The national average annual charge for a private nursing home room rose to $90,520 this year, while semi-private rooms climbed to $81,030 and assisted living residency jumped to $42,600, according to figures from the 10th annual MetLife survey of eldercare costs, which was released Tuesday.
Average charges for private nursing home rooms rose 3.8% (to $239 per day); semi-private nursing home rooms jumped 3.7% (to $222 daily); and assisted living base rates increased 2.1% (to $3,477 monthly), according to the 2012 MetLife Market Survey of Nursing Home, Assisted Living, Adult Day Services and Home Care Costs.
Also according to the survey, homemakers services rose (from $19 to $20 per hour), while the areas of home health aides ($21 per hour) and adult day services ($70 per day) were unchanged.
In the past five years, annual costs for a private room in a nursing home averaged a 4% increase, while a semi-private room cost up to 3.8% more. The increase in assisted living costs was the greatest at 4.1% annually.
The survey includes state-by-state figures and Alaska again had the highest costs for nursing home care at $687 (private) and $682 (semi-private) per day. Oklahoma (excluding Oklahoma City and Tulsa) had the lowest private room nursing home rates at $147 per day. Semi-private rooms in Texas (excluding Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston) had the lowest average rates at $131 per day.
