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Located in the historic Gettysburg area of Pennsylvania, Berwick is home to close to 10,000 people, with seniors aged 65 and over making up 18.6% of the population. When compared with U.S. and state averages, Berwick boasts a relatively low violent crime rate, making this town a safe place for senior living. Seniors can access vital health care needs at Berwick Hospital Center, which has an emergency department and an accredited chest pain center. Many areas nearby feature walking trails, parks, shops and restaurants. The cost of living in Berwick is 21.9% lower than the U.S. average, making this town an attractive retirement destination for many seniors.
The average monthly cost for assisted living in Berwick is $3,570. The actual pricing may differ, however, depending upon the facility’s location, services provided and amenities offered.
Hundreds of thousands of American seniors utilize assisted living, a figure that is only growing. For these seniors, assisted living combines residential housing,assistance in daily activities, and some healthcare. These communities also strive to provide an atmosphere that is comfortable and engaging for their residents… Read More >
At an average monthly cost of $3,570, assisted living in Berwick is lower than both the statewide and U.S. costs. Berwick’s monthly costs for assisted living are $385 less than the state average. Prices for the same types of care nationally are $730 more than costs in Berwick. Assisted living is also more expensive in the neighboring states of New York, Maryland and New Jersey.
Berwick’s average monthly assisted living cost of $3,570 is lower than either the state or national rates, which are $3,955 and $4,300, respectively. Berwick’s neighboring cities also show more expensive monthly fees for assisted living, with Williamsport costing $130 more per month. State College and East Stroudsburg are significantly costlier by more than $1,300 and up. Only Scranton, at $2,450 per month, is more economical than Berwick in terms of average assisted living expenses.
Note: Data for Berwick was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Bloomsburg Area, PA, was used instead.
Although Pennsylvania doesn’t provide direct financial assistance for assisted living costs, the Department of Aging Waiver offers personal care assistance to people living in domiciliary care homes. Another option is the Community HealthChoices Program, a managed care program. The state also offers Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to seniors who live in residential care facilities that are not nursing homes.
Learn more about these programs, their eligibility requirements and application processes at our Assisted Living in Pennsylvania page.
| Source | Contact | Description |
| Columbia-Montour Aging Office | 570-784-9272 | This private nonprofit agency offers seniors advocacy assistance through its protection services and ombudsman programs. Free health insurance counseling, in-home services and long-term care assessments are also provided. Farmers market produce vouchers can also be accessed through this agency. |
| Berwick Senior Center | 570-759-8529 | Open weekdays, this center in Berwick provides seniors with lunch and a calendar of social activities, wellness screenings, crafts and games. |
| Columbia County Rabbit Transit | 1-800-632-9063 | The Rabbit Transit system offers drastically reduced fares for seniors, particularly for rides to senior centers, adult day care and medical appointments. Medical assistance transportation is free of charge. |
| McBride Memorial Library | 570-752-2241 | Berwick’s local library features Books on Wheels, a program that makes regular visits to assisted living facilities to provide residents with large-print books, books on tape, movies and CDs at no cost. The library also gives seniors access to two different online, no-cost lifelong learning programs. |
| Veterans Affairs Office | 570-759-0351 | Veterans can access help at the Veterans Affairs Offices in Berwick. The two office locations in town include the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Seniors can access assistance with veteran benefits, disabilities support, medical care and insurance information. |
| PACE – Prescription Assistance | 1-800-225-7223 | Available to Pennsylvania residents aged 65 and older, PACE is a prescription assistance program offering low-cost medications to seniors who qualify for the program. Early prescription refills are allowed, letting seniors keep several weeks’ supplies of medications on hand. Pharmacies also offer free home delivery of prescriptions. |
The Department of Human Services, Bureau of Human Services Licensing regulates assisted living residences in Pennsylvania. Visit our Assisted Living in Pennsylvania page for more information about these regulations and licensing procedures.
