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New Bedford, MA is a charming bayside city in the metropolitan area of Providence, Rhode Island. Out of 101,079 residents, about 15,000 seniors call New Bedford home. The Providence area has many medical amenities, including St. Luke’s Hospital at the center of New Bedford. The city’s waterfront recreation, its laid-back feel and its historic architecture may appeal to seniors seeking a relaxing destination filled with character.
Assisted living facilities are designed to prevent isolation among seniors who need help with daily living. They offer homelike accommodations, meals, transportation and day-to-day care, but not a nursing home level of care. In New Bedford, seniors can expect to pay an average monthly fee of $6,063 for assisted living. Facilities across Massachusetts normally charge a higher price of $6,500.
This guide provides a summary of assisted living in New Bedford. You’ll learn about assisted living costs, ways to pay for assisted living, laws and regulations in place for assisted living residents and resources available to seniors in New Bedford.
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 Massachusetts. 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.
New Bedford seniors pay an average of $6,063 monthly for assisted living, but this varies with location, amenities and services.
Assisted living facilities in New Bedford cost an average of $6,063 per month, which is less than the average Massachusetts rate of $6,500 but higher than the average national price of $4,500.
There’s an exceptionally wide price range for assisted living in Massachusetts. Worcester, at $5,685 a month, and Springfield, at $5,048, are near the middle of that range. Pittsfield, located in the far west of the state, reports a relatively low average monthly price of $2,084, but the cost goes all the way up to $7,000 a month in Barnstable Town. Across the border in Manchester, New Hampshire, the average monthly price of assisted living care goes higher to $8,061.
Note: Data for New Bedford was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Providence, 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 Massachusetts.
| Resource | Contact | Service |
| New Bedford Council on Aging | (508) 961-3136 | The New Bedford Council on Aging coordinates community resources for seniors. It offers recreational opportunities such as bus tours, for seniors aged 50 and older, that stop at cultural attractions. For a small fee, seniors can request transportation to run errands and attend medical appointments, and trips to Boston can be arranged. The agency also helps seniors settle into new housing through the Fresh Start program, which provides moving assistance and other resources to ease the transition. Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking staff members are available. |
| Long-Term Care Ombudsman | (617) 727-7750 | The Long-Term Care Ombudsman advocates for seniors in assisted living, visiting the facilities regularly and investigating complaints. New Bedford seniors can contact the ombudsman with problems about the care and living conditions in their facilities. The ombudsman also mediates disputes between individual residents. |
| AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program | (508) 742-9198 | The AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program partners with schools and youth-based organizations to provide volunteering opportunities for seniors aged 55 and older. Volunteers teach literacy, communication and social skills to children in one-on-one and small-group settings. The program requires a minimum volunteering commitment of 15 hours per week. In return, volunteers receive a small tax-free stipend that is not counted as income and does not affect government benefits. |
| South Coastal Counties Legal Services | (800) 244-9023 | South Coastal Counties Legal Services offers legal aid to New Bedford eligible seniors aged 60 and older who are low-income or socially disadvantaged. The agency’s Senior Law Project prioritizes issues in the Older Americans Act, providing legal help with government benefits, consumer debt, health care and housing. |
| New Bedford Vet Center | (508) 999-6920 | New Bedford Vet Center is a counseling service for veterans dealing with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, couples issues, bereavement and other issues related to their service. Individual and group sessions are confidential, and they can be done in person or virtually. Care specific to the needs of women and LGBTQ+ veterans is available. The center also helps veterans file VA benefits claims, referring them to other organizations when needed. |
| Senior Centers | (508) 961-3136 | New Bedford has three senior centers: the Buttonwood Senior Center and the Hillman Street Senior Support Center near the downtown core, and the Rosemary S. Tierney Community Center to the south. The centers offer a wide range of indoor and outdoor recreation, including chair Zumba, Wii video games, coastline lunches and garden clubs. Seniors can also take arts and language classes. |
Assisted Living Facilities in the New Bedford 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.
