Data

Genworth: Assisted Living Care Costs Up 5% in 2013

By Alyssa Gerace |

The cost of care among facility-based senior care providers has steadily increased in the past five years, with assisted living showing the biggest rate increase compared to 2012, according to the Genworth 2013 Cost of Care Survey. 

Among all care costs studied, assisted living care and adult day healthcare had the largest year-over-year growth. A private unit in an assisted living community cost a national median monthly rate of $3,450, up 4.55% from 2012.

The cost of adult day healthcare rose 6.56% from last year to a national median daily rate of $65.

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Nursing home care got more expensive, too: the national median daily rate of a private room grew 3.60% to $230, while a semi-private room is now a median $207 a day, up 3.30% from last year.

Meanwhile, home care costs have trended flat, Genworth finds. 

The national median hourly rate for licensed homemaker services is up just 1.39% to $18. Licensed home health aide services have a national median rate of $19 an hour, up 2.32% from 2012.

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“Home care rates have remained flat in part because of increased competition among agencies and the availability of unskilled labor, and because the companies that provide these types of services do not incur the costs associated with maintaining stand-alone healthcare facilities,” says Genworth. 

Both home care services have seen a 1% or less growth in costs in the last five years, according to the Cost of Care survey. The cost of assisted living care, in contrast, has grown 4.26% in the last five years, while a private skilled nursing room costs 4.45% more in 2013 than in 2008.

Americans will pay about $16,400 more each year in nursing home care compared to what they paid in 2008, says Genworth.

At least seven in ten people aged 65 or older will need long-term care services at some point in their lifetime, research shows, while about one in nine people in that same age range have Alzheimer’s disease. 
 
The duration of the disease makes the need for long-term care support “critical,” Genworth points out, adding that 46% of its total long-term care insurance claims in payment—and half of all claims dollars—are due to dementia. 
 
The “astronomical” costs of Alzheimer’s care, both for paid care and care from unpaid caregivers, is expected to reach $1.2 trillion by 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. 
 
 
Written by Alyssa Gerace

Alyssa Gerace

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    • When comparing home care costs, the costs of renovations to the home made by the home owner wouldn't be included in the cost of home care services. Of course, those "physical plant" costs are included in assisted living and nursing home costs as Alyssa Gerace, reporter for SHN, adroitly points out in the quote from Genworth 2013 Cost of Care Survey.
      Because of the consumer preferences for private rooms and amenities as well as multiple types of services which are being added to the services menu, it would seem likely that the rise in costs has a lot to do simply with giving seniors what they are asking for. Seems like a good thing.
      Chris Foley
      CPA (Retired)
      Equity National Seniors Housing Brokerage & Advisors
      [email protected]

      • Dear Chris: I have examined Genworth´s excellent work, particularly their 2012 conclusions. However, I have found that once you contact directly what appear to be worthwhile facilities in the northeast (freezing weather non-withstanding), as well as in Florida, Arizona and New Mexico, the monthly costs do not ressemble at all the averages indicated by either the Genworth study or another one similar by MetLife. Is it a mistake, or a case of show & switch or an effort to have the potential customer trade up to a higher value. Nevertheless, I have found much better values in both Costa Rica and Mexico, and with incredible weather as a bonus. too.

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