West Virginia assisted living facilities and personal care communities

Find Assisted Living Care in West Virginia

According to West Virginia state law, a personal care community or assisted living facility is defined as any living facility or place of accommodation in the state for the purpose of providing personal assistance, supervision, or both, to any residents who are dependent upon the services of others by reason of physical or mental impairment, and who may also require nursing care at a level that does not exceed limited and intermittent nursing care.

There are approximately 106 assisted senior care facilities operating in West Virginia.

Assisted Living Communities in West Virginia – Cost Comparison

City	Monthly Minimum	Monthly Maximum	Monthly Median
Charleston	$3,300	$4,910	$4,368
Morgantown	$3,203	$4,000	$3,601
Parkersburg	$2,200	$4,268	$2,900

The average cost of assisted living in West Virginia is $3,263 per month. West Virginia falls below the national average monthly cost of $3,600 for assisted living care. The average monthly cost can also depend on the amount of personal care needed. Within the state, average area prices range between the $3,000-$4,000 monthly cost range.

For more information about assisted living costs in West Virginia, check out Genworth’s 2015 Cost of Care Survey.

Recreation & Attractions in West Virginia

Despite the mountainous nature of the state, there are a variety of assisted living services for seniors throughout West Virginia. West Virginia is a great place for outdoor recreational activities and is home to numerous state parks including Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Aside from outdoor recreation, West Virginia offers its residents historical and cultural sites to see including museums, casinos, and the arts.

West Virginia’s Climate, Geography, & Culture

West Virginia is known for having an Appalachian culture. The state is full of friendly people with a love for folk and bluegrass music. The state also holds a number of celebrations of the traditional Appalachian culture, which will feature live music from banjos and fiddles.

West Virginia experiences four distinct seasons throughout the year. The climate of West Virginia generally is a humid subtropical climate with warm to hot, humid summers and chilly winters, severity increasing with elevation. Some southern highland areas also have a mountain temperate climate where you will find winter temperatures are more moderate and summer temperatures are somewhat cooler. Average high temperatures in January can range from 26 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit depending on your location and elevation in the state. The summer months bring average daily temperatures in the high-70 to low-80 degree range.

West Virginia’s Assisted Living Centers Regulations & Laws

Assisted Living homes 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 complete document outlining the official regulations for assisted living homes operating in West Virginia can be obtained online. The document will also detail the differences, if any, between asissted living communities and personal care homes. Public records concerning inspections, citations and violations pertaining to individual homes can be obtained as requested.

Crime & Safety in West Virginia

Finding a safe living community in West Virginia should be no issue, as the state boasts crime rates lower than the national average. Listed below are some the safest communities in the state:

Location	Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents	Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
Kingwood	0.34	0.00
Weston	0.00	0.97
Grafton	0.19	1.54
Ripley	0.00	3.69

(Source: safewise.com)

Payment Options for West Virginia Assisted Living Homes

West Virginia’s Medicaid Aged and Disabled Waiver

Residents and/or family members pay for most assisted living homes privately. For those eligible for Medicaid, low-income residents ages 65 or over, West Virginia’s Medicaid Aged and Disabled waiver program will pay for select care services provided in assisted living facilities that participate in the program.

Assisted Living Family Loans

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.

Senior & Elderly Rights for Assisted Living Residences in West Virginia

While residing in a personal care home, 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 and should be actively informed of the process to file a complaint of unsatisfactory living situations such as neglect, abuse and the like.

West Virginia Personal Care Homes: Medical Record Rules & Regulations

West Virginia 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 must include a recent photograph of the resident, and shall be kept for a no shorter than 5 years from death or discharge date.

Residents in West Virginia personal care communities 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, and it is to be provided at a cost not to exceed the community standard for photocopies.