Assisted living in Tennessee
Another viable state for seniors looking for assisted living and retirement place is Tennessee, and particularly for seniors that are in love with music and history. This state also has a low cost of assisted living going for it, allowing its citizens to lead a comfortable life while still being able to put some money aside, which they can use to either travel or buy a gift for their grandchildren. But housing isn’t the only thing that is affordable, as utilities and food have low costs as well. Another thing that seniors living in Tennessee have going for them are low prescription costs, which don’t have additional taxes – another benefit for seniors that need medications in order to stay in good health.
Before you decide to retire in Tennessee, it would be wise to get as much information as possible regarding The Volunteer State’s senior living costs, facilities, and benefits. To make this easier for you, we have collected information about the most important things you need to know regarding the senior living options, amenities they have to offer, and the various support systems that have been put in place. If you already have some cities in Tennessee on your mind, feel free to use our list of cities below and find out more about what they have to offer.
Tennessee has a housing index of 87.60, placing it among the more affordable states to retire to in the nation. For example, one-bedroom apartments have an average monthly cost of $623, compared to the national average of $825. Two-bedroom apartments have an average monthly cost of $770, compared to the national average of $1,027.
Wondering what the monthly costs are like for senior living in this state? Well, first and foremost, home health care costs in Tennessee have an average price of about $3,546 per month. The services provided by home health care facilities allow seniors to lead a comfortable life in their own homes, while skilled aides provide help with housecleaning, daily tasks, and meal preparation.
The state is also home to adult daycare centers, providing seniors with supervised housing at specialized facilities during the daytime. The monthly costs for a stay at adult daycare facilities are about $1,308 in Tennessee. Do keep in mind that this type of senior living doesn’t provide 24/7 care, making it ideal for seniors that are still active and healthy, but could still benefit from socialization, therapy and health services.
There is also a good number of assisted living facilities in Tennessee. This type of senior living provides seniors with help with daily tasks, meal preparation, personal care, and health services – when needed. The average cost for assisted living facilities in Tennessee is $3,595 per month.
Lastly, seniors that are no longer able to live on their own, nor do they have caregivers which would care for them will surely find comfort at the various nursing homes operating in Tennessee. Semi-private rooms have an average monthly cost of about $6,110, while seniors that prefer living in more privacy can opt in for a private room for the average cost of $6,600 per month. Nursing homes in Tennessee, and anywhere in the nation for that matter, aside from housing, provide their residents with
- Personal care
- Medications
- Round the clock supervision
- Skilled nursing care
- Therapies and rehabilitation
Benefits of Choosing Tennessee for Assisted Living
People from all over the nation choose Tennessee for retirement and assisted living because of the rich music culture and plentiful history, among many other fun things to do and places to see. Below, we have listed three benefits that await you once you get there.
Senior Friendly Social Activities in Tennessee
With so many fun shows to see, nature to experience, and history to learn about, there are many social activities to experience in Tennessee. There aren’t many people that haven’t heard of Nashville, the place that has given birth to lots of blues and country music. Seniors won’t have to look long for talented musicians putting on shows, as well as places to taste delicious foods while staying here. When it comes to nature, the:
will surely provide ample opportunities for exploration and admiration.
Senior Tax Benefits in Tennessee
Seniors that have incomes not exceeding $40,000 per year will rejoice, since they don’t have to pay any state taxes. This is possible because Tennessee doesn’t have any taxes on Social Security income, public and private pensions, nor withdrawals from retirement accounts. As a cherry on top, the marginal tax rate in Tennessee is flat 0%. Bearing this in mind, seniors will surely be able to afford a higher quality healthcare and accommodation.
Various Comfort Foods in Tennessee
Seniors that enjoy classic comfort food will certainly love the traditional dishes available in Tennessee. This state is also known for being among the states with the best barbeque, like the heavily spread Memphis ribs and drumsticks. Nashville is known for its specific and delicious type of fried chicken that is loved and ingested by everyone that has ever tried it. For people that are more on the sweet side, the classic moon pie will bring joy to their palate, and this pie was first invented in Chattanooga. Some other delicious foods include stack cakes and fried catfish. If you’re more of a healthy food person, you needn’t worry, as there are plenty healthy foods to enjoy it as well, and you should that tomatoes are the state fruit in Tennessee.
Senior Living Options
There are lots of senior living options available for retirees in Tennessee. Seniors that choose to retire in this state will be able to choose from:
According to their own needs and wants. Each of these options and their costs amenities are further explained down below, so keep on reading in order to find out which one is the right one for you.
Independent Living
Tennessee is home to 200 independent living facilities operating all over the state. This type of senior living is best suited for seniors that are still active and healthy, without the constant need for nursing care. The average monthly costs for independent living facilities in Tennessee can range anywhere from $715 to $3,080. Seniors that prefer apartment-style living will be able to find housing at some of the many active senior communities for seniors aged 55+ or 65+. These communities usually offer various amenities to their residents:
- gyms
- walking
- hiking trails
- meeting rooms
- pools
- jacuzzies
Assisted Living
Over 460 assisted living facilities are available in Tennessee, whose main goal is providing seniors with attentive caregivers, healthcare, as well as social and local activities to partake in. Seniors residing at these assisted living facilities beside housing, will receive help with housekeeping, laundry services, transportation, meal preparation, and ‘round the clock staff for their safety. The average cost range for assisted living facilities in Tennessee starts at $1,300 to $5,600. The most affordable facilities can be found in the Morristown area, while the most expensive ones are located in the Kingsport-Bristol metropolitan areas.
Memory Care in Tennessee
There are many memory care centers operating in Tennessee, for the average annual cost of $60,291. These costs may vary greatly, mainly determined by the location of the facility and the length of stay, as well as the level of healthcare required. The average cost range for memory care centers in Tennessee is from $1,885 to $8,120 per month. The most expensive memory care centers can be found in the Kingsport and Bristol metropolitan areas, for the average annual cost of $79,151, while the most affordable ones are located in Morristown for the average annual cost of $59,469. While the price might be on the high end, there is no better place for seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s, dementia, or dementia-related ailments as memory care centers have professionally skilled staff and ‘round the clock surveillance so as to minimize the stress caused by this illness.
Nursing Homes in Tennessee
As it is with most states in the nation, Tennessee has been experiencing a fast growth of its senior population over the past years, with no signs of slowing down. The same can be said about the preparedness of the state in terms of senior housing, which while not being on a satisfactory level, Tennessee has started taking care of this so as to cover the needs of the seniors that are citizens of the state, making up 15.7% of the overall population. The result of these efforts are 887 senior living providers available all over the state.
Over 70 of those senior living providers consist of adult daycare centers. These facilities provide seniors help with everyday tasks, giving them a peace of mind, as they can be confident that they will receive assistance with personal care, medications, and all the required nutrients. The average cost for adult daycare facilities in Tennessee is $14,300 per month. The most expensive adult daycare facilities can be found in the Jackson metropolitan area for the average annual cost of $34,320, while the most affordable ones are located in Morristown, for the average annual cost of $11,050.
As far as hospices are concerned, there are over 100 of these facilities operating all over Tennessee. Seniors that have been diagnosed with terminal illness will find this senior housing to be their best option, as these facilities specialize in minimizing the pain, both mental and physical – that is associated with terminal illnesses. Hospice centers will also provide emotional and spiritual support with the help of grief counseling and chaplain services that are available for everyone. There are also on-site physicians that are available 24/7 so as to provide assistance with any health complications that might arise during the residents’ stay at these hospices. As for the costs of hospice care, they are often either partially or fully covered by all insurances like Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurances.
The rest of the senior living providers in Tennessee go to respite care, with 385 respite care facilities operating all over the state. This type of senior care is best suited for seniors whose primary caregivers are a part of the family, often unpaid. Due to a condition known as caregiver burnout, family members that care for their elderly loved ones usually can’t cope with the stress - both mental and physical, that comes when caring for a senior with increasing health issues. Respite care comes in to provide assistance in the form of professional caregiver that takes care of the senior for a set amount of time during the day, a couple of days during the week, months, or even indefinitely. The average cost for respite care in Tennessee is $67,525 a year. While this type of care might have the highest costs anywhere in the nation, the money is well spent, as it provides the senior with professional skilled caregiver while their primary caregiver is free to recuperate and take care of his/her life obligations.
