Assisted Living in Mississippi
With nearly 16% of its population aged 65 and older, Mississippi is home to over 476,000 seniors, according to the U.S. Census Bureau data. Since 2010, the state has seen an increase in population of around 0.03%. Hot summers and less than an inch of snow in the winter, a low cost of living and property taxes that rank among the lowest in the country make Mississippi an attractive location to retire. Seniors who like getting outdoors can enjoy the All American Rose Garden at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, visit the Mississippi state capitol in Jackson or take a tour of the Biloxi Lighthouse.
According to the 2019 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, assisted living in Mississippi costs an average of $3,524 per month, which is less than the national average of $4,051 per month.
This guide provides additional information on the cost of care for other types of senior assistance programs. It also includes available financial assistance programs and information on the regulations for assisted living facilities within the state.
SeniorAdvice's Guide to Assisted Living in Mississippi
The overall SeniorScore for Mississippi is 68%, which is just slightly lower than the national average of 72%. This rating is based on multiple factors from a variety of sources, private and public, including information on climate, health and safety, finances and general quality of life.
SeniorScore™ for Mississippi
The SeniorScore™ is calculated based on over 100 variables, some of which are shown below. The final score is curved based on a linear curving method. For More info visit senioradvice.com/seniorscore.
- Mississippi's SeniorScore™ of 68 is lower than the national average of 72.
- Mississippi has average access to Medicare registered healthcare providers.
- Mississippi has an average number of hospitals within the state.
- Mississippi has an average number of senior living facilities within the state.
- Mississippi has a low number of home healthcare providers operating in the state.
- The average life expectancy in Mississippi is 75.0, compared to the national average of 78.6.
- Mississippi has a very high overall property crime rate compared to national averages.
- Mississippi has a high overall violent crime rate compared to national averages.
- 26% of the population in Mississippi are seniors, compared to 29% nationally.
- Mississippi has 145 golf courses in the state.
- Mississippi has a high number of municipal parks throughout the state.
- Mississippi has 1,291 churches in the state.
- The property taxes average 1.43% of total income in Mississippi, which is significantly lower than the national average of 2.79%.
- The property taxes average 0.68% of property value in Mississippi, which is significantly lower than the national average of 1.09%.
- The average sales tax in Mississippi is 7.50%, which is higher than the national average of 6.97%.
- The average state income tax in Mississippi is 3.87%, which is significantly higher than the national average of 3.38%.
- The mean household income in Mississippi is $53,473, which is significantly lower than the national average of $64,580.
- Mississippi's median household income is $40,256, which is significantly lower than the national average of $51,560.
- The average per capita income in Mississippi is $20,567, which is significantly lower than the national average of $25,611.
- Assisted living costs in Mississippi average $36,347 per year, which are significantly lower than the national average of $42,700.
- Nursing home costs in Mississippi average $79,389 per year, which are significantly lower than the national average of $92,481.
- Costs for adult daycare in Mississippi average $10,911 per year, which are significantly lower than the national average of $17,931.
- Costs for home healthcare in Mississippi average $39,336 per year, which are significantly lower than the national average of $46,197.
- The unemployment rate is about 10.18% in Mississippi, which is significantly higher than then national rate of 8.26%.
- The overall cost of living in Mississippi is low compared to national averages.
- 1.71% of the senior population in Mississippi are financially responsible for at least one grandchild.
- Mississippi receives an average of 57.8 inches of rain per year.
- Mississippi has an average annual temperature of 63.7 degrees fahrenheit.
- Mississippi has an average low temperature of 52.2 degrees fahrenheit.
- Mississippi has an average high temperature of 74.3 degrees fahrenheit.
- Mississippi has an average population density of 294 people per square mile.
- Mississippi has a very low public school quality ranking.
- Mississippi has a very high public school safety ranking.
- Mississippi has a low graduation rate of 80.43%.
Compared to Louisiana, Alabama and Tennessee, the SeniorScore in Mississippi> is slightly lower than those surrounding states, which are 73%, 72% and 71%, respectively. Mild winters and hot summers make the state an ideal place to retire for seniors who are sensitive to the cold. The state also has a high public safety rating, which may be a comfort to active seniors who enjoy running errands or adventuring into cities for daily outings.
Upon reaching the age of 65, seniors may enjoy a bonus property tax exemption, and there's no state income tax for seniors with earnings from investments, retirement or part-time employment. This may make it easier for those in assisted living facilities to pay necessary bills or save money.
Seniors who enjoy getting outdoors and scheduled group outings may enjoy a large number of municipal parks, over 140 golf courses and over 1,200 churches within the state. This provides mobile seniors in assisted living communities with plenty of opportunities for extracurricular activities.
Top Assisted Living Facilities in Mississippi
Located at 1530 Broad Ave in Gulfport, Mississippi, The Boyington Health and Rehabilitation is a 180 unit skilled nursing facility. The encompassing area is heavily populated, with roughly 23,000 residents in the zip code of 39501. It is ...
Trinity Mission Health and Rehab of Great Oaks is a 60 unit nursing facility situated in Byhalia, Mississippi. The surrounding area has an average population density, with roughly 18,000 individuals residing in the zip code of 38611. It ...
Oasis Health and Rehab of Yazoo City is located at 925 Calhoun Ave in Yazoo City, Mississippi. It is a 180 room nursing home facility. The facility is in a generally low income area, with a median family ...
Winona Manor Health Care and Rehabilitation Center is located at 627 Middleton Rd in Winona, Mississippi. It is a 120 bed nursing facility. The neighboring area has an average population density, with approximately 9,000 residents in the 38967 ...
Heritage House Nursing Center is located at 3103 Wisconsin Ave in Vicksburg, Mississippi. It is a 60 unit nursing home facility. The surrounding area has a dense population, with around 34,000 individuals living in the 39180 zip code. ...
Manhattan Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is a 180 bed nursing care facility. It is located within the Broadmoor neighborhood of Jackson, Mississippi. The community is in a generally middle class area, with a median per-household income of $38,257. ...
Woodland Village Nursing Center is a 132 bed nursing facility. It is located at 5427 Gex Rd in Diamondhead, Mississippi. The neighboring area has a medium-density population, with about 9,000 individuals living in the zip code of 39525. ...
Located at 81 Windsor Blvd in Columbus, Mississippi, The Windsor Place Skilled-Nursing Center is a 140 unit nursing facility. The facility is in a predominantly middle income area, with an average per-household income of $39,653. With roughly 24,000 ...
Neshoba County General Hospital - Nursing Home is located at 1001 Holland Ave in Philadelphia, Mississippi. It is a 160 room nursing facility. The community is in a largely low income area, with a median per-family income of ...
Dixie White House Health and Rehabilitation Center is a 60 bed nursing home facility situated in Pass Christian, Mississippi. The surrounding area has a medium-density population, with about 14,000 individuals living in the zip code of 39571. It ...
Floy Dyer Manor Nursing Home is a 66 unit skilled nursing facility. It is located at 1000 East Madison in Houston, Mississippi. The encompassing area has an average population density, with approximately 9,000 poeple living in the zip ...
Camellia Estates is a 48 room senior housing community located in Mccomb, Mississippi. The community is in a mostly lower income area, with an average per-household income of $28,673. With approximately 23,000 individuals living in the zip code ...
Cedars Health Center is a 140 room nursing care facility. It is located at 2800 West Main St in Tupelo, Mississippi. With roughly 31,000 poeple living in the 38801 zip code, the neighboring area has a dense population. ...
Located at 210 Roberts Ave, Chapman Oaks is a senior housing community serving Long Beach, Mississippi. The facility is in a largely middle income area, with a median family income of $50,265. It has a medium-density population, with ...
Located at 902 Sgt John A Pittman Dr in Greenwood, Mississippi, Crystal Health and Rehab of Greenwood is a 110 room nursing care facility. The neighboring area has a dense population, with approximately 26,000 individuals living in the zip ...
Located at 804 East Main St in West Point, Mississippi, Dugan Memorial Home is a 60 bed senior care facility. The facility is in a generally low income area, with an average family income of $30,578. It has ...
Bedford Care Center of Newton is a 120 unit senior care facility situated in Newton, Mississippi. The community is in a primarily lower income area, with a median household income of $32,538. It is sparsely populated, with about ...
Amelia's Garden is located at 145 Mill Street Ext in Lucedale, Mississippi. It is a 15 bed senior care community. With about 28,000 poeple living in the 39452 zip code, the neighboring area is densely populated. It ...
Bedford Care Center of Mendenhall is located at 925 West Mangum Ave in Mendenhall, Mississippi. It is a 60 unit senior housing facility. With a median family income of $39,000, the community is in a largely middle income ...
Bedford Care Center of Petal is a 60 unit senior housing community. It is located at 908 S George St in Petal, Mississippi. The neighboring area has a dense population, with about 22,000 residents in the 39465 zip ...
The Cost of Assisted Living in Mississippi
Mississippi has affordable rates on assisted living, with an average monthly cost of around $3,524. This is lower than the national average of $4,051 and lower than the neighboring states of Tennessee, which costs about $3,900 per month, and Louisiana, which is approximately $3,650 per month. Two states, Alabama and Florida, are slightly more affordable, with monthly rates of $3,250 and $3,500, respectively.
- Mississippi: $3,524
- Alabama: $3,250
- Louisiana: $3.650
- Tennessee: $3,900
- Florida: $3,500
- United States: $4,051
The Cost of Assisted Living in Mississippi's Top Cities
Two top cities in the state, Jackson and Southaven, had comparable monthly assisted living costs in 2019. Jackson costs around $4,163 per month and is one of the most expensive in the state. Southhaven is only slightly less at $4,113 per month. Gulfport and Biloxi both cost $3,650 per month, while Hattiesburg is one of the least expensive cities, with assisted living costs of around $3,575.
- Jackson: $4,163
- Gulfport: $3,650
- Southhaven: $4,113
- Hattiesburg: $3,575
- Biloxi: $3,650
Senior Care Cost Comparison in Mississippi
The United States and the state of Mississippi have five main types of senior care. The least expensive of these options is adult day care. In Mississippi, adult day care costs around $1,398 per month. Nursing homes provide the most extensive level of care, costing approximately $6,844 per month. In-home care and home health care have similar costs of around $3,432 per month and $3,527 per month, and assisted living costs around the same, with average monthly fees of $3,524.
- Assisted Living: $3,524
- In-Home Care: $3,432
- Home Health Care: $3,527
- Adult Day Care: $1,398
- Nursing Home Care: $6,844
Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Mississippi
Mississippi 1915(c) HCBS Waiver
Address: 500 High Street, Suite 1000, Jackson, MS 39201
Phone Number: (800) 421-2408
Website: https://medicaid.ms.gov/programs/elderly-and-disabled-waiver/
The 1915(c) waiver offers seniors home and community-based services so that they can avoid more institutionalized care in a nursing home. Care may include adult day health care, home-delivered meals, in-home respite care, personal care services, physical therapy and assisted living. Only a select number of slots are available for enrollment. Once placement is full, the remaining applicants are put on a waiting list.
To qualify, seniors 65 and older must receive SSI, be eligible for long-term services and require a nursing facility level of care if assistance is not provided. This care need must be certified by a physician every 12 months. The monthly income limit for the Elderly and Disabled waiver in 2020 is $2,349 per month for singles. If married and only one spouse applies, the maximum monthly income for the non-applicant spouse is $3,216.
Long-Term Care Insurance
Address: Mississippi Insurance Department, PO Box 79, Jackson, MS 36205
Phone Number: (800) 562-2957
Website: https://www.mid.ms.gov/consumers/long-term-care-insurance.aspx
Long-term care insurance is provided by many insurance companies to help pay for an assisted living facility or home care. To receive benefits, insurance holders should check with their health insurance company and provide details on the community they've selected. Most policies have an elimination period — the number of days a person must stay in the facility before the benefits start. Many policies require that the recipient perform a given number of daily activities, like bathing and dressing, without assistance.
Mississippi Assisted Living Rules and Regulations
Assisted living in Mississippi is regulated by the Mississippi State Department of Health. There are two types of personal care homes, assisted living and residential living. Residential living communities are for seniors who can't live independently; assisted living facilities are for those who can. The rules and regulations for both types of facilities are outlined in Section 43-11-13 of the Mississippi Code 1972.
Scope of Care | In the state of Mississippi, assisted living facilities must operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and help seniors who need assistance with daily living. These facilities may provide personal care with grooming, laundry and transportation and can plan social activities or outings for residents. |
Care Plan Requirements | Residents must have a complete examination by a licensed physician, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner within 30 days prior to admission. The information obtained during this exam helps determine the plan of action to care for the physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs of the patient. This exam must be repeated on an annual basis. |
Medication Management | Patients who can self-administer may be given medications by qualified staff members who also provide them with a drink to swallow the pills. In the state of Mississippi, only a licensed nurse may administer medications to patients who can't self-administer their prescriptions. |
Staff Requirements | Assisted living facilities in Mississippi must have a full-time operator who takes care of the daily operations on staff at all times. A licensed nurse must be in the facility for at least eight hours each day to check on patients and to administer medications. For facilities with 15 or fewer residents, there must be at least one staff member on call between the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For facilities with 25 or fewer residents, there must be at least one staff member on call at all times. |
Staff Training Requirements | Staff members must receive at least two consecutive days of training with a licensed agency in order to assist patients. Staff members who provide direct care must receive training quarterly on assisted living. Employees must also undergo a criminal background check with fingerprinting and must submit a statement that says they have never been placed on the Nurses' Aide Abuse Registry. |
Medicaid Coverage | The 1915(c) waiver is the Medicaid waiver used to cover personal care services. Medicaid is currently unable to assist with room and board. |
Reporting Abuse | All assisted living employees are considered mandated reporters. If they see or suspect neglect, elder abuse or exploitation, they are required to report it to Adult Protective Services. APS is a service provided by the Mississippi Department of Human Services. |
Free Assisted Living Resources in Mississippi
Operated by the Mississippi Department of Human Services and provided through regional Area Agency on Aging Offices, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman serves as an advocate for residents in all long-term care facilities, including assisted living communities and nursing homes. The program investigates complaints and answers questions concerning individuals' rights while in long-term care. It also helps improve quality of life by promoting program policies and consumer protections, and it recommends changes in laws and regulations.
Contact: For more information, call (601) 359-4929 or check out a list of local offices and contacts.
SHIP helps provide answers to seniors' eligibility questions regarding Medicare Part D, long-term care, health care issues and benefits. SHIP counselors are available to help seniors understand existing Medicare benefits and explore the available health care options to protect them from spending too much money on medical care and prescriptions. All counselors are highly trained volunteers who ensure seniors can maximize their health benefits.
Contact: For more information on the Mississippi SHIP program, contact (844) 822-4622 or visit the website to request additional information.
Mississippi Agencies
Area Agencies on Aging in Mississippi
A division of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, the Area Agencies on Aging in Mississippi provide outreach and programs for the elderly throughout the state. Some of these programs include skilled nursing services, an emergency response system, home-delivered meals, adult day programs and caregiver education. The AAA partners with senior centers, community action programs and adult day centers to help seniors who need assistance. Among the services offered, staff members at the AAA can help seniors apply for Medicaid waivers and to receive other benefits within the state.
Each district within the state has its own agency. To locate the nearest agency and to learn how to apply for assistance, contact (601) 359-4929 or browse the directory for more details.
Veterans Affairs Offices in Mississippi
The Veterans Affairs offices in Mississippi provide veterans and their families with monthly pensions. The VA also helps its members transition out of military services and assists with education, home loans and health and life insurance. For assisted living, the VA doesn't pay for room and board in a facility, but it can pay for basic services and extra care, including assistance with activities of daily living and a nurse. The VA can also help veterans in assisted living by arranging for a health professional to provide weekly visits for additional care.
Contact the Mississippi VA at (601) 576-4850 or view the list of facilities by county. Veterans can also contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to locate the closest facility within the state at (800) 273-8255.
Social Security Offices in Mississippi
The U.S. Social Security Administration is a government agency that helps administer and provide information on multiple social programs involving retirement, survivors' benefits and disability. The agency also distributes monthly Supplemental Security Income benefits to Americans 65 and older who meet income and resource limits. Programs like the 1915(c) waiver rely on SSI eligibility, so filing for benefits is important for those seeking help with assisted living. The Mississippi area of the Social Security Administration covers all major cities within the state.
For questions involving eligibility or for claims information, contact the SSA toll-free number at (800) 772-1213. For free TDD service, contact (800) 325-0778, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Other Cities in Mississippi