Known affectionately by locals as “Magic City,” Birmingham is widely considered to be one of the best-kept secrets in the South due to its affordability, diversity, thriving job market, natural beauty, and burgeoning culture scene. Birmingham’s cost of living is 14% below the national average, and the price of groceries, healthcare, and transportation are also more affordable than other similarly sized Alabama cities like Mobile, Montgomery, and Huntsville .
Please note that the term “nursing home” is often used interchangeably with assisted living, memory care, and other senior housing options. By definition, a nursing home is a skilled nursing facility for individuals with serious, debilitating short- or long-term health issues that require 24-hour medical care. Even the best nursing homes in Birmingham may not be right for seniors who don’t require round-the-clock care.
A Place for Mom does not partner with nursing homes. But we do partner with 10 assisted living and memory care communities within a 10-mile radius of the city center of Birmingham. Three of these partner facilities offer on-site skilled nursing.
In this guide, you’ll find details about the average cost of care, payment options, services, activities, laws and regulations, and other information related to the senior community in the Birmingham area.
10 Best Nursing Homes in Birmingham, AL
Known affectionately by locals as “Magic City,” Birmingham is widely considered to be one of the best-kept secrets in the South due to its affordability, diversity, thriving job market, natural beauty, and burgeoning culture scene. Birmingham’s cost of living is 14% below the national average, and the price of groceries, healthcare, and transportation are also more affordable than other similarly sized Alabama cities like Mobile, Montgomery, and Huntsville .Read more
Please note that the term “nursing home” is often used interchangeably with assisted living, memory care, and other senior housing options. By definition, a nursing home is a skilled nursing facility for individuals with serious, debilitating short- or long-term health issues that require 24-hour medical care. Even the best nursing homes in Birmingham may not be right for seniors who don’t require round-the-clock care.
A Place for Mom does not partner with nursing homes. But we do partner with 10 assisted living and memory care communities within a 10-mile radius of the city center of Birmingham. Three of these partner facilities offer on-site skilled nursing.
In this guide, you’ll find details about the average cost of care, payment options, services, activities, laws and regulations, and other information related to the senior community in the Birmingham area.
Nursing Homes Facilities near Birmingham, AL
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- Compare local facilities
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- What families are saying about nursing homes in Birmingham
- Costs of nursing homes in the Birmingham area
- How people pay for a nursing home in Birmingham
- Get to know Alabama laws and regulations for nursing homes and senior care facilities
- Get to know senior living in Birmingham
- What to expect from nursing homes in Birmingham
- Explore senior care with confidence
- Unfamiliar with Birmingham? Highlights for seniors
What families are saying about nursing homes in Birmingham
Recent reviews for nursing homes in Birmingham
Kirkwood by the River in Birmingham, AL
Fair Haven Retirement Community in Birmingham, AL
Brookdale University Park in Homewood, AL
Costs of nursing homes in the Birmingham area
According to data from Genworth, the average cost of a nursing home facility in Birmingham is $4,028.[02] Based on A Place for Mom’s proprietary data from our partner communities, the average cost of an assisted living facility in the Birmingham area is $4,276 per month and $4,103 per month for memory care.[03] This figure includes housing, meals, associated fees, and add-on services. The cost of senior care facilities and service can vary greatly by location, floor plan, layout, level of care provided, and additional services.
Average monthly cost of Nursing Homes in Birmingham, AL vs. nearby cities
Birmingham, AL
How people pay for a nursing home in Birmingham
Long-term care can be expensive, often requiring a combination of private funds and some level of public assistance to pay for care. More often than not, that public assistance will come in the form of Medicaid, as Medicare pays for very little of skilled nursing home care, assisted living, or memory care. Medicare is more geared toward medical expenses, not custodial care, which is the type of service generally provided at senior care facilities.
While skilled financial planning has long been key to paying for senior care, there are plenty of other options available to ensure that you or your loved one gets the care they require in their later years. Here’s a quick breakdown of all the resources available to seniors and their families to cover the costs of nursing home care, assisted living, or memory care in the Birmingham area.
It isn’t uncommon for seniors to pull funds from multiple personal resources to cover the costs of senior care facilities like nursing homes, assisted living, or memory care. Of all the potential personal resources, long-term care insurance can certainly help offset the costs. If you or your family member have such a policy, schedule time with a financial professional to review the details to understand exactly what’s covered in the plan.
Apart from long-term care insurance, many seniors use a combination of savings, pensions, Social Security benefits, inheritance, distributions from a retirement account, income generated from investments, as well as any number of the following:
- Selling a house: Seniors may sell their home in order to pay for the cost of a senior care facility.
- Reverse mortgage: If selling one’s primary residence isn’t a realistic option, a reverse mortgage can allow a homeowner to borrow against the property’s equity and use the funds toward senior care.
- Health savings accounts: These funds cannot be used to pay for a stay in a senior care facility, but they can offset certain medical services.
- Life insurance: While seniors cannot use life insurance to pay for senior care, some seniors find it beneficial to sell or borrow from such a policy to fund their next stage of life. Talk with your policy provider to learn exactly what your options are.
Veterans living in the Birmingham area may want to look into the VA Aid and Attendance (A&A) benefit, which is an additional benefit on top of the traditional VA Pension. A&A can be used toward the cost of a skilled nursing home, assisted living community, and/or memory care facility.
Seniors and their family should consider contacting any one of the resources below for benefits counseling. The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs has veterans services offices where vets, their dependents, or survivors can find help applying for VA benefits. The United Way and veterans service organizations in Birmingham have programs to assist veterans with finding the right resources.
Number of veterans who live in Birmingham, per the U.S. Census Bureau
Percentage of Birmingham veterans are 75+, per the U.S. Census Bureau
Resources for Birmingham veterans
Jefferson County Veterans Service Office
1515 Sixth Ave. S, Five West
Cooper Green Mercy Health Services
Birmingham, AL 35233
Phone: 205-521-7305
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Birmingham VA Medical Center
700 S 19th St.
Birmingham, AL 35233
Phone: 205-933-8101
Hours: 24/7
VFW, Kelly Ingram Post 668
1801 11th Ave. N
Birmingham, AL 35234
Phone: 205-252-2696
Email: cmd@vfw668.org
DAV Birmingham Chapter 4
238 Second Ave. N
Birmingham, AL 35204
Phone: 205-202-4460
Priority Veteran Office
3600 Eighth Ave. S
P.O. Box 320189
Birmingham, AL 35232
Phone: 866-460-3827
Email: information@priorityveteran.org
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Local Veteran Service Officer
Name: Angela Hunter
Email: a.hunter@va.alabama.gov
A Place for Mom Veterans Benefits Guide
Read or download the A Place for Mom Veterans Benefits Guide PDF
The Alabama Medicaid Agency offers a fairly comprehensive long-term care program, with a wide range of care choices for the senior community. One such care choice would be a skilled nursing home facility. In fact, approximately three out of four nursing home residents are being covered by the Alabama Medicaid Agency today.
To qualify, seniors must meet certain program requirements. The individual must be at least 65 or over with an income level of no more than $2,000 per month [04]. They’ll also require a patient assessment to determine level of care required and plans for care administration (i.e., in-home care, nursing home, assisted living, or memory care).
To get coverage in assisted living and or a memory care facility, Medicaid benefits often come in the form of a Home and Community-Based Services waiver, which can then be applied toward the overall cost of the facility and its services. There are two waiver programs most commonly used in relation to senior care:
- Alabama Community Transition (ACT) provides waivers to individuals with disabilities or long-term illness who seek to transition from a nursing facility to a home or community setting, as might be the case when moving to an assisted living community or memory care unit.
- Medicaid for Elderly and Disabled is another common waiver program. These waivers can be used to help cover the costs associated with nursing homes, hospitals, and ICF-IID facilities, which would include memory care facilities. Approval by Medicare or Medicaid is required for the nursing facility to be paid through this benefit.
For comprehensive information on applying for Medicare, review the Alabama Medicaid Guide. You can help your loved one navigate this complex process by reaching out to either the long-term care ombudsman or the United Way.
Birmingham resident Medicaid resources
Alabama Medicaid
600 Beacon Parkway W
Birmingham, AL 35209
Phone: 866-371-4073
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
United Way Area Agency on Aging of Jefferson County3600 Eighth Ave. S
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 1-800-243-5463
Alabama’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Phone: 1-800-AGE-LINE (1-800-243-5463)
As you may well know, Medicare is a government-run health insurance program for people 65 years or older. Generally speaking, this insurance program doesn’t cover custodial care, which is what most nursing homes and assisted living communities offer. It does, however, cover skilled nursing services, but on a limited, short-term basis.[05]
Should a senior require memory care within a nursing home community, Medicare may provide some assistance. Again, this assistance will only be short-term. Dementia-related services could include in-patient hospital care, physician fees, some medically necessary items, and short-term skilling nursing care of up to 100 days.
For in-depth information coverage details, visit the official Medicare website or call 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227). There are also three Medicare Savings Programs options to help those eligible with medical costs.
If seniors and their families still have questions, it may be of benefit to contact the Alabama SHIP program. The Alabama State Health Insurance Assistance Program program doesn’t actually pay any medical costs, but it does offer patient advocacy, insurance counseling, prescription help, and legal assistance free of charge. Seniors can also enlist the help of their local ombudsman, which is provided through the United Way Area Agency on Aging of Jefferson County. The Birmingham Social Security Administration Office can also be a wealth of information on payment options for nursing home facilities.
Birmingham resident Medicare resources
Social Security Administration1200 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd.
Birmingham, AL 35285
Phone: 866-397-4238
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
1972 Gadsden Highway
Birmingham, AL 35235
Phone: 800-772-1213
Hours: Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Alabama Department of Senior Services
Alabama Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (Virginia Moore-Bell, Director)
RSA Tower
201 Monroe St.
Suite 350
Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone: 334-242-5753
Email: ageline@adss.alabama.gov
United Way Area Agency on Aging of Jefferson County (UWAAA)
3600 Eighth Ave. S.
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 1-800-243-5463
Birmingham ombudsman representatives (part of the UWAAA)
Contact: Sheree Head
Contact: Marc Newell
Contact: Lakinda Taylor
Get to know Alabama laws and regulations for nursing homes and senior care facilities
All nursing homes and other senior care facilities in the state of Alabama must be licensed by the Alabama Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Health Provider Standards prior to operation. It’s all in an effort to provide a safe and healthy environment that meets the quality of care and services standards for residents set by the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which regulates nursing homes, assisted living communities, memory care facilities, etc. Fail to comply with or meet these standards and any government funding received by these facilities could be cut.
In Alabama, the standards include:
- Sufficient staffing levels to meet the needs of residents
- Optimal building safety, sanitation, and infection control
- Adequate food, nutrition, and medical care
- Proper protection from abuse, neglect, and exploitation
- Free from discrimination, to receive visitors, and participate in decisions on their care
Also, nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and memory care facilities are all subject to regular and periodic inspections by either the Alabama Department of Public Health or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Inspectors evaluate the facilities to determine whether they’re in compliance with state and federal standards. All inspection reports are available to the public through the Alabama Department of Public Health’s website.
Alabama Department of Health contact information
201 Monroe St.
Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone: 1-800-252-1818
Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
COVID-19 regulations for Birmingham nursing homes
While Alabama may have loosened its masking, social distancing, and safety restrictions, the Alabama Nursing Home Association does recommend that nursing homes and senior care facilities follow COVID-19 guidelines set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Visitors will be subject to COVID-19 screenings prior to entry. They may also be required to wear a mask while on the premises. For more information on the guidelines for Alabama, please refer to the state’s guidelines.
Vaccinations. Workers can receive religious and medical exemptions, but vaccinations are strongly recommended.
Facility cleanliness. Regular cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces is strongly encouraged.
Social distancing. All employees and visitors are urged to maintain 6 feet of separation whenever possible.
Get to know senior living in Birmingham
What to expect from nursing homes in Birmingham
Moving into a senior care facility can be a difficult decision – for seniors and their family members alike. Not only are you trying to determine if the time is right to move into such an environment but find a facility that suits the wants, needs, and lifestyle of the individual. While a tall order, it’s one that Birmingham can certainly meet. The city is home to more than a few options in the area of senior care.
Multiple types of senior care
While A Place for Mom does not partner with nursing homes, it does partner with five facilities that offer a “combo” of senior care, with independent living, assisted living, and memory care options all within the same community. Two other partner communities offer assisted living and memory care options, while the others are strictly memory care or assisted living.
Healthcare services
Healthcare services provided by these facilities will generally vary but often include the likes of medication management, diabetic care, rehabilitation care, ambulatory care, incontinence care, oxygen care, memory care, and palliative care. In fact, all our community partners provide on-site nursing, and the majority have a doctor on call.
Memory care facilities
Seniors and their families can also find facilities that provide anxiety, aggression, and agitation care for seniors who experience these symptoms as part of their dementia at memory care facilities. In the 10-mile market radius of Birmingham, one of our partner facilities is a standalone memory care facility and one is a combination independent living/memory care facility. There are also two partner facilities in our network that are combination assisted living and memory care providers.
Facility amenities
Much like health care services, the facility amenities will vary greatly from one location to the next. Seniors and their families may find that the facility has an on-site beauty salon, TV lounge, library, central fireplace, meeting rooms, enclosed courtyard, and even a bar, pub, or cafe. They will also offer a number of meal options, including kosher, vegetarian, low-sodium diets, and other special diets. Rooms and apartments will be wheelchair accessible, air conditioned, and cable-ready.
Facility activities
Because senior care facilities want to enrich the lives of their residents, it isn’t uncommon for the facilities to offer a wide array of activities that meet a variety of interests and lifestyles. Again, these will vary from facility to facility but often include on-site devotional activities, pet-focused programs, group outings to area attractions, live musical performances, cooking classes, art classes, trivia nights, movie nights, fitness classes, yoga, barbeques, holiday parties, and so on.
Assisted living and memory care in the surrounding Birmingham suburbs
If seniors and their families still can’t find a facility in Birmingham that meets the wants, needs, and lifestyle of your loved one, the 25-mile surrounding area does offer a number of options – another 10 facilities in our partner network, in fact. These, too, come in a range of senior care options, with most being a combination of independent living, assisted living, and memory care units. You’ll also find standalone memory care and assisted living facilities. Each one will have a variety of different services, amenities, and activities to offer residents.
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Unfamiliar with Birmingham? Highlights for seniors
Number of seniors over the age of 65 currently living in Birmingham, according to the U.S. Census Bureau
Percentage of seniors 65 and older within the Birmingham population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau
Median annual income for Birmingham seniors 65 and older, according
Health care for seniors in Birmingham
Birmingham has many healthcare providers for its aging population – chief among them being the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, which is currently ranked 36th in the nation for Geriatrics [06]. It’s also ranked 20th in the nation for Rehabilitation and 10th in the nation for Rheumatology.
University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital
Part of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, UAB Geriatrics Clinic specializes in comprehensive medical care for older adults, including preventive care, memory evaluations, chronic illness management, and end-of-life care.
Ascension St. Vincent’s Birmingham
Though other specialties are available, Ascension St. Vincent’s Birmingham is regionally known for its cardiology, orthopedics, and cancer programs.
Birmingham VA Healthcare System
Birmingham VA Healthcare System offers a variety of programs, services, and resources for veterans, including community-based outpatient clinics in several locations throughout the Birmingham area.
Brookwood Baptist Medical Center
Brookwood Baptist Medical Center is another area hospital known for its cardiology and orthopedics programs. It also specializes in women’s health services.
Grandview Medical Center
Grandview Medical Center is known for its cancer center, heart and vascular center, and orthopedics program.
Princeton Baptist Medical Center
Princeton Baptist Medical Center is known for its cancer center, orthopedics program, and neurology and neurosurgery program.
Transportation for seniors in Birmingham
While services vary from one facility to the next, almost all senior care and assisted living communities in Birmingham offer some level of transportation to their residents. These transportation services are usually arranged by the staff for the purposes of medical appointments, social outings, and other local events and activities. Should a resident require specialized transportation services, these, too, will often be arranged by the staff. Arrangements can be made for a wheelchair-accessible van or medical transport vehicle.
MAX Transit, which is part of the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA), operates a range of public transportation services in the Birmingham area that serve the senior community, including fixed-route bus services, paratransit services for individuals with disabilities, and vintage trolley services in the downtown district. BJCTA also offers a vanpool service for group outings.
The Birmingham Regional Paratransit Consortium (ClasTran) is a nonprofit organization that provides specialized transportation services for individuals with disabilities who live in the Birmingham area. Rides are subsidized, costing $4 for one-way travel and $8 for round trips.
Senior activities in Birmingham
Thanks to the fine work of the activity directors, almost all senior care and assisted living facilities offer an array of on-site entertainment opportunities for residents. Our community partners in the Birmingham area regularly schedule live musical performances, art classes, devotional services, and fitness classes — among a host of other activities.
For seniors who’d like to get out into the community, group outings are also made available. Depending on the weather, a trip to the Market at Pepper Place, Birmingham’s farmers market, wouldn’t be out of the question. Nor would a trip to the Birmingham Zoo or the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, where seniors not only stroll the walking paths and take in the views but participate in a variety of events. Each spring, for example, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens holds the Sakura Cherry Blossom Festival, while winter brings the annual 16-foot tall poinsettia tree made of 300 individual poinsettias.
If seniors are more interested in the historical side of Birmingham, there’s always the option to visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute or Civil Rights National Monument. Then, venture off to Kelly Ingram Park, or check out the A.G. Gaston Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and those who marched alongside him met. Those with a more artistic eye (or ear) may find the Birmingham Museum of Art or a show at the Historic Alabama Theatre of interest.
Other options include:
- Birmingham Race Course & Casino: The one-stop shop for casino gaming, greyhound racing, and horse racing.
- Christenberry Planetarium: Experience the unique opportunity to explore our universe.
- Southern Museum of Flight: View over 100 aircraft at this flight museum.
- Barber Vintage Motorsport Museum: Take a walk through the museum, search their collection, or attend one of the scheduled events.
Frequently Asked Questions
are the top-rated Nursing Homes facilities near Birmingham, AL. These Nursing Homes facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Nursing Homes in Birmingham is per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
References
Extra Storage Space. (2022, December). 16 things to know about Birmingham. https://www.extraspace.com/blog/moving/city-guides/things-to-know-about-living-in-birmingham/
Genworth. (2021). Cost of long term care by state [Data Set]. Cost of care report.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Alabama Medicaid. (n.d.) Institutional Medicaid. Alabama Medicaid. https://medicaid.alabama.gov/content/3.0_Apply/3.2_Qualifying/3.2.4_Medicaid_Nursing_Home.aspx
Medicare. (n.d.). Skilled nursing facility (SNF) care. Medicare.gov https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/skilled-nursing-facility-snf-care
Best Hospitals Ranking. (n.d.). University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital. US News & World Report. https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/al/university-of-alabama-hospital-at-birmingham-6530304/geriatric-care
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