Mississippi’s lower cost of living is reflected in its median monthly assisted living costs, which range from approximately $2,500 to $5,000 per month. [01] This range is an estimate based on A Place for Mom’s internal data, which reflects how much families we referred actually paid our assisted living partners in Mississippi.
The varying prices of assisted living are based on several factors including:
Another factor that affects the cost of personal care homes in Mississippi is an individual’s specific care needs. For example, assisted living facilities are typically more expensive than residential care homes because they offer a higher level of care.
Location can also impact how much families pay for assisted living. Facilities in larger cities — like Jackson or Gulfport — are likely to be more expensive.
Average monthly costs
Mississippi
US National average
Average monthly costs
Average monthly costs
Average monthly costs
Planning for care early often allows families to consider a wider range of payment options. And paying for senior care is usually done using a variety of payment methods.
Many families in Mississippi begin paying for assisted living using private pay options. Early planning often provides families with the most payment options, and we’ve compiled information below on private pay, veterans benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare payment options.
In Mississippi some seniors may be able to use money in their health savings account to cover some expenses associated with assisted living.
Selling a house is one way for families in Mississippi to generate income to pay for assisted living.
Seniors in Mississippi may also be able to use a reverse mortgage to pay for assisted living.
“Long-term care riders,” are offered by some insurance providers in Mississippi as part of a life insurance policy. This allows a senior to cover long-term care costs while they’re still alive.
In Mississippi, long-term care insurance may cover a range care costs. Policies vary so it’s important to understand the details of your loved one’s policy.
Because nearly 45% of Mississippi’s veterans are 65 and over, benefits provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may be a source of income that can help qualifying seniors pay for assisted living.[02] This may include a pension or disability benefits for eligible senior veterans and their surviving spouses.
Finding and applying for veterans benefits can be a challenge. To help, veterans service organizations (VSOs) — organizations that aid and serve veterans, service members, dependents, and surviving spouses — offer benefits counseling and assistance with the application process. Utilizing these services is critical, as many veterans miss out on benefits without benefits counseling.
VSOs in Mississippi include the following:
You can also find more information on the Mississippi VA website.
Medicaid is co-funded by federal and state governments, but is administered at the state level. Each state creates its own programming to provide health insurance for people with low-incomes. Medicaid coverage for assisted living won’t pay for room and board, but for qualified seniors, it may cover some assisted living services and medical costs.
Mississippi’s Medicaid program is administered by the Mississippi Division of Medicaid. Benefits vary and are determined by age, income, and family size. For seniors 65 and over who meet income requirements determined by the Social Security Administration, Medicaid covers the following services:[03]
In addition to state Medicaid, Mississippi offers two programs through its home and community based services (HCBS) long-term care waiver. While both programs pay the costs for services and assistance for seniors living in their home or a Medicaid-approved assisted living facility, it’s important to note that neither pays room and board expenses.
Qualified seniors may be eligible for the assisted living waiver or the elderly and disabled waiver. Both programs cover a variety of supportive services for seniors who choose to live in their community, such as their own home or an assisted living community, rather than a nursing home. Services may include personal care, occupational and physical therapy, and intermittent skilled nursing care.[04,05]
As federal health insurance for those 65 and over, Medicare will cover some assisted living costs, such as medical services and procedures. The online Medicare coverage tool shows what will be covered under your plan. And, it’s important to remember that Medicare doesn’t cover room and board expenses for assisted living communities in Mississippi.
Low-income seniors with Medicare Parts A and B in Mississippi may be able to get help paying for their premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments through Mississippi’s Medicare cost sharing program.
The Mississippi State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free counseling services to help for seniors to make informed decisions about their health care. Volunteers support seniors and their families by answering questions, comparing health insurance policies, completing applications, organizing paperwork, and filing claims.[06]
The AIDS drug assistance program (ADAP) provides medication for qualified Mississippi residents with low-incomes who are living with HIV or AIDS.
Mississippi’s long-term care ombudsman program advocates for the rights of individuals living in long-term care facilities such as a nursing home or assisted living community.
Reviewer Ranking
4.9/ 5.0
(31)We have had connections with Meridian Living for a little over a year now, my sister n law is a resident there. We have been kept in formed of every matter & they have been so very helpful & we are so...
Reviewer Ranking
4.2/ 5.0
(22)The staff are incredibly professional and based on the experience we have had so far, we would absolutely recommend The Orchard community to other families.
Reviewer Ranking
4.9/ 5.0
(8)I chose Madison Home Place because it is the ONLY place that I didn't get a single negative comment about the staff. The food could use a little tweaking, but my main concern is the people that I have...
Reviewer Ranking
4.5/ 5.0
(28)It's a great community, of course as everyone else at this time, the staffing shortages effect them too. So, be aware of that going in and don't have high expectations with staffing because everyone is...
Reviewer Ranking
5.0/ 5.0
(11)We are totally pleased with GSSL. The staff is great and she is very happy there. The facility is smaller and staff have a more personal relationship with the residents unlike some of the larger facilities....
Reviewer Ranking
3.9/ 5.0
(50)Everyone there was very nice! Especially [name removed] and [name removed]. I don't know what we would've done without them. She said the best meal she had was the first day she was there. I think they...
Reviewer Ranking
4.1/ 5.0
(8)Everything was great. The staff was always pleasant & always answered any questions right away or found out the answers to the questions that they did not know. What stood out about Pinnacle was their...
Reviewer Ranking
3.6/ 5.0
(17)The staff at the Goldton was amazing! I couldn’t have asked for a better experience while my grandmother was there. My grandmother went to assisted living on hospice care. We were only there for about a week...
Reviewer Ranking
5.0/ 5.0
(11)We are totally pleased with GSSL. The staff is great and she is very happy there. The facility is smaller and staff have a more personal relationship with the residents unlike some of the larger facilities....
Reviewer Ranking
4.2/ 5.0
(24)Staff is great but unfortunately short staffed as seems to be the norm for most places. The facility has a great layout and easy access to all parts. Pool table on the 2nd floor is a great activity for my...
Reviewer Ranking
4.5/ 5.0
(41)I wanted to place my father here due to the proximity of his healthcare providers. The entire staff has been amazing at shepherding my father through a difficult transition and multiple health crises. I am...
Reviewer Ranking
4.5/ 5.0
(7)The staff at Summerfield Senior Living of Gulfport are very friendly, they are also quick to call the family with medical emergencies and are just so well organized and put together. As far as the food...
Reviewer Ranking
4.5/ 5.0
(7)The staff at Summerfield Senior Living of Gulfport are very friendly, they are also quick to call the family with medical emergencies and are just so well organized and put together. As far as the food...
Reviewer Ranking
4.5/ 5.0
(41)I wanted to place my father here due to the proximity of his healthcare providers. The entire staff has been amazing at shepherding my father through a difficult transition and multiple health crises. I am...
Reviewer Ranking
4.2/ 5.0
(24)Staff is great but unfortunately short staffed as seems to be the norm for most places. The facility has a great layout and easy access to all parts. Pool table on the 2nd floor is a great activity for my...
Mississippi’s Department of Health refers to assisted living facilities as personal care homes, either “Personal Care Home – Assisted Living” or “Personal Care Home – Residential Living.” The main difference is that residential living homes are unable to admit residents who can’t move about independently. The Department of Health defines all personal care homes as facilities that support individuals who require the following services:[07]
Only assisted living facilities are required to have a registered nurse on the premises at least eight hours each day.
All Mississippi personal care homes are required to renew their licenses annually and are subject to inspections every 24 months. Mississippi doesn’t offer assisted living inspection reports online, but the Directory of Mississippi Health Facilities maintains a current list of licensed facilities.
The following examples highlight specific requirements that both licensed assisted living and residential care homes in Mississippi must follow:[08]
We developed a system to rate each state on how easy – or difficult – it is to find important assisted living records and reports, and compiled tips to help you in your search.
States with the most transparent records allow you to look up important information about each assisted living facility online, including inspections, complaints, survey results, violations, capacity, and whether the facility accepts Medicaid.
Public access to assisted living records and reports for the state of Mississippi is basic. Key findings that informed this rating include:
We developed a standard methodology for state data collection and evaluation, and based our rating primarily on the objective, state-specific accessibility criteria outlined in these questions:
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). American community survey: Mississippi, 65 to 74 years, 75 years and over, veteran status (S2101).
Mississippi Division of Medicaid. Covered services.
Mississippi Division of Medicaid. Assisted living waiver.
Mississippi Division of Medicaid. Elderly and disabled waiver.
Mississippi Department of Human Services. (2023). State health insurance program.
Mississippi State Department of Health. (2019, November 10). Minimum standards for personal care homes residential living.
Mississippi State Department of Health. (2019, November 10). Minimum standards for personal care homes assisted living.
Overview of assisted living in MS
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
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