Memory Care Communities in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia is Pennsylvania’s second-most expensive city for memory care. Reading is slightly more costly at $7,150 per month. In contrast, Pittsburgh and Scranton rank as two of the most affordable cities for memory care, with average costs of $4,063 and $3,594, respectively. Memory care in Pennsylvania’s third-largest city, Allentown, costs an average of $5,980 per month. 

Note: Residential memory care is usually offered in assisted living facilities, and in general, memory care rates tend to be 20-30% higher than assisted living rates. No national database currently tracks memory care costs in the United States, so we’ve estimated the monthly memory care costs listed below by adding 25% to the rates listed in Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey.

The average monthly cost of memory care in Philadelphia is $7,106. This price is significantly higher than Pennsylvania’s statewide average of $5,125 and the U.S. average of $5,625.

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

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

For more information about different ways to finance memory care, visit our Memory Care in Pennsylvania page.

Memory care is the second most expensive type of senior care in Philadelphia. A semiprivate room in a nursing home is the most costly, with an average cost of $11,437 per month. Assisted living facilities are $5,685 per month, and home health care averages $5,339. Home care has a similar price at $5,329. The most affordable type of care is adult day health care, which costs $1,177 per month. 

The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) at the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services is the regulatory body that oversees memory care facilities, nursing homes and other senior care facilities in Philadelphia and across the state. The OLTL regularly evaluates licensed facilities to ensure they meet or exceed a high standard of care. 

• Philadelphia is the sixth largest city in the U.S. and ranked as the 19th best city to retire in. Pennsylvania does not tax retirement income, making Philadelphia one of the most financially-friendly cities for seniors. The sales tax rate in Pennsylvania is favorable as well, at just 6%. 
• Overall, the cost of living in Philadelphia is 17% more expensive than the national average. However, compared to the other most populated cities in the U.S., Philadelphia ranks as one of the more affordable ones. 
• Philadelphia has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to other cities of its size. The crime rate per 1,000 residents is one in 39. However, many neighborhoods further away from the city’s center are significantly safer. Regardless, memory care communities prioritize resident safety and security with 24/7 monitoring, so crimes, such as petty theft, aren’t as concerning as they would be downtown. 
• Philadelphia is home to top-of-the-line medical care and award-winning hospitals. Residents have their choice of 53 hospitals located in and around the city, and two local hospitals are nationally ranked and recognized as the best in the country.
• Philadelphia offers many transportation options, making it easy to visit a loved one in their memory care community. Philadelphia International Airport hosts 29 airlines that offer 500 daily departures to 130 nonstop domestic destinations. The city also provides buses, trolleys and regional train lines connecting the city and surrounding areas. For example, New York City is only a one-hour-and-20-minute train ride from Philadelphia.
• Winters in Philadelphia are long and cold. January is the coldest month, with average temperatures ranging from a low of 27 degrees Fahrenheit to a high of  41 degrees Fahrenheit. Philadelphia averages 15 inches of snow every winter. Summertime is more pleasant, with average temperatures peaking at 87 degrees Fahrenheit. Philadelphia also rarely experiences extreme weather or severe storms.