29th
OVERALL STATE RANK
Assisted living in Missouri provides long-term residential living in a community setting, with care services tailored to meet the varied needs of residents. Assisted living communities offer a variety of activities for seniors but also provide support with activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing, and eating. The median cost of assisted living in Missouri is $4,600 per month or $55,200 annually, according to A Place for Mom’s internal data on assisted living facilities in Missouri.[01]
While the story for how Missouri came to be known as the “Show-Me” state is debated, the borders are the only limits to all there is to see and do. Mark Twain State Park is just one example of the serene woodlands, lakes, and rivers that provide a quiet place for Missourians to commune with nature. For a deep dive into culture, Missouri’s cities are the stage for the state’s unique contributions to music, history, and of course, barbecue.
Overall state ranking out of 50
State scorecard
How we determine rankings
Our 2023 state ranking for assisted living uses A Place for Mom’s proprietary data collected from our community partners. First, we sorted through our metrics and grouped them into three pillars that are key in a quality assisted living experience. We weighted these pillars differently based on insights from our senior living experts. Then, we used these categories and their weighting to determine how each state ranks.
Top ranked Missouri cities for assisted living overall
I convinced my best friend to move her mother there and they are ?? happy. The staff and care are top notch, food is five star, building is beautiful. The activities are perfect for seniors. They took...
Our Lady of Mercy Country Home is lovely. I only have to walk down the hallway to go to daily mass and I don't have to find a ride to Church anymore. I no longer need to cook because the meals are Included...
Wexford place was really a nice clean place and very very efficient on most things but it's like every other senior citizen place is weekends you need to be there with your family cause they're shorthanded...
The outreach fellow is great The flower arranging is fun The Bingo lady makes it exciting The outings on the van were fun The kitchen area on the floors could always use a good cleaning My auntie doesn't...
5 stars for all - although I would prefer to be paying less. The facility is very clean and friendly. Room sizes are adequate - though they could use more outlets.
Everything overall was great, it's just a bit pricy. My dad resort liked it there. Thank you very much. The friendliness of all staff couldn't not have been better- from the front desk, kitchen staff,...
Wexford place was really a nice clean place and very very efficient on most things but it's like every other senior citizen place is weekends you need to be there with your family cause they're shorthanded...
The facility and the staff were great. I have no complaints about anything. It is very clean and there is no odor like there is some other places.
The staff has a high caring level and does an excellent job communicating with me. The housekeeping is dependable. Moving in was easy -- they provide large flat carts and luggage carriers that came in...
Everyone seems to lookout for each other. If my mother does not feel like going to the restaurant for dinner and decides to eat in her room she will have some of her neighbors calling or checking on her by...
What we like the most about Lake St. Charles is the staff. The staff are wonderful and the facility itself is very clean and well organized. Our loved one is on the independent living section. I cannot...
Cedarhurst of St. Charles was a clean place but I was not impressed with the way my loved one wasn't helped to be encouraged to join the others. This community is also more costly than others. We gave it an...
We have had really good experience with Garden Villas and Virginia is very happy there. I would definitely recommend to others.
Twin Oaks and their other facility are amazing! Even housekeeping is friendly and they don't cut corners. [Name removed], who gets you checked in, takes you on tours of the whole facility, answering any and...
Everyone in Memory Care was wonderful with my dad and showed compassion with his passing. Food sensitivity awareness could have been higher, as well as the cleanliness of his room, albeit a hard task to keep...
The cost of living in Missouri is lower than the national average and is reflected in the median cost of assisted living for the state: approximately $2,400 to $6,800 per month. This range is an estimate based on A Place for Mom’s proprietary data that evaluates what families actually paid at partnering assisted living facilities in Missouri.
Assisted living prices can vary and are affected by several factors including location, services, and amenities offered, as well as the specific care needs of an individual. Communities located near a larger cities, like St. Louis or Kansas City, are likely to be more expensive. Luxury amenities and specialized services can also add to monthly costs.
Other factors that can affect the cost of assisted living may include:
Many families pay for assisted living room and board fees using a combination of private pay methods, including personal savings and retirement funds. However, families may use Medicare, Medicaid, private health insurance, or veteran’s benefits to cover medical services and some personal care.
Average monthly costs
Missouri
US National average
Average monthly costs
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Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
There are numerous ways to pay for senior care in Missouri, and it’s common for families to blend a variety of payment methods. Keep in mind that early planning often provides families with more payment options. The following section has information on several resources, including private pay, public insurance such as Medicaid, private insurance options, and veterans benefits.
“Private pay” is a term that describes using your own personal funds to pay for something. Personal funds used to pay assisted living costs may include money from the sale of a home, a savings account, pension payments or a retirement account. Many of the families we refer to assisted living use a combination of personal funds to pay, including the following common options.
Families in Missouri can generate income to pay for assisted living by selling a house.
Another tool seniors in Missouri can use to pay for assisted living is a reverse mortgage, which is a loan that turns a borrower’s home equity into funds to pay for long-term care expenses.
In Missouri some seniors may be able to use the funds in a health savings account to cover some expenses associated with assisted living.
Seniors with life insurance policies may be able to use benefits to pay for long term care in Missouri. A “long-term care rider,” offered by some insurance providers, allows the use of funds from a policy to cover long-term care costs while the policyholder is still alive.
In Missouri, long-term care insurance may cover a range care costs. A policy may cover support with daily activities, home health care, nursing home care, or care in a group living facility. Long-term care insurance policies vary, so it’s important to understand the details of your loved one’s policy.
Some seniors in Missouri may qualify for Social Security benefits for assisted living through the Supplemental Nursing Care program. The program can help qualified seniors pay for care in an assisted living community.[02]
Assisted living facilities (ALFs) in Missouri are licensed by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). The department defines ALFs as a facility that provides 24-hour care and protective oversight to three or more residents. Facilities must provide room and board plus the following services:[08]
Missouri state law requires that assisted living communities are inspected twice per year. Department of Health and Senior Services reviews previous reports before an inspection and conducts unannounced visits. Throughout the inspection process, surveyors make observations; conduct interviews with residents, family members, and staff; and review documentation.
Facilities are evaluated on the following criteria:[09]
For families who want to check Missouri assisted living licenses and records can use the Show Me Long Term Care in Missouri look up tool. The following tips can help make the process a little smoother:
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
We developed a system to rate each state on how easy — or difficult — it is to find important assisted living records and reports, and we 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 Missouri is exceptional. Key findings that informed this rating include:
We developed a standard methodology for state data collection and evaluation, and we based our rating primarily on the objective, state-specific accessibility criteria outlined in these questions:
1. Are licensed assisted living communities listed online in any form? Yes
2. If Yes to #1, is the information updated frequently? Yes
3. If Yes to #1, is the list of licensed communities searchable? Yes
4. Does the state post inspections, complaints, survey results, or violations online? Yes
5. If Yes to #4, is the information updated frequently (within 90 days)? Yes
6. If Yes to #2 and #4, is the enforcement information included in the same place as licensed communities? No
7. If Yes to #4 and No to #6, are violations and inspections searchable at all? No
8. Is information about special licensing for care shown? Yes or N/A
9. Is capacity shown? Yes
10. Are payment types shown (e.g., Medicaid, private pay)? Yes
11. Is the administrator/contact name shown? Yes
12. Can the state fine a facility? Yes
13. What is the frequency of inspections? [Every 12 months]
14. Does the website include pricing of facilities? No
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Missouri Department of Social Services. Supplemental nursing care manual.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). American community survey: Missouri, 65 to 74 years, 75 years and over, veteran status (S2101).
Missouri Foundation for Health. (2023). Missouri Medicaid Basics.
Missouri Department of Social Services. Aged and disabled waiver.
Missouri Department of Social Services. (2023, June). Medicare savings program.
Missouri Department of Social Services. MORx, general questions.
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. (2020, May 31). Rules of Department of Health and Senior Services. Division 30 Division of Regulation and Licensure. Chapter 86 residential care facilities and assisted living facilities.
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Nursing homes inspections.
Overview of assisted living in MO
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