Assisted Living in Utah

Make your way to the Mountain West for your assisted living services search. Where three geographically unique regions converge, Utah’s vistas offer an array of diverse sights. Whether you prefer to live near the Rockies or the Colorado Plateau, you’re sure to find Utahns a pleasure to live amongst. The Beehive state will have you buzzing with possibilities—whether you choose an off-the-beaten-path oasis or an amenity-filled city. There’s something for everyone looking for Utah assisted living services.

Cost of assisted living in Utah vs. nearby states

Cost of assisted living in a selection of Utah cities

We noticed people seem to be searching for assisted living in these Utah cities more frequently than others: Cottonwood Heights and Salt Lake City. We've provided their pricing here.

The cost of assisted living in Utah

Seniorly 2021 data shows that the average cost of assisted living in Utah is $3,244 per month. The national average monthly cost is $4,057. This puts Utah solidly under the national average; it also has the lowest average cost of assisted living compared to many of its neighboring states. 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 Utah 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 Utah

Utah’s cost of living dips below the national average. Behind Virginia and both Dakotas, Utah’s cost of living index is 98.4, where the US national average is 104.63. It makes sense that the costs of housing, groceries, utilities, and transportation in Utah are all below the national average.

Financial assistance for assisted living in Utah

Medicaid options for Utah seniors

According to benefits.gov, to be eligible for Utah Medicaid, you must be a resident of the state of Utah, 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.

Utah's Medicaid program pays for medical services for low-income pregnant women, children, individuals who are elderly or have a disability, parents, and women with breast or cervical cancer. To qualify, income and other eligibility requirements must be met.

Several Utah Medicaid programs can help Utah seniors get the care options they need. The Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver Programs provide eligible enrollees funding to receive home care or be moved to an appropriate assisted living facility, and the Aged, Blind or Disabled Programs provide additional financial support and resources to those who qualify. Keep in mind that there is high demand for these care services and some may have wait lists.

Non-Medicaid State assistance programs

There are a few non-Medicaid assistance programs in Utah that are administered through the Aging and Adult Services department of the Utah Department of Human Services. These programs include the Home and Community Based Alternatives Program, support for caregivers, and access to nutritional and transportation support.

More ways to finance assisted living in Utah

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 Utah

Utah 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 Utah Department of Veterans & Military Affairs may be able to help you determine if your loved one is eligible for VA benefits.

Find Utah Social Security offices where you can understand your benefits and get answers to your questions about claims.

Assisted living communities by Utah city