3 Assisted Living Communities in Mount Airy, North Carolina

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $4,215 a month. This guide is a starting point covering the cost of assisted living care in the city, as well as financing options to pay for it. You’ll find in-depth information on 3 Assisted Living Communities in Mount Airy and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Mount Airy, NC

• Assisted Living: $4,215
• Nursing Home Care: $6,950
• In-home Care: $3,623
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,148

Seniors in North Carolina pay an average of $3,693 per month for assisted living care; this is significantly less than the national average ($4,000). Compared to these average costs, Mount Airy’s assisted living fees are relatively expensive at $4,215 per month.

Assisted living costs vary widely between cities. Goldsboro and Rocky Mount are tied for the most affordable city in North Carolina; at $2,750 per month, these cities are nearly $1,500 less expensive than Mount Airy. Raleigh, the state capital, is home to the priciest assisted living facilities. At $5,750, Raleigh is over $1,500 more expensive than Mount Airy.

Note: Senior care cost data for Mount Airy wasn’t available. Data for the Winston-Salem, the closest major city, has been used.

Monthly senior care costs vary widely based on the type of care a senior needs, as revealed by Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study. In Mount Airy, nursing home care costs an average of $6,950 per month, which is about $2,700 more than assisted living. At $3,623, in-home care is about $600 less than assisted living. However, seniors who remain at home need to pay for groceries, utilities, rent and other monthly costs. Often, these expenses are included in assisted living fees.

 

Medicaid is a state and federal health insurance program that helps people with low incomes and few resources pay for medical costs. More than 1.7 million North Carolinians are enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program, NC Medicaid. These enrollees include people with disabilities, seniors, parents and children. Some of the many services they can access are doctor visits, hospital visits, laboratory services, personal care services and nursing home care.

NC Medicaid may be available to seniors who:

• Live in North Carolina
• Are US citizens or eligible immigrants
• Have (or have applied for) a Social Security number
• Earn less than $1,041 per month ($1,410 for couples)
• Have less than $2,000 in assets ($3,000 for couples)

Seniors who receive State and County Special Assistance or Supplemental Security Income are automatically eligible for NC Medicaid.

In North Carolina, there are three ways to apply for Medicaid. Seniors can:

• Apply in person at the Surry County Department of Social Services
• Take or mail a paper application to the DSS
• Complete an online ePass application

Seniors who have questions about NC Medicaid or who need help applying can call the Surry County DSS at (336) 401-8700.

Personal Care Services Program

NC Medicaid’s Personal Care Services program may help seniors pay for assisted living in Mount Airy. The program doesn’t pay for room and board, but it may pay for the personal care services provided in these facilities.

This program is offered to seniors who have a disability, medical condition or cognitive impairment and need help with activities of daily living. ADLs are defined as eating, dressing, bathing, toileting and mobility. A senior who needs limited assistance with three ADLs may qualify for the program. Seniors who need help with two ADLs may be eligible if they require extensive or greater assistance for one of the ADLs. An independent assessment determines the need for support.

To apply for the PCS program, download the application form and have your doctor complete it. The form can then be faxed to Liberty Healthcare Corporation of North Carolina at (919) 307-8307.

Mount Airy seniors who want to learn more about the PCS program can call Liberty Healthcare Corporation of North Carolina at (919) 322-5944.

State and County Special Assistance

The State and County Special Assistance program helps low-income people pay for room and board in approved residential facilities. These facilities include group homes, family care homes and adult care homes (assisted living facilities).

The maximum monthly benefit is $1,228, and this includes a personal needs allowance of $46. Seniors can use their allowance to buy clothes and other personal items. A senior’s individual benefit is determined by subtracting their monthly countable income from the maximum benefit. Therefore, a senior needs to earn less than $1,228 per month to participate.

In addition to having a low income, applicants must:

• Be US citizens or qualified aliens

• Be North Carolina residents

• Have a verified need for the level of care provided by residential facilities

• Live in a residential facility that has agreed to accept Special Assistance

To apply for the Special Assistance program, visit the Surry County DSS. When you apply, bring your Social Security card, proof of age, income information and asset information.

For more information, call (336) 401-8700 to speak with a Surry County DSS representative.

Veterans Affairs Aid and Attendance

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides VA pension benefits to eligible low-income veterans and survivors. Seniors who need help with daily activities may be able to get additional pension benefits from the VA. This extra funding is offered through the Aid and Attendance allowance.

Mount Airy seniors who are eligible for a basic VA pension may qualify for this extra funding if they:

• Need another person’s help to perform activities of daily living, such as bathing

• Have a disability that requires them to stay in bed

• Are a resident in a nursing home

• Are legally blind

The VA calculates pension benefits by subtracting a veteran’s countable income from the Maximum Annual Pension Rate. The MAPR for a single veteran who qualifies for Aid and Attendance benefits is $22,577. If the veteran has a dependent spouse, the MAPR increases to $26,766.

To apply for A&A, visit the Winston-Salem Regional Benefit Office or write to the Philadelphia VA Regional Office. Seniors are advised to provide documentation that supports their need for the allowance. Ideally, they should ask their doctor to fill out VA Form 21-2680.

To learn more, call the Department of Veterans Affairs at (844) 698-2311.

The local AAA offers information and assistance to seniors. It helps connect seniors with organizations that provide home-delivered meals, transportation, in-home care and other services. Seniors can participate in workshops about fall prevention, diabetes management and other topics. Piedmont Triad Regional Council 
1398 Carrollton Crossing Drive, Kernersville, NC 27284
(336) 904-0300

While there are no Veterans Affairs locations in Mount Airy, there are many nearby. Eligible seniors who require medical care can visit Salisbury’s VA hospital or Kernersville’s VA clinic. The closest vet center, which offers individual and group counseling, is in Greensboro. Seniors who are interested in the Aid and Attendance allowance or other VA benefits can visit the Winston-Salem Regional Benefit Office.

W.G. Hefner Salisbury VA Medical Center 
1601 Brenner Ave., Salisbury, NC 28144
(704) 638-9000

Kernersville VA Clinic 
1695 Kernersville Medical Parkway, Kernersville, NC 27284
(336) 515-5000

Greensboro Vet Center 
3515 W. Market St., Suite 120, Greensboro, NC 27406
(336) 323-2660

Winston-Salem Regional Benefit Office 
251 N. Main St., Winston-Salem, NC 27155
(800) 827-1000

Senior Homes has an extensive directory of senior living options, with care and living providers across the United States.