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Festus is a small town located on the Mississippi River, about 35 miles south of St. Louis. Its convenient location gives seniors easy access to local amenities and age-related services across the area. Although the community is home to just 12,706 residents, it has an average number of seniors. Older adults represent 16.5% of the population, which is on par with the national average.
Local residents enjoy abundant shopping opportunities and excellent transportation access via Interstate 55. Quality medical care is available at Mercy Hospital Jefferson, and the local cost of living is 10% lower than the national average, which may benefit retirees and seniors who require long-term care.
Seniors in Festus can choose from more than 20 assisted living facilities in the surrounding area. According to the Genworth 2020 Cost of Care Survey, the median cost of assisted living care in Festus is $3,750 per month, which is lower than the national average but slightly higher than other parts of the state.
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 >
According to Genworth Financial’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey, assisted living in Festus costs $750 more than the state median. However, rates are also $550 lower than the U.S. average of $4,300. Local prices are slightly higher than Arkansas and Kentucky, where assisted living averages $3,500 and $3,699 per month, respectively. However, local seniors save about $825 compared to their counterparts in Illinois and $1,340 compared to those in Kansas, where assisted living costs $5,090 per month.
Assisted living prices in Festus are comparable to Carbondale, Illinois, and slightly higher than other metropolitan areas in the region. Prices are $375 lower in Cape Girardeau. Seniors in Columbia, Springfield and Jefferson City pay just $2,900-$3,150 per month, and prices in Joplin are much lower than average, with a median of $2,500. On the other hand, prices in Kansas City increased by $710 to $4,460.
Note: Data for Festus was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, St. Louis, was used instead.
Seniors who need help paying for long-term care can qualify for financial assistance through the state’s Aged and Disabled Waiver, which covers personal care, housekeeping, chore assistance and meals. Self-directed services are also available through Missouri’s Independent Living Waiver. Seniors must have limited income and assets to qualify for these Medicaid programs. For more information about ways to pay for care, families can visit our page on Assisted Living in Missouri.
| Contact | Description | |
| Aging Ahead | (800) 243-6060 | Aging Ahead is the federally designated Area Agency on Aging for seniors in Festus and greater St. Louis. It operates more than 20 local senior centers and provides a wealth of services to help older adults age successfully in their own homes or transition into assisted living or another type of long-term care facility. It provides personalized needs assessments and options consultations, as well as outreach events that promote healthy aging. |
| OATS Transit | (636) 933-9380 | OATS is a countywide transportation system available to residents throughout Festus and Jefferson County. Medical transportation can be scheduled Monday through Friday, and buses travel to medical facilities in St. Louis on the third Tuesday of each month. Shopping trips are scheduled on the second Tuesday of each month, and rides are available to the Quad City Senior Center twice a week. |
| Missouri Veterans Commission, Jefferson County | (636) 865-5215 | The Missouri Veterans Commission operates a network of regional offices to help veterans and dependents apply for benefits, access military records and complete routine administrative tasks. Service officers at the Cross Creek Office Center in Arnold ensure that veterans in Jefferson County are receiving all available benefits. They can also help with specific issues, such as long-term care placement and Aid & Attendance pension supplements. |
| Quad-Cities Senior Center | (636) 937-8333 | Located in the Crystal City Masonic Lodge, the Quad-Cities Senior Center provides a full calendar of monthly recreational activities to seniors aged 60 and older. The center offers card games, bingo, computer lessons and craft classes. It also has a library, TV lounge and treadmill. Catered meals are served daily at 11:45 a.m., and bus transportation is available to the center and to local shopping areas. |
| Legal Services of Eastern Missouri | (314) 534-4200 | Attorneys at LSEM’s main office in St. Louis can help low-income residents and local seniors with civil legal matters. The organization’s Elder Law Program focuses on serving residents aged 60 and older who have questions or concerns about housing, consumer rights, government benefits, health care decision-making and long-term care planning. It can also help with routine legal documents, such as wills and advance directives. |
| VOYCE | (314) 918-8222 | VOYCE is a long-term care advocacy organization that protects residents’ rights, promotes quality care and works with lawmakers to develop effective legislation. It serves as the official long-term care ombudsman for seniors in Festus and 21 surrounding counties. These advocates advise long-term care residents, investigate complaints and educate the public. It also operates VOYCEconnect, a professionally staffed hotline that’s available to seniors and families who need help with long-term care decision-making. |
Assisted living facilities and residential care facilities in Festus are licensed by the Department of Health and Senior Services, Section for Long-Term Care Regulation. This agency also certifies facilities that accept Medicare or Medicaid. For more information, seniors can visit our page on Assisted Living in Missouri.
