of New York City and a member of the AARP Age-Friendly Network. This means assisted living residents in this community benefit from city initiatives for affordable housing and access to civic participation opportunities. The city has an overall livability score of 62, compared to the U.S. norm of 48, putting it in the top half of U.S. communities for favorability for seniors.