Care Cost in Pennsylvania
2026 average monthly costs for assisted living, nursing homes, memory care, home care, and adult day services in Pennsylvania.
Monthly Care Costs
Home Care
$6,483/mo
$77,796 per year
Home care services in Pennsylvania include personal care aides and home health aides who help seniors age in place with assistance for bathing, meals, and mobility. In-home caregivers in Pennsylvania offer a flexible alternative to facility-based care.
Adult Day Care
$2,535/mo
$30,420 per year
Adult day care programs in Pennsylvania offer structured daytime activities, socialization, and health monitoring — providing essential respite for family caregivers. Adult day services in Pennsylvania are among the most affordable long-term care options available.
Assisted Living
$6,480/mo
$77,760 per year
Assisted living facilities in Pennsylvania provide personal care, meals, and medication management for seniors who need daily support but not round-the-clock medical attention. Assisted living costs in Pennsylvania typically cover a private room, housekeeping, and access to social activities.
Memory Care(Est.)
$8,100/mo
$97,200 per year
Memory care facilities in Pennsylvania provide specialized support for seniors with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. These secured communities offer structured routines, cognitive therapies, and 24-hour supervision. Memory care costs in Pennsylvania are estimated at approximately 1.25× the assisted living rate.
Nursing Home (Semi-Private)
$11,954/mo
$143,448 per year
Skilled nursing facilities in Pennsylvania offer 24-hour medical supervision, rehabilitation therapy, and long-term care for seniors with complex health needs. Nursing home costs in Pennsylvania reflect round-the-clock licensed nursing staff and specialized medical equipment. This rate reflects a semi-private room.
Nursing Home (Private Room)
$13,688/mo
$164,256 per year
A private room in a Pennsylvania nursing home offers greater privacy and comfort for residents requiring 24-hour skilled nursing care. In Pennsylvania, a private room costs about 15% more than a semi-private room (the 2025 CareScout Cost of Care Survey).
How costs vary across Pennsylvania
The Philadelphia metro generally has Pennsylvania's highest care costs, while Pittsburgh sits in the mid-to-upper range. Prices in the Lehigh Valley have risen with growth and proximity to New York. Harrisburg, Lancaster, and York offer more moderate comparisons. Northern tier counties such as Bradford, Tioga, Potter, and Sullivan may cost less, but have far fewer providers and limited home care. Before choosing a northern rural location, confirm that home care is available and ask the County Assistance Office about program and application help.
Read the full Pennsylvania planning guideAnnual Cost Breakdown
| Care Type | Monthly | Annual | National Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Care | $6,483 | $77,796 | $6,673 | -3% |
| Adult Day Care | $2,535 | $30,420 | $2,058 | +23% |
| Assisted Living | $6,480 | $77,760 | $6,200 | +5% |
| Memory Care(Est.) | $8,100 | $97,200 | $7,800 | +4% |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $11,954 | $143,448 | $9,581 | +25% |
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $13,688 | $164,256 | $10,798 | +27% |
Source: CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey (released March 2026)
Cost Projections
Estimated future monthly costs based on a 3% annual care cost inflation rate.
| Care Type | Today | In 5 Years | In 10 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Care | $6,483 | $7,516 | $8,713 |
| Adult Day Care | $2,535 | $2,939 | $3,407 |
| Assisted Living | $6,480 | $7,512 | $8,709 |
| Memory Care(Est.) | $8,100 | $9,390 | $10,886 |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $11,954 | $13,858 | $16,065 |
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $13,688 | $15,868 | $18,396 |
* Projections are estimates based on historical care cost inflation trends. Actual costs may vary.
Total Cost of Care Over Time
Cumulative cost if care begins today, including 3% annual inflation. These totals show what families in Pennsylvania can expect to pay over multi-year care periods.
| Care Type | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Care | $240,460 | $413,030 | $891,844 |
| Adult Day Care | $94,025 | $161,504 | $348,731 |
| Assisted Living | $240,348 | $412,838 | $891,431 |
| Memory Care | $300,435 | $516,048 | $1,114,289 |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $443,383 | $761,585 | $1,644,471 |
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $507,699 | $872,057 | $1,883,011 |
* Cumulative totals assume continuous care starting today with 3% annual inflation compounding each year.
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Today's Monthly Cost
$13,688/mo
NH Private Room · Pennsylvania
Monthly Cost Today
$13,688/mo
3% inflation · 3 years of care
Don't rush to sell the home
Bridge loans, HELOCs, and reverse mortgages can fund care without selling.
Care costs rise 3–5% annually
Factor long-term inflation into all planning models.
Medicaid lookback is 5 years
Planning must begin well before care is needed to protect assets.
Source: CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey (updated March 2026)
* AK NH Private Room: A Place For Mom. ADC — DE: Genworth; DC: PayingForSeniorCare; ID: MedicaidLongTermCare.org; SD: Genworth; VT: VT Adult Services Div.; WV: CareCostIndex.com.
Key Insights for Pennsylvania
Updated October 2026Assisted living in Pennsylvania costs $6,480/month in 2026 — 5% above the national median of $6,200.
A semi-private nursing home room in Pennsylvania runs $11,954/month, 25% above the national median of $9,581.
In-home care in Pennsylvania averages $6,483/month for roughly 44 hrs/week ($34/hr) — 3% below the national median.
The most affordable long-term care option in Pennsylvania is adult day care at $2,535/month.
Memory care in Pennsylvania runs about $8,100/month — roughly 25% above the assisted living rate, the typical industry markup (CareScout does not publish memory care data separately).
A private nursing home room in Pennsylvania costs $13,688/month — 27% above the national median of $10,798.
Medicaid in Pennsylvania can cover nursing home care for applicants under the $2,982/month income limit (2026); see the Pennsylvania Medicaid guide for asset rules.
How to Pay for Long-Term Care in Pennsylvania
Families in Pennsylvania have several options to help cover the cost of senior care.
Medical Assistance (MA)
Medical Assistance (MA) is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
- Community HealthChoices (CHC) Program: Coordinates long-term care and community support, including options to choose a paid caregiver.
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE): Brings Medicare and Medicaid care together, including long-term services and potentially dental and eye care.
- Money Follows the Person: Helps eligible nursing home residents return home or move into another community setting.
Pennsylvania does not require a Miller Trust for Medicaid long-term care.
Read the Pennsylvania Medicaid guideVeterans Benefits
The VA Aid and Attendance benefit can provide up to $2,424/month for single veterans (or $2,874/month with a spouse) in Pennsylvania to help pay for assisted living, nursing home care, or in-home caregivers.
Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-term care insurance policies purchased before care is needed can cover a significant portion of assisted living, nursing home, and home care costs in Pennsylvania.
Personal Savings & Home Equity
Many Pennsylvania families use a combination of retirement savings, Social Security income, and home equity (through reverse mortgages or home sales) to fund long-term care.
Who to call in Pennsylvania
- PA Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
- 717-783-8975
Help with resident rights, complaints, and care-quality concerns in nursing homes and assisted living.
- Adult Protective Services
To reach Adult Protective Services in Pennsylvania, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.
- Pennsylvania Area Agencies on Aging
Find local aging services for benefits counseling, caregiver support, and care-planning resources.
View Pennsylvania's Area Agencies on Aging list- Pennsylvania State Veterans Homes
- (717) 861-8910
Contact the veterans home or state office about care options for veterans.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pennsylvania Care Costs
The average cost of assisted living in Pennsylvania is $6,480 per month, or $77,760 per year. This is 5% above the national average of $6,200 per month. Assisted living facilities in Pennsylvania typically include personal care, meals, medication management, and social activities.
Nursing home care in Pennsylvania costs an average of $11,954 per month for a semi-private room. A private room runs $13,688 per month, or $164,256 per year. Pennsylvania nursing home costs are above the national average of $9,581 per month for a semi-private room. Medicare only covers short rehab stays. For long stays, most families pay privately until savings run low, then Medicaid steps in.
Yes, Pennsylvania is more expensive than average for long-term care, with costs approximately 12% above the national average. The most expensive option is nursing home care at $11,954 per month. Families should explore Medicaid, VA benefits, and long-term care insurance to help manage these costs.
There are several ways to pay for nursing home and long-term care in Pennsylvania: (1) Medicaid — Pennsylvania's Medicaid program covers nursing home care for eligible residents who meet income and asset limits. (2) Medicare — covers short-term skilled nursing after a hospital stay, but not long-term custodial care. (3) Long-term care insurance — if purchased in advance, policies can help cover assisted living, nursing home, and home care costs. (4) Veterans benefits — the VA Aid and Attendance benefit helps eligible veterans and surviving spouses pay for care. (5) Personal savings and assets — many families use a combination of savings, home equity, and retirement funds.
The most affordable long-term care option in Pennsylvania is adult day care at $2,535 per month, followed by assisted living at $6,480 per month. Adult day care provides daytime supervision, activities, and meals while allowing seniors to return home in the evening — making it a popular choice for families with a caregiver at home.
Pennsylvania's Community HealthChoices includes a self-directed option that lets participants hire a caregiver, including an adult child. PACE is another route for receiving Medicare and Medicaid benefits together. Money Follows the Person helps eligible nursing home residents move back into the community, so the person's current living situation matters when comparing programs.
Start with your local Area Agency on Aging for benefits counseling, caregiver support, and help finding community services. LTCareNav's Pennsylvania Area Agencies on Aging list helps you find local care-planning resources. For questions about resident rights or concerns about nursing home or assisted living care, contact the Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at 717-783-8975.
Compare Nearby States
See how Pennsylvania's long-term care costs compare to neighboring states.
Delaware
+13%Maryland
+7%New Jersey
+14%New York
+18%Ohio
-16%More Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Resources
Check Medicaid Eligibility
See Pennsylvania's Medicaid income and asset limits, programs, and how to apply.
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Create Free AccountSource: CareScout Cost of Care Survey, July–November 2025, released March 2026 (Genworth/CareScout). Monthly NH figures = annual ÷ 12 (365-day basis). Non-medical caregiver = 44 hrs/week × 52 weeks ÷ 12. Memory care is an estimate (assisted living x 1.25). CareScout does not publish memory care data.