Memory Care Communities in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Memory care in Pittsburgh is below the state ($5,125) and national ($5,625) averages. Additionally, Pittsburgh memory care communities cost less than some other cities in the state, including Philadelphia, which costs $7,106 monthly, on average, and State College, which averages $5,648. However, nearby Johnstown costs less, averaging just $3,406 a month for memory care.

When trying to decide how to pay for memory care, one of the first questions that comes up is "How much does it cost?" With the impact of inflation, it's more important than ever to have up-to-date information when making a financial plan for senior living. To help shed light on real senior living prices, Caring.com has compiled proprietary cost data from its network of more than 75,000 senior living providers to provide insight into the average cost of memory care in Pittsburgh and 59 other cities in Pennsylvania.

Memory care residents and their families often use several private and public payment options to fund monthly long-term care expenses.

• Medicaid: The Pennsylvania Medicaid managed care program, Community HealthChoices, helps qualifying seniors pay for memory care expenses. While it doesn’t cover room and board, it pays for nonmedical transportation, durable medical equipment, personal care and personal emergency response systems.
• Medicare: Medicare only pays for medically necessary services, meaning it doesn’t have coverage for most memory care expenses. However, seniors can use their Part B coverage to pay for rehabilitative therapies, skilled nursing and durable medical equipment, reducing overall care costs.
• VA Benefits: The VA operates a veterans’ home in Pittsburgh that provides memory care services to veterans with dementia. Qualifying veterans can obtain financial assistance with memory care fees through the Geriatrics and Extended Care program and the Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits.
• Private Payments: Many memory care residents use their monthly retirement income, money from savings accounts or investments, proceeds from home sales or long-term care insurance to pay for memory care expenses. Facilities accept private payments for all services, including room and board, personal care and meals.

In Pittsburgh, the cost of care depends on a senior's needs. Independent living features fewer amenities than other options, so it costs a lower average of $3,191 per month. Assisted living communities provide ongoing supervision and personal care for an average of $4,979 per month. Memory care offers specialized support for residents with dementia and other memory disorders, which makes it one of the more expensive options at $4,798 per month.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health oversees long-term care facilities in the state, including memory care communities. This department issues licenses to these facilities to ensure they comply with state guidelines and regulations. 

Benefits

• Pittsburgh is home to several high-quality hospitals, including the top-rated UPMC. This hospital houses the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, one of the country’s top dementia research centers.
• The cost of living in Pittsburgh runs about 3% below the national norm, promoting economical memory care costs. While health care expenses trend slightly above the nationwide benchmark, residents see competitive food, housing and transportation costs.
• Pennsylvania’s senior-friendly income tax laws provide exemptions for Social Security benefits, pension income and withdrawals from retirement savings accounts, leaving more money in the bank for memory care expenses.
• Pittsburgh ranks as a member of the AARP Age-Friendly Network and has several programs in place to foster a favorable environment for seniors and those with dementia, including housing programs, walkability initiatives and free technology training at local libraries.

Drawbacks

• The Pittsburgh region has poor air quality, receiving a failing score for annual pollution levels, an F for 24-hour particle pollution and a D for ozone pollution from the American Lung Association. Although local air quality may negatively affect the quality of life for individuals with chronic heart or lung conditions, many residential care facilities host indoor activities and have air purification systems.
• Pittsburgh sees about 36 crimes per 1,000 people annually, putting it in the bottom 7% of U.S. cities for safety. Fortunately, many memory care communities provide security features, such as alarm systems.