LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – When you hear “assisted living,” you might imagine serene gardens, bingo nights, and friendly nurses delivering warm cocoa. But in Michigan, it might be more accurate to picture a $5,250 monthly invoice and an urgent call to your financial planner.
That’s right – according to A Place for Mom’s 2025 long-term care cost report, the median monthly cost of assisted living in Michigan has ballooned to $5,250. For those doing the math, that’s $63,000 a year – more than the state’s median household income. And let’s not forget, this cost is before add- ons like help with bathing, medication management, parking or an extra pet fee.
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Other costs in Michigan reported by A Place for Mom include $6,000 per month for memory care, $2,675 per month for independent living and home care listed as $30/hr.
Sticker shock for seniors.
Nationwide, the median for assisted living is $5,190 per month, so Michigan isn’t the worst – but it’s far from a bargain. Unless you’ve got a nice pension, long-term care insurance, or a house to sell, those golden years could quickly turn into a financial black hole. Vermont, Alaska, and New Jersey have the highest monthly costs, upward of $7,000 per month while Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama have the lowest – around $4,000 per month.
And if you’re planning to share a room with your spouse to cut costs? Expect to tack on another $1,200 per month, just for the privilege of being in the same space.
Overall, Michigan ranks 24th out of 50 U.S. states in overall assisted living quality, according to A Place for Mom. The state is 36th in “Services and Amenities” and 23rd in “Affordability.”
A snapshot of Michigan’s aging population.
According to a report from the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), in Michigan’s 4,233 assisted living communities, which collectively offer 57,852 beds or units, the majority of residents are women (67%), with men making up the remaining 33%. Age-wise, half (50%) of all residents are 85 or older, 29% fall between ages 75–84, 13% are aged 65–74, and just 8% are under 65.
Only 9% of assisted living residents in Michigan rely on Medicaid for their long-term care, indicating most pay out of pocket or through private insurance.
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Common health conditions among residents include:
Alzheimer’s or dementia – 48%
High blood pressure – 46%
Heart disease – 33%
Depression – 30% Diabetes – 19%
When it comes to daily care, a large portion of residents require assistance with:
Bathing – 78%
Walking and dressing – 61% each
Toileting – 59%
Transferring (e.g., from bed to chair) – 48%
Eating – 31%
With Michigan’s aging population at almost 2 million residents who are 60 and older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, it’s no wonder assisted living demand (and costs) are skyrocketing faster than your grandma’s electric bill during a cold northern Michigan winter.
Living small, paying big.
And what exactly does $5,250 per month get you? Typically the “base” fee includes housing (rent and utilities), three meals a day, housekeeping/landscaping, group activities, care coordination and transportation to medical appointments. But beware: many facilities operate on an à la carte model. Need help getting dressed? That’s extra. Need medication reminders? Extra. Want internet so you can Zoom your grandkids? You guessed it – extra.
“Families are sometimes surprised by charges they weren’t expecting,” says A Place for Mom’s Niki Gewirtz, who has more than 20 years of experience in managing residential care communities. “It’s important to understand your loved one’s assistance needs and that they can change over time. Someone who didn’t need much help in the beginning may get injured and need more help for a short period of time. The community will charge more for providing more assistance during that period. But the fees weren’t hidden,” says Gewirtz.
Who’s footing the bill to live in the assisted living facility?
Seniors themselves and their families are the ones primarily footing the bill. Long-term care insurance? That’s great if you bought it 20 years ago. For most, it’s private pay: cash, retirement accounts, or the sale of the family home.
Michigan is long past due for serious discussions on affordability and alternatives – because right now, assisted living is “assisting” seniors straight into financial freefall. With annual costs climbing around 5%, there’s no relief on the horizon.
