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Located in South Central Pennsylvania, Lancaster is home to just over 59,000 residents, 10.4% of whom are aged 65 and older. Known for its large number of Amish communities, Lancaster also has many farmers’ markets and fruit stands, such as the century-old Lancaster Central Market located downtown. Seniors can also enjoy buggy rides in the countryside or browsing through many of the city’s antique stores. Lancaster is also home to three playhouse theaters, numerous shopping malls and outlet centers, over five dozen golf courses and several large parks, including Longs Park near the Park City Mall.
Assisted living offers help with daily activities and a social environment for older adults who find themselves ready to move out of fully-independent housing. In Lancaster, PA, the average cost for assisted living services is $5,550 per month according to the Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey. That price point makes Lancaster significantly more expensive than both the national and Pennsylvania average.
In the following overview, seniors can learn about Lancaster’s assisted living costs compared to other Pennsylvania cities, as well as some of the low-cost programs that support the lives of Lancaster’s senior population.
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 Pennsylvania. 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.
Seniors living in Lancaster pay an average of $5,550 per month for assisted living care.
Lancaster’s cost is about $1,000 higher than the U.S. average of $4,500 and about $1,500 higher than the Pennsylvania average of $4,100.
Reading is one of the few Pennsylvania cities that reports a higher monthly average cost than Lancaster; its residents pay $5,720 monthly on average. The state’s largest city, Philadelphia, is also slightly more expensive than Lancaster at $5,685 a month. Pennsylvania’s state capital Harrisburg, where seniors pay an average of $4,828 a month, is roughly $720 cheaper than Lancaster. There’s more significant savings for Pittsburgh seniors, who pay $3,250 a month — $2,300 lower than in Lancaster. According to the data in Genworth’s report, the state’s least expensive city for assisted living care is Johnstown, where seniors pay $2,725 a month, which is less than half of Lancaster’s monthly average cost.
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 Pennsylvania.
| Contact | Description | |
| Lancaster County Office of Aging | (717) 299-7979 | The Lancaster County Office of Aging provides resources and referrals that promote health and safety for seniors. It handles senior assessments, operates the Ombudsman Program and provides Medicare counseling. The agency also provides long-term care options counseling. |
| Lancaster Neighborhood Senior Center | (717) 299-3943 | The Lancaster Neighborhood Senior Center provides a safe place for seniors to socialize and participate in a variety of activities, such as games, crafts and fitness classes. The center also provides financial education, offers medical screenings and holds events throughout the year, such as holiday parties and family socials. |
| Lancaster Rec Senior Center | (717) 339-7671 | The Lancaster Rec Senior Center welcomes area residents aged 60 and over. It hosts a variety of activities, such as fitness classes, lectures and walking club that promote fun, socialization, healthy living and continued education. The center has a full-size gym, dance room, tech center and two activity rooms. Transportation is available. |
| Veterans Affairs Office of Lancaster County | (717) 299-8000 | The Veterans Affairs Office of Lancaster County works with veterans and their dependents to help them secure all eligible benefits, such as VA pensions and the Aid and Attendance pension. It also provides free transportation services to the nearby Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Lebanon. |
| Red Rose Transit | (717) 291-1243 | Seniors aged 65 years and over can ride with Red Rose Transit free of charge by showing their Department of Transportation Senior Citizen ID card. Low-cost ride-share transportation, which offers door-to-door services, is also available for seniors. Applications are available online. |
Assisted Living Facilities in the Lancaster 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.
