Assisted Living in Wisconsin

Assisted living communities in Wisconsin provide residential care for older adults who need help with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, and grooming, while maintaining as much independence as possible. The average monthly cost of assisted living in Wisconsin is $4,424, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. Across the state, from Madison to Bayfield, families can find communities that offer supportive care, engaging activities, and a strong sense of community, alongside access to Wisconsin’s lakes, parks, and local traditions.

The average cost of assisted living in Wisconsin is $4,424 per month or $54,088 per year, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data.^[01] This is about $330 less per month than the national average and includes room and board at our partner communities in the state. Location, level of care, offered amenities, and other factors can affect the total cost of assisted living.

In terms of cost, Wisconsin’s assisted living communities are comparable to those of its neighbors. Communities in Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota tend to charge more, while those in Minnesota and Michigan charge less. Within the state, the monthly cost for communities located in the urban centers of Milwaukee and Madison is usually higher than the state’s average. In more suburban or rural locations, such as Beaver Dam or Baraboo, the cost of assisted living tends to be lower.

Memory care in Wisconsin costs more than assisted living, but for seniors living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, it may be the best care choice.

Read more:Assisted Living vs. Memory Care: 5 Key Differences

In Wisconsin, families often rely on a mix of private funds and public programs to pay for assisted living. Costs and eligibility can vary, so it’s helpful to plan ahead and understand which options may apply to your loved one’s situation. For more details, explore our guide to paying for long-term care.

Private pay options

Private pay options are the most common way that families in Wisconsin cover the costs of assisted living. These options include personal savings and retirement accounts, Social Security benefits, funds from family, and other sources. A health savings account can help pay for medical expenses, and long-term care insurance can help cover custodial costs, such as help with activities of daily living (ADLs).

VA benefits

Senior veterans and their surviving spouses may be eligible for veterans benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that can help pay for assisted living. Because the process of applying for VA benefits can be complex, engaging an accredited veterans benefits counselor to help determine eligibility and complete applications can ensure your loved one is considered for all the benefits to which they’re entitled.

The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs operates county-based veterans service offices in each of the state’s counties and tribal nations. Call 800-947-8387 or locate a nearby benefits counselor who can provide personalized help.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a program that’s funded and administered by the federal and state governments and designed to help people who have low incomes and certain disabilities and conditions cover health care costs. Wisconsin Medicaid won’t pay for the room and board costs of assisted living, but it may help pay for some services and products that seniors in assisted living need.^[02]

In Wisconsin, seniors may qualify for Supplemental Social Security Income (SSI)-based Medicaid or Elderly, Blind or Disabled Medicaid. These programs can help cover certain medical expenses such as dental services, skilled nursing home services, hospice care, inpatient hospital services, labs and X-rays, and more. These programs are entitlements, so seniors who meet eligibility requirements don’t have to wait to receive benefits.^[03,04]

Wisconsin also offers several home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers, which can offset the cost of certain services:^[05]

• Family Care. The Family Care waiver program covers such services as personal care assistance, homemaker services, care coordination, and more. Although it’s a waiver program, Family Care doesn’t have wait lists.^[06]
• Include, Respect, I Self-Direct (IRIS). The IRIS waiver program offsets the cost of long-term care services by providing participants with a self-directed budget rather than a fixed set of benefits. Covered services include but aren’t limited to personal care assistance, homemaker services, and respite care. IRIS is an entitlement program, so there are no wait lists.^[07]

Medicare

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for seniors over 65 and people with certain conditions. Medicare won’t cover room and board at an assisted living community, but it can help pay for the medically necessary aspects of care such as doctor’s visits, hospital stays, surgery, physical and occupational therapy, and durable medical equipment.^[08]

The Wisconsin State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers Medicare counseling for eligibility, enrollment, and plan options, including help with Wisconsin’s various state programs. For free, unbiased, and personalized guidance:

• Call 800-242-1060
• Email: BOALTCMedigap@wisconsin.gov
• Find a local benefit counselor

Assisted living communities in Wisconsin are licensed through the state’s Bureau of Assisted Living, which is part of the Department of Health Services’ Division of Quality Assurance. Wisconsin recognizes three types of residential community settings for assisted living:^[09]

• Community-based residential facilities (CBRFs) provide care and services, including up to three hours of nursing care per week, to five or more seniors who don’t need more than an intermediate level of nursing care.^[10]
• Residential care apartment complexes (RCAC) offer an apartment to each resident and are permitted to provide up to 28 hours of assistance per week per resident.^[11]
• Adult family homes (AFH) are private residences where three or four seniors live together and may receive care, treatment, or services, including up to seven hours of nursing care per week.^[12]

Wisconsin requires assisted living communities to be inspected at licensure and surveyed on an ongoing basis thereafter.^[13]

How to check license status and inspection reports for Wisconsin assisted living facilities

Use the Wisconsin Division of Quality Assurance facility lookup tool to understand a community’s  license status as well as their performance on annual surveys.

Why do licensure and inspection reports matter to families?

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.