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Carthage is located in western Missouri, bordering the city of Joplin and approximately half an hour’s drive from the state’s border with Kansas. Roughly 9,300 seniors live in this city of 51,762, a slightly higher percentage than found elsewhere in the U.S. Low sales taxes and an exceptionally affordable cost of living that’s 26% below the national average make Carthage a smart choice for budget-conscious seniors.
Making the move into an assisted living community might be right for you if you need mild to moderate help with basic activities such as taking medications, getting around your living space and preparing meals. These facilities allow you to live independently when possible and have professional help immediately available when you need it. Carthage’s average monthly cost for assisted living care is $2,805.
Read on for an overview of assisted living in Carthage, including a comparison of assisted living costs across Missouri and a list of free or highly affordable resources that support the day-to-day lives of seniors in the area.
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 >
COVID-19 restrictions and rules for Assisted Living Facilities are typically set by the state – to see the rules in your state, you can read our guide to Assisted Living in Missouri. Keep in mind that there may be other policies that communities put in place to protect their residents, so you should contact your local community for more information. Additionally, you can contact your local Area Agency on Aging to learn more – find contact information here.
In Carthage, seniors see average monthly prices of $2,805 for assisted living, making it one of the least expensive cities in the state for such care.
Nationally, the average monthly cost of assisted living is $4,500 — roughly 38% higher than Carthage’s cost. In Missouri specifically, the average monthly cost of assisted living is $3,000, or about 6.5% higher than Carthage’s.
Prices for assisted living care vary widely across Missouri. They’re at their lowest in the state capital of Jefferson City at $2,075 and at their highest in more populous Kansas City at $4,585. Prices in St. Louis, the state’s second-largest city, follow closely behind Kansas City’s at $4,100. Springfield’s cost of $3,250 is also above the Missouri average. Seniors may find prices even lower than Carthage’s in Cape Girardeau, at $2,538, and in Columbia, at $2,800.
Note: Data for Carthage was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Joplin, was used instead.
Since not everyone can afford to pay for assisted living out-of-pocket, it’s important to find alternative methods to help make assisted living more affordable. Some of these options include:
For more information about your options for making assisted living more affordable, visit our guide to Assisted Living in Missouri.
| Resource | Contact | Service |
| Area Agency on Aging Region X | (417) 781-7562 | This nonprofit serves as a central point for resources, services and programs serving older adults in the Carthage region. In addition to running senior centers in the area and maintaining a long-term care ombudsman program, this AAA also offers mental health support for caregivers and provides Medicare counseling. |
| Missouri Southern State University Senior Tuition Waiver | (417) 625-9378 | Missouri adults aged 65 and up are eligible for a tuition waiver that allows them to take non-credit classes at any public college in the state, including MSSU in nearby Joplin. The availability of specific classes varies by institution, so seniors must contact the college of their choice for admission details. |
| Legal Services of Southern Missouri | (417) 881-1397 | Carthage seniors in need of legal representation in civil matters can turn to LSSM’s lawyers for pro bono assistance. The nonprofit’s attorneys can help with drafting wills, updating powers of attorney, estate planning and similar legal concerns of older citizens. |
| Joplin Public Library | (417) 623-7953 | This library’s free public events for seniors include monthly bingo nights and crafting circles, biweekly gardening classes, book discussion clubs and seminars on Medicare and other health care topics. Seniors can also take regularly scheduled technology education classes in the library’s computer lab. |
| Non-Emergency Medical Transportation | (866) 269-5927 | Missouri seniors who are in the state’s HealthNet program can use the Missouri Department of Social Services’ NEMT program to find free rides to certain medical appointments. In some cases, the program will cover the cost of gas for private transportation. |
Assisted Living Facilities in the Carthage area are required to follow a set of rules and regulations that are determined at the state level. For an overview of those rules and regulations, see the information below. For more specific information, talk with your local community or Area Agency on Aging.
