According to Maryland law, an assisted living program is defined as a residential based program, which provides a combination of services such as housing, supportive services, supervision, personalized assistance, health-related services, and assistance for daily living activities. Some states make legislative distinctions between assisted living and personal care homes, and Maryland is no exception. The best way to find out if a care option is right for you is by scheduling a tour today!
There are currently 1,385 assisted living communities operating in Maryland.
| City | Monthly Minimum | Monthly Maximum | Monthly Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $1,000 | $7,680 | $3,800 |
| Frederick | $2,500 | $7,000 | $5,100 |
| Hagerstown | $1,650 | $4,500 | $3,713 |
| Salisbury | $2,300 | $5,678 | $5,103 |
The average cost of assisted living in Maryland is $3,900 per month. Compared to the rest of the nation, Maryland is the higher than the national average for long-term care. Within the state of Maryland, average costs for each area varies greatly. In urban areas of Maryland, assisted living costs tend to fall in the same range as the state median cost. However, in more affluent areas of Maryland, assisted senior care costs can rise well above the national and state average costs.
For more information about assisted living costs in Maryland, check out Genworth’s 2015 Cost of Care Survey.
With the Chesapeake Bay flowing through the heart of Maryland, residents regularly enjoy water activities and the Maryland wilderness almost year round. Surrounded by a state park of the same moniker, Deep Creek Lake is a favorite recreation spot for residents and visitors alike. The Deep Creek Lake area offers a myriad of activities such as fishing, hiking, camping, boating, waterskiing and wake boarding.
Located on the coast, Maryland offers the beautiful Assateague Island National Seashore, which provides activities such as cruises, bird watching, kayaking and fishing for the public to appreciate the natural splendor of the island. Another unique island, Smith Island is famous in Maryland for the residents’ unique Elizabethan accents and Maryland’s official state dessert: multilayered cakes from the Smith Island Baking Co. Beginning as one of the original colonies, sailing through the rivers and bays of Maryland became deeply intertwined with the growth and history of the coastal state. To recognize and honor this history, Maryland offers the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum for the public to learn about Maryland’s maritime roots.
For those interested in the environmental history of Maryland, the Cypress Swamp Sanctuary offers tours through a preserved swamp; an important ecological system apart of the Maryland terrain. For those partial to art and culture, the Baltimore Inner Harbor is a premier spot for day activities stretching into the night with the Baltimore Aquarium situated in the middle of the harbor. The Strathmore Music Center presents an array of concerts for any music lover.
Maryland is the perfect mix of northern and southern American cultures. Maryland is known for their seaside and agricultural developments. It is one of the greenest states in the United States. The state is home to many natural parks and the state works to preserve these areas.
Neighboring the Chesapeake and the Atlantic Ocean, Maryland experiences four distinct seasons and high levels of precipitation. Peaking in July and August, Maryland experiences high levels of rainfall accumulating to 40 inches annually. July is the hottest month for Maryland bringing summer temperatures well into the 100-degree Fahrenheit range, especially on the coasts near large bodies of water. Winters bring cold and snow to Maryland, along with temperatures hovering around freezing for the majority of the season.
Assisted living communities are regulated by a state-to-state basis. Every state has a publicly accessible legal document outlining the regulations, licensing, operation and other rules for assisted living. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is responsible for the regulation of assisted living programs within the state of Maryland. The complete document outlining the regulations for senior care as published by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene can be viewed and obtained online. Public records concerning violations, inspections, citations and the like fall under the jurisdiction of the same department. To request the retrieval of public documents regarding individual assisted senior care communities, please visit Maryland’s consumer guide for long-term care.
For questions regarding Maryland's assisted living facilities and the differences between other residential care home and personal care options, refer to MountgomeryCountyMD.gov.
When looking for a new place to live, it is always important to consider the safety of the community you are in. Maryland has seen their crime rate on the decline and actually has some of the lowest rate ever reported in the state. If you are not sure where to start your search, look at some the safest communities in Maryland:
| Location | Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents | Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents |
|---|---|---|
| Brentwood | 0.32 | 1.59 |
| Sykesville | 0.45 | 4.72 |
| Manchester | 0.21 | 7.48 |
| Boonsboro | 0.58 | 7.77 |
(Source: safewise.com)
For those looking for financial assistance, Maryland’s Medicaid, also referred to as Medical Assistance in the state, offers the Home and Community-Based Options Waiver to elderly residents who qualify for nursing care but opt to live in a personal home or group senior living community. The waiver will pay for assisted living services provided the assisted living homes or group living community is participating in the program and accepts Medicaid payment. More information and eligibility guidelines for this program can be found via Maryland’s Consumer Guide to Long Term Care website.
Like many other states, Maryland offers financial assistance through non-Medicaid state programs. The Senior Assisted Group Home Subsidy Program is a financial assistance program offered to elderly Maryland residents to pay for assisted senior living services at any community in the state. This program was set in place to allow individuals to live in an environment providing the appropriate level of care rather than being admitted to expensive nursing homes with services beyond the individual's needs. To find more information on this alternate payment option, please visit Maryland’s official Department of Aging website.
A second alternate non-Medicaid payment option offered by Maryland is the Congregate Housing Services Program. Many states with higher in state long-term care costs will create congregate housing owned by the state and offered assisted living for a lower price. Through this program, Maryland offers financial assistance to low-income elderly residents who voluntarily live in state certified congregate or group living communities. Along with housing, the program provides payment directly to home for the following services: meals, housekeeping, and other supportive services. To find out if you are eligible for this alternate senior care financial option, please visit Maryland’s official Department of Aging website.
Alternate payment options are available. Families can apply for an assisted living family loan. This provides temporary or long-term financial assistance when paying for assisted senior care. The program allows multiple people to contribute to payment.
While residing in the community, a resident retains constitutional civil rights, rights of privacy, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. The resident also retains the right to personal possessions, autonomy over personal finances, bodily autonomy, and power of attorney. The resident has a right to be informed of the process to file a complaint of unsatisfactory living situations, abuse, neglect and the like. The complete list of residential rights as guaranteed by the state of Maryland can be viewed online.
Maryland assisted living homes are required to provide appropriate health services that are ordered by an attending physician, as well as keep all medical information confidential, accurate, and complete. Medical records shall be readily accessible upon request and should be kept for a period no less than 5 years from death or discharge date.
Residents in Maryland assisted living centers have access to their medical records and can request a copy of all or a portion of their medical records. They can also request a copy of some or all of the information at a cost not to exceed the community standard cost for photocopies.
