Assisted living in New Mexico offers seniors a supportive, maintenance-free lifestyle as they age. Located throughout the Land of Enchantment, these communities provide assistance with activities of daily living, nutritious meals, and a variety of amenities. The average cost of assisted living in New Mexico is about $4,300 a month or $51,600 annually, according to A Place for Mom’s most recent proprietary data.[01] At this price point, assisted living in New Mexico costs nearly $900 less per month than the national average, making it less expensive than many states in the U.S.
It was the most cheerful experience we had meaning the tour. I would recommend it to them based upon n friendliness and mainly an employee named {name removed] She is the best, and very helpful to me.
It is like living at a Resort in this facility. Because of the staff and operating procedures one is more relaxed and can enjoy their old age. Thanks!
My mom just loves everyone there! She is friends with all of the staff. And in Carlsbad, too. They help her out if she needs assistance with the phone etc. They are respectful. And always happy!
I'm very happy he's there. They have been a huge support for us both before and after my mom passed. [name removed] (director) is AWESOME!!! Because staff is hard to keep it hinders the quality of food,...
This is a warming welcoming community. You can find many friends at the varied activities. We have world travelers, interesting occupation background and need people to talk to.
My mother has resided at Avista Senior Living Albuquerque for 11 years now. I am very happy with the facility and even more so the staff. My mother is very well taken care of and I have zero worries about...
It was the most cheerful experience we had meaning the tour. I would recommend it to them based upon n friendliness and mainly an employee named {name removed] She is the best, and very helpful to me.
The staff treat my mom with compassion and respect. The building feels like someone's home, not sterile or clinical. Based on the experience we have had, we would recommend this community to other families...
They do what the others SAY they will do!! FOOD YES! CARE YES! Engaged with residents YES! WE found Lifespire after my wife ENDURED 14 months at another institution in Albuquerque where the care was very...
Staff members are patient and friendly with my mom. She is not left alone (trapped) in bed for long during the day when she is awake. She eats meals with her peers in a dining room. Mom seems happy. I highly...
My mom was a resident of the memory care unit, the staff was friendly, and caring, with the residents. [New resident] the director was extremely knowledgeable, and personable. The meals they prepared were...
When it comes to the meals, there could be more of a variety. However, everything else is great and we would recommend them to other families based on the experience we have had so far.
It is like living at a Resort in this facility. Because of the staff and operating procedures one is more relaxed and can enjoy their old age. Thanks!
Our grandmother had her sister living here and has had a good experience so we chose this facility for our loved one too. We think everything about Legacy at Santa Fe is great!
None to compare. Facilities are clean, safe, and upscale decorated. Staff is professional, courteous, helpful, front desk staff is present at all times. Backyard is lovely for sitting outside. Dining room is...
The average monthly cost of assisted living in New Mexico is approximately $4,300, which is significantly less expensive than the national average monthly cost of assisted living, around $5,100 a month. These numbers reflect the average final monthly costs paid by families living in A Place for Mom’s network of partner communities.
Costs in New Mexico typically range from around $3,100 to just under $6,000 a month.[01] Communities in large metropolitan areas, like Albuquerque, or luxury locales, like Taos, generally cost more than facilities in smaller or more rural locations. Other factors, like the floorplan your loved one chooses, the amount of support they need, and the services and amenities a community provides can also affect pricing.
In New Mexico, an assisted living facility can have a minimum of only two residents and may be in either a designated building or in a converted residential home. Smaller personal care homes often cost less than larger assisted living facilities.
The monthly cost figures provided by A Place for Mom’s New Mexico partner communities generally cover a senior’s complete care needs, including:
Medicare, Medicaid, and other public pay resources may offset some costs of medical care in assisted living for New Mexico seniors who qualify.
Average monthly costs
New Mexico
US National average
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Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
Your family has its own unique budget and needs, but no matter your financial situation, planning ahead for assisted living can help ensure your loved one has access to all available resources. If your aging relative hasn’t signed up for Medicare, or if they plan to apply for public assistance programs, they may encounter application or waiting periods, so the sooner you start to consider your options, the better.
You’ll find a variety of ways seniors can cover assisted living costs in New Mexico below. For a high-level review of payment resources for seniors, you can read through ourcomplete guide to paying for long-term care.
Private pay options include financial assistance from family members, pensions, personal savings, and retirement accounts. These funds generally cover the majority of assisted living costs. Learn more about some ways to secure private pay resources below.
If your aging relative or their spouse served in the military, they may be eligible for a variety of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits that can help pay for assisted living in New Mexico. Understanding these benefits can be complex and time-consuming, so New Mexico has established resources to help ensure your loved one has access to the benefits and funds they deserve.
The New Mexico Department of Veterans Services offers a number of benefits. Their website is a great place to begin your search for information and resources.
Your family can also reach out to a local field office for further assistance. Each field office is managed by a veterans service officer who’s trained to counsel other veterans about benefits, applications, and more. Additionally, state chapters of national organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars and The American Legion can provide veterans with information, support, and advocacy services.
Medicaid — also called Centennial Care in New Mexico — is a health care program jointly funded by the state and federal governments. It’s designed to help low-income individuals and people with disabilities.
Centennial Care can help lower-income New Mexico seniors secure funding to help pay for assisted living through their Community Benefit program. This home and community based services waiver is designed to help seniors who would otherwise require institutional care to age safely in their home or in an assisted living facility. A designated care coordinator will work with your loved one to determine how much funding they could receive based on their personal and health care needs.
Here are some additional facts about the Community Benefit program:[02]
Medicaid-eligible seniors in New Mexico can also explore the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE. New Mexico’s PACE program is alternately known as InnovAge New Mexico PACE. The program provides long-term care services and support to participants at home, in senior centers, or in assisted living facilities. Medical staff, contracted specialists, and doctors who work with PACE administer this care. To be eligible, seniors must require a Nursing Facility Level of Support but remain living in their current residence, which can include assisted living communities.
Medicare is a health insurance program available to all U.S. seniors aged 65 or older. It’s funded by the federal government, and can help cover some medical costs in assisted living communities. These services may include assistance with medication management, diabetes care, physical or occupational therapy, and certain approved medical supplies or mobility devices. Medicare doesn’t cover room and board in New Mexico assisted living.
The New Mexico Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) manages the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which offers free, unbiased health insurance information, assistance, and benefits counseling to seniors and their families. Reach out to one of their trained counselors to learn more about applying for benefits.
Income-qualifying seniors may get help paying for Medicare deductibles and premiums through a Medicare Savings Program. Your family may also be able to use Medicaid to help cover your Medicare premiums through dual enrollment.
For additional resources and information about Medicare and Medicaid in New Mexico, families can contact the following organizations:
Assisted living facilities in New Mexico are designed to provide support and stimulation to older adults who need help with at least one activity of daily living. Each community must house at least two residents unrelated to the owner, provide three nutritious meals a day, and be able to support the care needs of admitted residents.
The New Mexico Department of Health, Division of Health Improvement, Health Facility Licensing and Certification Bureau, licenses and regulates assisted living facilities. Communities must be inspected annually.[03]
The following considerations are made when licensing and regulating assisted living in New Mexico:
Staffing requirements may vary by the size of facility, care provided, and number of residents present.
The following roles must be filled in each community:
Staff-to-resident ratios must fulfill these requirements:
Let our care assessment guide you
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
We developed a system to rate each state on how easy — or difficult — it is to find important assisted living records and reports, and we compiled tips to help you in your search.
States with the most transparent records allow you to look up important information about each assisted living facility online, including inspections, complaints, survey results, violations, capacity, and whether the facility accepts Medicaid.
Public access to assisted living records and reports for the state of New Mexico is basic. Key findings that informed this rating include:
We developed a standard methodology for state data collection and evaluation, and we based our rating primarily on the objective, state-specific accessibility criteria outlined in these questions:
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Human Services Department. Centennial Care overview.
New Mexico Administrative Code. (2010, January 15). Title 7, Chapter 8, Part 2: Assisted Living Facilities for Adults.
Overview of assisted living in NM
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
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