Benchmark Senior Living Review and Costs in 2025
Benchmark Senior Living has a large network of quality communities in the northeastern U.S.
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Benchmark Senior Living is one of the largest networks of senior living communities in the northeastern United States. Though there are companies with far more locations across the country, such as Atria Senior Living, Benchmark has established itself as a leader in senior community care in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Vermont. Founded in 1997, Benchmark has expanded its network to 66+ locations while still providing upwards of 80 full-time staff members per community.
Today, thousands of families depend on Benchmark Senior Living to provide comprehensive, affordable services for seniors and retirees. Resident and family testimonials commend the company for its thoughtful caregivers, excellent communication between staff and families, and beautiful, clean facilities. In this guide to Benchmark Senior Living, we’ll cover the types of care and programs offered, amenities, costs, locations, and more!
Pros About Benchmark Senior Living
- Company-wide focus on individualized care and attention
- High employee-to-patient ratio
- Highly competitive pricing structure
- Several types of care offered
- Veterans and their spouses can use VA benefits to partially pay for care
Cons About Benchmark Senior Living
- Limited to the Northeast
- Quality of care may vary by location
- Most accommodations are private pay
Did You Know? There are over 30,000 assisted living communities in the U.S, but less than 9 percent of them are located in the Northeast.1
Types of Care
Benchmark memory care
Benchmark Senior Living offers six primary types of care. There is a certain degree of crossover between each type. Many residents and patients will need to transition from one type of care to another over time. If you’re not sure what you or your loved one needs, Benchmark Senior Living can provide you with both medical professionals and financial mentors who can help you determine the best type. Here is a breakdown of what each type of care offers:
- Assisted living: Benchmark has five different levels of assisted living care, ranging from Level 1, for people who primarily need reminders and little or no physical assistance, to Level 5, for people who need full physical assistance with all or most daily tasks.
- Mind and memory care: Like assisted living, Benchmark divides its mind and memory care patients into five levels based on their needs. Mind and memory care is focused on reminders and mental stimulation, with little or no physical assistance. This care can be implemented in assisted living and independent living communities.
- Independent living: Benchmark Senior Living offers light assisted care for those who need a little help, but prefer to live independently (minimal help with daily tasks). The primary benefit of Benchmark’s independent living is the freedom it gives older adults, while also providing a social community with access to features like fitness activities, free transportation, and award-winning dining facilities.
- Short-term respite care: Benchmark’s respite care offers most of the same services provided through other types of care on this list, but is designed for short-term patients. You or your loved one might benefit from short-term respite care after a medical incident. You may also use this option if you want to try out senior living, prior to making a long-term commitment. Caregivers who need to take a break also benefit from respite care.
- Continuing care retirement communities: Benchmark’s continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) give older adults care that adapts to their changing needs. This gives seniors peace of mind knowing that they will always be provided with the best possible care, even as their condition or circumstances change.
- Skilled nursing: Similar to respite care, skilled nursing care is designed to provide short-term care to people who may have experienced an accident, surgery, or a significant medical procedure and need round-the-clock help. Skilled nursing care is more intensive, with 24/7 care provided by medical professionals.
Want to learn more about the different types of senior living to learn which option is right for you? Watch our video below.
Our free housing and care finder uses your unique needs to curate a list of the best options in your area.
Benchmark Amenities and Services
Benchmark activities
Like most assisted living facilities, such as Brookdale Senior Living, Benchmark offers an extensive list of amenities and services at all of its residential communities to meet seniors’ social, medical, wellness, and safety needs.
Pro Tip: Benchmark offers some of the most comprehensive amenities packages under its standard plans, which means that you can still access all of the same benefits without spending a fortune.
Communal
- 24-hour emergency management
- Activity and games lounge
- Hair salons
- Library and computer stations
- Parking for residents and guests
- Controlled access entry
Residence
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher and garbage disposal
- Wheelchair access
- Window coverings
- Cable-ready residences
- Housekeeping and laundry services
Dining
- Award-winning chefs
- Fresh ingredients and seasonal menus
- All-day dining and snacks
- Private dining rooms
- Outdoor dining areas
Health and Wellness
- Fitness centers
- Guided yoga, tai chi, and pet therapy programs
- Medical suites with supportive care
- Outdoor walking paths
Concierge
- Help scheduling transportation, appointments, and more
- Outings to neighborhood events, shopping, and attractions
- Technology workshops
Activities and Events
Benchmark Senior Living aims to provide a wide range of activities and events to accommodate all of its patients and residents. These activities include:
Health Activities
- Tai chi classes
- Barre classes
- Chair and traditional yoga
- Dancing
- Stretching classes
Educational Activities and Events
- Learning seminars
- Volunteer opportunities
- Therapeutic gardening
- Intergenerational programs
- Religious services
Personalized Activities and Events
- Benchmark Dream Now to help residents check things off their bucket lists
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Brain in Play activities
- Virtual reality activities
- Eversound audio programs
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Benchmark Senior Living Cost
Benchmark costs
Unlike some of its competitors, Benchmark uses an à la carte pricing structure for many of its services. This allows seniors and their families to choose exactly what kind of services and care they want and can afford. While standard pricing can vary by location, there are a few services that stay the same across the board:
| Type of care plan | Daily cost | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $38 | Minimal assisted care |
| Level 1 | $75 | Some assisted care; primarily reminders |
| Level 2 | $115 | Moderate physical care with daily tasks |
| Level 3 | $165 | Comprehensive physical care with daily tasks |
There are also additional costs based on medication needs.
| Type of medication management plan | Daily cost | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $33 | Medication administration; up to 2x daily |
| Level 2 | $38 | Medication administration; up to 3x daily |
| Level 3 | $48 | Medication administration; up to 4x daily |
Many companies, such as Oakmont Senior Living, do not offer price estimates online, so we appreciate Benchmark’s pricing transparency. Benchmark resident and family reviews also often mention getting great value for the amount of money spent.
How to Pay for Benchmark Senior Living
It’s important to note that Medicare or Medicaid may temporarily cover a portion of the costs of skilled nursing care after you have a qualified inpatient hospital stay.2 Room and board at independent living, assisted living, and continuing care retirement communities are not covered by Original (traditional) Medicare, although medical services you receive there are typically covered. In some instances, a portion of the mind and memory care services received in an assisted living care facility may be covered by Medicare3 Medicaid, which is jointly run by the Federal and state governments, may provide more coverage than Medicare does for the services provided at assisted living facilities. Coverage varies by state, but rarely includes room and board.4
Pro Tip: Health insurance, including some Medicare Advantage plans, may pay for some of the costs of Benchmark Senior Living’s services and housing. You should, however, plan on paying a portion of the costs, especially if you choose services beyond the minimum or “standard” level.
If you have long-term care insurance, you may receive coverage for some or all of the costs incurred at an assisted living care facility. As mentioned above, Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage (Part C) will pay for certain services you get within an assisted living facility, like fitness or medical costs.
Did You Know? Long-term care insurance costs vary considerably, and may increase as you age. Your gender, state of residence, and health conditions can all impact upon cost.5
Benchmark Senior Living Locations
As previously mentioned, Benchmark has communities and services in multiple states throughout the Northeast. You can find Brookdale locations in:
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington, DC
- Soon to open in New Jersey
Benchmark Senior Living vs. the Competition
There are many senior living facilities throughout the U.S. Choosing the right one for you or loved one takes planning and research. Your needs,location, budget, and insurance coverage may all play a role in your choice. Here’s how Benchmark stacks up against several other assisted living providers.
| Benchmark Senior Living | Atria Senior Living | Brookdale Senior Living | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Locations | Northeast U.S. | Westchester County, New York | Nationwide |
| Levels of care offered | Assisted living, independent living, mind and memory care, respite care, continuing care retirement communities, skilled nursing care. | Independent living, assisted living, memory care, short-term care. | Independent living, memory care, skilled nursing care. |
| Availability of onsite medical services | Doctors are on call, rather than onsite. Onsite skilled nursing care, and healthcare services and amenities are available. | Licensed nurses are onsite; doctors are available via telehealth. | Licensed nurses are onsite; facilitation is provided for residents to be seen by external healthcare providers, including doctors. |
Our Methodology
To learn about Benchmark Senior Living, we researched them extensively online. We also compared them to similar types of competitors, to get a sense of how their services and reputation stack up against the competition.
- Online reputation: Benchmark has a significant body of positive reviews from people who have used their services as well as from people who have worked there. However, they have a low Better Business Bureau rating of F. This is due to the fact that they did not respond to two complaints filed against their business. However, to our knowledge, these two Better Business Bureau complaints were the only ones logged over the course of 27 years. In our book, that’s a pretty good track record.
- Services provided: Benchmark offers a wide range of important services and amenities, including help with activities of daily living (ADL), health and wellness services, plus socialization opportunities, memory care, and skilled nursing. They don’t have staff doctors on the premises, but they do make arrangements, as needed, for residents to acquire medical support.
- Levels of care: Benchmark provides the full spectrum of care levels, from independent living to skilled nursing and memory care. Many seniors will require escalating levels of support over the course of their tenure in a facility. We like that Benchmark has structured their residences with the ever-changing needs of seniors in mind.
- Cost: Unlike most of their competitors, Benchmark provides a layer of transparency to their cost structure by publishing some of their costs online. This can be highly beneficial to many seniors and their loved ones who are researching and planning next steps.
Final Thoughts on Benchmark Senior Living
Benchmark Senior Living was built on the idea of providing customized care to each patient or resident, and it maintains its own high “benchmark” to this day. While it does not have communities nationwide, Benchmark does have ample coverage in the northeastern United States. Its qualified staff, varied services, and “patient first” mentality help make it one of the best options on the market. Lastly, the unique pay structure makes it easier for seniors on a budget to only pay for the care they want or need.
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Facts & Figures. https://www.ahcancal.org/Assisted-Living/Facts-and-Figures/Pages/default.aspx
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Skilled nursing facility care. https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/skilled-nursing-facility-care
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Does Medicare cover memory care? A comprehensive guide. https://www.ncoa.org/article/does-medicare-cover-memory-care-a-comprehensive-guide/
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Does Medicaid pay for assisted living? https://www.ncoa.org/article/does-medicaid-pay-for-assisted-living/
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What is the cost of long-term care insurance? https://www.forbes.com/advisor/life-insurance/long-term-care-insurance-cost/