Assisted Living in Maine
Costs and Local Resources
See why the Pine Tree State is an evergreen choice for those exploring assisted living options. Maine is perched at the top of New England and the eastern seaboard of the country; it is also the easternmost state in the U.S. The full splendor of four seasons blooms for residents, including long, hot summers and cold, snowy winters. It may be known as Vacationland, but Maine is a prime spot for exploring assisted living services options for the golden years.
Cost of assisted living in Maine vs. nearby states
The cost of assisted living in Maine
Seniorly 2021 data shows that the average cost of assisted living in Maine is $4,711 per month. The national average monthly cost is $4,057. This puts Maine well above the national average, something to keep in mind if your assisted living search is focused on New England. Explore our assisted living listings to start comparing properties, or get in touch with one of our local advisors to get expert advice on what you can afford in the areas in which you’re interested.
Assisted living communities can provide the peace of mind that comes from not worrying about home maintenance, chores, or errands, as well as help with personal care like grooming, eating, and other activities of daily living seniors might have trouble with. However, if your loved one requires nursing care, or has diagnosed Alzheimer's or dementia that has progressed to a certain point, they might need a skilled nursing facility/home health care, or memory care community instead. These types of care providers (and for that matter, in-home care) might cost more in Maine than assisted living facilities, but the important thing is that your loved one’s needs are cared for in order to provide them with the best quality of life.
If your loved one currently lives in a retirement community, ask whether it is a Continuing Care Retirement Community: these senior living properties are generally designed for residents to age in place. Seniors can get the different levels of care they need, from independent living to memory care, without having to move to a different community altogether.
Overall cost of living in Maine
Maine is just under ranking in the top 10 of most expensive cost-of-living states in the country. Just behind nearby Rhode Island, Maine’s cost of living index is 117.5, where the US national average is 104.63. This is largely due to higher housing costs than the rest of the country, with slightly above-average transportation and utilities costs contributing as well.
Financial assistance for assisted living in Maine
Medicaid options for Maine seniors
According to benefits.gov, to be eligible for Maine Medicaid, you must be a resident of the state of Maine, a U.S. national, citizen, permanent resident, or legal alien, in need of health care/insurance assistance, whose financial situation would be characterized as low income or very low income. You must also be one of the following:
- Pregnant, or
- Be responsible for a child 18 years of age or younger, or
- Blind, or
- Have a disability or a family member in your household with a disability, or
- Be 65 years of age or older.
Maine's Medicaid health care program is called MaineCare. It is a Federal and State program that helps Maine residents with limited resources afford healthcare costs. MaineCare was previously known as just Medicaid.
MaineCare helps seniors access an array of medical-related services, including doctor and hospital visits, emergency services, X-rays and labs, behavioral health services, and prescription medications. What and how much is covered is based upon coverage group; coverage group is identified by income, medical needs, and whether or not Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) help is needed.
Non-Medicaid State assistance programs
There are a wide variety of programs for seniors offered by the state Department of Health and Human Services, including home care resources and senior nutrition programs. For more ways to find assisted living help, check the “Free assisted living resources in Maine” section below.
More ways to finance assisted living in Maine
There are several options available to finance assisted living for yourself or a loved one. Long-term care can be financed several ways:
- Life insurance - Some life insurance policies have a provision for long-term care benefits.
- Long-term care insurance - This type of insurance is intended to cover long-term health care needs by covering costs for assisted living or long-term care communities.
- Pensions, 401K, and IRA - If you have a pension, 401k or an IRA to fall back upon this would be a great benefit in paying for assisted living costs.
- Real Estate - Having a home is a great source of income. When it is time to move into assisted living the sale proceeds from your home can cover the costs.
- Veteran’s benefits - While the VA will not directly cover the costs of assisted living, you can obtain help from the VA under the Veterans Aid & Attendance benefits. The Aid & Attendance benefits helps eligible veterans and their surviving spouses to pay for assistance for assistance of daily living (ADLs) activities. Aid & Attendance benefits are often referred to by other names such as “improved pension,” “VA assisted living benefit,” or “veterans elder care benefits.”
Free assisted living resources in Maine
Maine residents can explore state resources that can help answer your questions about eligibility for certain types of benefits and how they might apply to assisted living.
Find your local Area Agency on Aging: There are multiple agencies per state, enter your ZIP code or city to find the one closest to you.
The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services may be able to help you determine if your loved one is eligible for VA benefits.
Find Maine Social Security offices where you can understand your benefits and get answers to your questions about claims.
