Assisted Living in Missouri

Missouri is an appealing retirement destination for its lower-than-average cost of living and central location in the U.S., making it a convenient starting point for travel. In fact, that geographical advantage is why Missouri earned the nickname “Gateway to the West,” as the early American expeditionists Lewis and Clark began and ended their journey in St. Louis. The Missouri and Mississippi rivers, which flow through and around large portions of the state, also helped cement Missouri as a key supply hub for western settlers. Today, Missouri attracts many visitors with the natural beauty of its Ozarks region, where hills, forests, and lakes distinguish the area from other central-U.S. states. Popular spots include Branson, Table Rock Lake, Mark Twain National Forest, and Lake of the Ozarks. The state is also home to major metropolitan areas like St. Louis and Kansas City, for those who prefer the amenities of city living.

Currently, A Place for Mom partners with more than 190 senior living communities in Missouri that provide assisted living.

The median monthly cost of assisted living in Missouri is about $4,500.

Top cities in Missouri

Kansas City Saint Louis Springfield Saint Charles Blue Springs Sedalia

Missouri Assisted Living Regulations

Assisted living communities are regulated by the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services. Public access to assisted living records and violations history in Missouri is rated as exceptional. You can use the state’s facility locator to research the violation history of an assisted living community.

In Missouri, an assisted living facility provides 24-hour care, services, and protective oversight to residents who are provided with shelter and board, and who may need assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). ADLs include but are not limited to: bathing, dressing, eating, walking, physical transfer, giving medications, or helping residents give themselves medications. This level of care also provides oversight for storage, distribution, or administration of medications, as well as health care supervision under the direction of a licensed physician. Assisted living facilities are consistent with a social model of care, meaning they provide long-term care services based on the abilities, desires, and functional needs of individuals and deliver the services in a setting that is more home-like than institutional, and promotes the dignity, privacy, independence, and autonomy of the individual.

Cost of Living

Overall, the cost of living in Missouri is considered to be more affordable than the national average. All index scores are based on a scale with the national average set at 100.

Price Indexes

Cost of Living: 89
Groceries: 97
Housing: 71
Utilities: 100
Transportation: 87

Demographics

About 17% of Missouri’s population are seniors. In the 2016 presidential election, Missouri leaned conservative. However, many of its counties with larger cities, like St. Louis and Kansas City, tend to be more progressive.

2016 Presidential Election

38% voted Democratic
57% voted Republican
5% voted third party

Population

Median age: 39
Over the age of 55: 30%
2018 population: 6,126,452
2020 population: 6,162,288
Estimated 2025 population: 6,252,799

Miscellaneous

37% regularly attend a religious service
30% consider themselves atheist, agnostic, or a non-believer
The state has a total of 9,001 congregations
There are 414 Masonic lodges in the state

Climate and Weather

Most of Missouri has a humid subtropical climate, with the far northern region’s climate classified as hot-summer humid continental. Overall, Missouri has four distinct seasons, including hot summers and snowy winters, and its proximity to the country’s Great Plains region means temperatures are sometimes extreme. While it’s not quite part of Tornado Alley, Missouri still experiences extreme weather, particularly during spring and early summer months.