14th
OVERALL STATE RANK
Assisted living in Ohio provides long-term residential living in a community setting, with care services tailored to meet the varied needs of residents. The average cost of assisted living in Ohio is $4,926 per month according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. Whether you want to be near the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland or love the unique chili of Cincinnati, assisted living communities in the Buckeye State offer a variety of activities for independent and active seniors, but also provide support with activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing, and eating.
State scorecard
How we determine rankings
Our 2023 state ranking for assisted living uses A Place for Mom’s proprietary data collected from our community partners. First, we sorted through our metrics and grouped them into three pillars that are key in a quality assisted living experience. We weighted these pillars differently based on insights from our senior living experts. Then, we used these categories and their weighting to determine how each state ranks.
Top ranked Ohio cities for assisted living overall
Key findings
State highlights
Over 80% of our partner communities employ an activities director to plan senior friendly events and activities to help residents maintain a healthy social life. And if you own a car, you never have to worry about finding a spot to park because 90% of our Ohio partner communities also provide resident parking.
Top ranked Ohio cities - Services & Amenities
Key findings
Ohio vs. the national monthly median cost of assisted living
Top ranked Ohio cities - Affordability
Key findings
Top ranked Ohio cities - Ratings
5 stars! I love the fact that he's in a home environment, much like the home he came from. The staff members are kind and patient with my loved one and answers any questions that I might have when I come to...
What means the most to me is the peace of mind. I no longer have to worry if he is safe, lonely, or remembering to take his medication. I know the staff at Kessler make sure all of his needs are met daily.
I am a friend of a family member that resides at Oakley Place and I could not be happier with the love and care she receives. It is hard to trust people now adays and I know without a doubt that she is...
Coming into this facility, it allows an individual to feel like home when they’re in the presence of a great team from front to back. Excellent care plans put together as well as staffing appropriately with...
Everyone is friendly and accommodating with my brother. They are very responsive. The food and cleaning staff are excellent. I would absolutely recommend them to others who are searching for a community.
[name removed] was wonderful to work with in coordinating my mom's move. The front desk staff are all so kind and helpful. I truly do not have anything negative to report about Summit Point. The one bed one...
Coming into this facility, it allows an individual to feel like home when they’re in the presence of a great team from front to back. Excellent care plans put together as well as staffing appropriately with...
Everyone is friendly and accommodating with my brother. They are very responsive. The food and cleaning staff are excellent. I would absolutely recommend them to others who are searching for a community.
[name removed] was wonderful to work with in coordinating my mom's move. The front desk staff are all so kind and helpful. I truly do not have anything negative to report about Summit Point. The one bed one...
It is called 'The beautiful white house" bc it is inside & outside. You really need to take a tour to see for yourself. It is clean, neat, & tastefully decorated for holidays & seasonal changes. They are...
The facility is beautiful and makes you feel almost like you're staying in a resort or nice suite hotel that is laid out on a single ground floor. If you didn't know, you could barely tell this is an...
Just some hiccups with scheduling tours and assessments. They are very responsive to providing information and answering questions.
Facility is gorgeous and has nice outside areas. And very clean. All staff seem happy and helpful. Lots of activities and events.
Everyone is very nice and have been accommodating. They serve too much food that most seniors can't eat, so they waste a lot. But the food is good for the most part. My mom says too many carrots. Always have...
My mother needed a lot of assistance and was reluctant to move around. The staff was excellent in helping her with hygiene and getting her to take part in some of the activities outside her room.
Assisted living in Ohio costs on average $4,926 per month or $59,112 per year. This is slightly more expensive than the national average of $4,743 and reflects the room and board rates at A Place for Mom’s partner communities in the state. Assisted living costs vary and are affected by several factors including location, services, and amenities offered, as well as specific care needs.
Assisted living in Ohio is more expensive on average than in neighboring states, such as West Virgina, Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan. Seniors can find savings throughout the state as well. Communities located in larger cities like Cincinnati or Columbus charge more than those in Cleveland, Akron, and Dayton.
Seniors who need a higher level of care won’t have to pay too much more for memory care in Ohio. On average, this type of care for seniors living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia costs only $13 more per month than assisted living.
Read more:Assisted Living vs. Memory Care: 5 Key Differences
Average monthly costs
Ohio
US National average
Average monthly costs
Average monthly costs
Average monthly costs
| Community type | Ohio | U.S. | Cost difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assisted Living | $4,942/mo | $4,752/mo | 4.0% above national median |
| Memory Care | $4,957/mo | $5,015/mo | 1.2% below national median |
| Independent Living | $4,032/mo | $4,211/mo | 4.3% below national median |
Let our care assessment guide you
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
In Ohio, most families use a combination of private funds and public programs to cover the costs associated with assisted living. Because costs and eligibility can vary widely, it’s best to plan early to understand which payment options apply to your loved one’s situation. For an in-depth look at different payment options, visit our complete guide to paying for long-term care.
Private pay is the most common way for families in Ohio to pay for assisted living and options include money from the sale of a home, personal savings, and payments from a pension or retirement account.
Read more: Social Security Benefits Can Be Used to Pay for Assisted Living
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers several benefit programs that may help with the cost of assisted living for eligible veterans and their surviving spouses. Sifting through eligibility requirements and applying for benefits can be complicated and time consuming, so it’s a good idea to seek help from an accredited benefits counselor. Ohio’s Department of Veterans Services employs veterans service officers (VSOs) throughout the state who can help. Find a local office or call 614-644-0898.
Medicaid is a program that’s jointly funded by the state and federal governments and designed to support people who have low incomes. Ohio Medicaid doesn’t pay for room and board in an assisted living community, but it does cover some personal and health care expenses. Ohio’s Medicaid program supports assisted living in several ways: through the state’s standard Medicaid plan for aged, blind, and disabled residents; a managed care program called MyCare Ohio; and a home and community-based services waiver. Coverage varies, but typically includes:
The Aged, Blind, and Disabled Medicaid Program in Ohio is an entitlement, meaning all eligible residents qualify for assistance. The Assisted Living Medicaid Waiver Program, however, isn’t guaranteed and may have limited availability.
If you or your loved one has questions about, or needs help with, Ohio’s Medicaid program, contact a local Job and Family Services office or call 800-324-8680.
Medicare is federal health insurance for people 65 or older and younger people with certain conditions. Medicare will cover medically necessary services, such as doctors’ visits, procedures, and certain rehabilitative therapies, but it won’t cover room and board in assisted living communities.[05]
The Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) provides free information and counseling to help seniors understand and choose the Medicare insurance plan that fits their needs. Volunteers can answer questions about a variety of Medicare and Medicaid related topics. Contact the OSHIIP hotline at 800-686-1578.
Assisted living communities in Ohio are licensed by the Ohio Department of Health and are referred to as residential care facilities (RCFs). Two categories of RCFs operate under the same license. Both provide accommodations, supervision, and care to their residents, but smaller RCFs, who care for three or more residents, may also provide skilled nursing care to at least one of those residents. [06] Larger communities of 17 or more residents don’t provide skilled nursing care.
RCFs may also offer what are known as special care units, which provide care to residents who have late-stage cognitive impairments with significant ongoing daily living assistance needs, cognitive impairments with increased emotional needs or presenting behaviors that cause problems for the resident or other residents, or serious mental illness.[06]
Assisted living communities must adhere to building, staffing, and service regulations, and are required to renew their license annually. The Ohio Department of Health inspects facilities every nine to 15 months and ensures compliance with state laws and regulations.
Use the Ohio Health Care Provider Search tool to find a facility’s current licensure status. To understand how a community has performed in its site surveys, or inspections, request a report directly from the community or contact the Ohio Department of Health at 614-752-9524 to request a copy.
State regulations — and a community’s track record with inspections and licensing — offer important insights into safety and quality of care in senior living communities.
Download the Guide to Senior Living Licensure and Inspection Reports to learn what to look for in inspection reports and what questions to ask when touring communities. This resource explains how to use state licensure and inspection information to evaluate a community’s compliance, care standards, and responsiveness to issues.
Let our care assessment guide you
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
A Place for Mom. (2026). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Ohio Department of Medicaid. Aged, blind or disabled (ABD) Medicaid.
Ohio Department of Aging. Assisted Living Medicaid Waiver Program.
Ohio Department of Aging. MyCare Ohio.
U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Get started with Medicare. Medicare.gov.
The Ohio Legislature. (2024, July 12). Ohio Administrative Code: Chapter 3701-16: Residential care facility.
Assisted living state rankings report
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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