How Much Do Nursing Homes Cost? 

While most seniors hope to stay independent as long as possible, aging bodies aren’t always cooperative. To attend to the various illnesses and injuries that occur with more frequency as you age, many seniors reach a point where they need a trained healthcare provider on hand at all times. Unfortunately, that’s a costly proposition.

Genworth just released their 2016 Cost of Care Study that looks at the specific numbers people across the country have to deal with. While the survey looks at the costs involved in various senior care options, the category that outdoes all the rest in terms of high costs is nursing homes.

The National Average Cost of Nursing Homes

Genworth collected data on both the cost of a shared room in a nursing home and a private one. Neither are numbers that are easy to swallow:

• Private room: $92,387
• Shared room: $82,125

When you think about it, it makes sense. The costs involved in running a nursing home – providing lodging for a number of people, hiring highly skilled medical staff, keeping things clean, providing meals, etc. – can really add up.

Nonetheless, it can be a hard pill to swallow for people whose loved ones need the level of care that a nursing home provides.

The Average Cost of Nursing Homes By State

Depending on where you live in the United States, I either have good news for you or bad. The national averages don’t paint a full picture, as costs vary wildly across the country. The average cost for nursing home care in Alaska is more than double the national average, and nearly five times the average cost in Oklahoma, the most affordable option.

While the costs are high across the board, seniors in some states get off much easier than those in others.

Here’s the breakdown:

Alaska Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $292,000

Private room: $297,840

Alabama Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $71,175

Private room: $75,190

Arkansas Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $58,156

Private room: $70,343

Arizona Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $75,555

Private room: $93,075

California Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $91,250

Private room: $112,055

Colorado Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $83,220

Private room: $97,546

Connecticut Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $148,373

Private room: $160,600

Delaware Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $114,975

Private room: $118,808

Florida Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $89,060

Private room: $100,375

Georgia Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $69,350

Private room: $74,095

Hawaii Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $129,575

Private room: $141,310

Iowa Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $66,430

Private room: $73,000

Idaho Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $83,585

Private room: $88,878

Illinois Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $67,160

Private room: $74,825

Indiana Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $76,650

Private room: $91,890

Kansas Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $62,415

Private room: $67,525

Kentucky Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $75,190

Private room: $83,768

Louisiana Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $58,400

Private room: $61,663

Massachusetts Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $135,050

Private room: $144,175

Maryland Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $104,208

Private room: $113,333

Maine Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $100,375

Private room: $108,223

Michigan Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $91,250

Private room: $98,185

Minnesota Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $88,330

Private room: $97,032

Missouri Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $56,758

Private room: $63,171

Mississippi Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $76,285

Private room: $79,030

Montana Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $79,570

Private room: $83,220

North Carolina Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $78,840

Private room: $89,425

North Dakota Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $130,860

Private room: $129,276

Nebraska Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $67,525

Private room: $76,833

New Hampshire Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $116,800

Private room: $123,370

New Jersey Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $118,625

Private room: $133,835

New Mexico Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $77,654

Private room: $86,742

Nevada Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $95,265

Private room: $103,773

New York Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $82,125

Private room: $92,378

Ohio Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $76,657

Private room: $87,600

Oklahoma Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $52,925

Private room: $60,225

Oregon Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $101,105

Private room: $107,310

Pennsylvania Average Nursing Home Cost:

 

Shared room: $108,847

Private room: $116,800

Rhode Island Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $99,645

Private room: $114,975

South Carolina Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $72,635

Private room: $79,147

South Dakota Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $74,825

Private room: $78,110

Tennessee Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $69,350

Private room: $75,719

Texas Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $54,020

Private room: $71,175

Utah Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $67,525

Private room: $76,650

Virginia Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $80,574

Private room: $89,060

Vermont Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $103,295

Private room: $106,763

Washington Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $96,725

Private room: $107,675

Wisconsin Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $93,805

Private room: $102,200

West Virginia Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $100,375

Private room: $104,390

Wyoming Average Nursing Home Cost:

Shared room: $79,114

Private room: $88,505

Even though some states manage much lower prices than others, no matter where you live you’re likely to find those numbers a bit high for comfort.

The good news is that in many cases Medicare does help with the cost of nursing home stays. If you have long-term care insurance, then you can get even more help with the costs.

Also be aware that, just as there are large differences in the average costs for different states, you can often find a wide variety in the costs for different nursing homes in the same state or even the same city. Part of finding the right nursing home for your loved one will involve comparing the costs of those nearby.

No family wants to take on the expense of a nursing home, but sometimes seniors need more care than their family members can offer them at home. When that happens, a nursing home is often the best option and families must figure out how to make it work for them. Having a realistic idea of the costs in advance can help you plan better for the future if or when that day comes.