Louisiana Senior Living Statistics & Facts

About 1.6 million people in the state of Louisiana are eligible to get senior discounts at their favorite restaurant. In other words, nearly 35 percent of the state’s population is 50 or older. What can demographic, health and economic data teach us about the state of Louisiana’s seniors?

While Louisiana’s median age rose at a higher rate than the nation overall in the past decade, Louisiana remains relatively young. The state has a slightly lower-than-average ratio of seniors, and the median age here of 37.3 is more than a year younger than the overall U.S. median age (38.5).

Louisiana lags the nation in median household income for seniors and the percentage of those 55 and older who remain in the workforce, but the state has a more diverse group of seniors than the average state. Nearly 32 percent of Louisiana’s 60-and-older crowd are people of color, putting the state at No. 11 in the nation.

Louisiana's Senior Living Costs

Boasting a housing index of 89.90, Louisiana is one of the cheaper states to retire in the country. One-bedroom apartments go for $664 a month on average, compared to $825 monthly average nationally. If you need extra room, you can get a two-bedroom apartment for an average of $811 a month (compared to the U.S. average of $1,027 a month).

Compared to the national average, Louisiana has very affordable monthly costs of living for seniors. For example, home health care costs are only around $2,860 a month. Seniors are able to live in their own homes while receiving help from service aides to keep the house clean and complete everyday errands.

Adult day care in Louisiana is reasonably priced too. For roughly $1,354 a month, seniors can stay at a supervised facility during the day and stay socialized while caregivers tend to their other responsibilities. The form of care is not an alternative to a nursing home, so it's best for seniors who are mostly healthy but require some supervision.

Assisted living facilities are available throughout Louisiana for elders who need more help with their everyday tasks. For an average monthly cost of $3,293 a month, loved ones can be assured that their aging loved one will receive the personal care and health services they need at an assisted living facility.

Elders needing 24/7 supervision and care may consider living at a nursing home, where skilled staff provide residents with medication as needed, housing, personal care, supervision, therapies and rehabilitation, and more. While nursing homes can be more costly, they are certainly worth it if senior care becomes too difficult for a family/friend caregiver. In Louisiana, the cost for a semi-private room is roughly $5,171 a month, while a private room is about $5,475 a month.

Louisiana's Senior Living Options

Louisiana's retirees have a number of options to choose from when it comes to senior living: independent living, assisted living, memory care, or nursing home care. Each of these serve different purposes and amenities. Review them below and determine which one will best suit your or your aging loved one's lifestyle.

Independent Living

With more than 70 independent living facilities, there is certainly no shortage of living options to select from in Louisiana. Independent living is ideal for seniors who are active and healthy, and don't need all day and night nursing care. Some elders may prefer to live in a senior apartment community, where they can live amongst people in their age range while enjoying community amenities like walking trails, workout rooms, pools, and more. The average costs of independent living facilities range from $1,127 to $3,168 a month in this state.

Assisted Living

Louisiana is home to more than 190 assisted living facilities throughout the state. Seniors who need attentive caregivers, healthcare, access to local activities, and other social opportunities will make themselves right at home at one of these facilities. Staff members at assisted living facilities work hard to ensure that seniors get the attention and help that they need with duties like housekeeping, laundry, transportation, surveillance, and more.

The average cost of assisted living facilities in the state range from $2,050 to $5,760 depending on a variety of factors like location. If you're looking for the most affordable options, you may want to consider assisted living facilities in and around the Monroe area. The facilities in the Hammond area are the most expensive in Louisiana.

Memory Care

Dementia is an incredibly debilitating and stressful ailment to have, and not only requires specialized care, but also a specially designed facility. Memory care facilities are generally designed to reduce the chances to stress out a senior with dementia, with specially laid out rooms and blocked off exits to prevent wandering. Memory care facilities in Louisiana typically cost $54,918 per year, which is lower than the national average of $60,900. Staff are on hand at all hours of the day and night to help seniors with anything they need, and to help calm down and make sense of where they are, whenever a senior is unable to remember.

Nursing Homes

Louisiana has more than 600 senior living providers, covering all the needs a senior may need, no matter their ailments and level of independence.

Adult daycare centers in Louisiana provide seniors with a safe and social environment, where they can meet other seniors, receive nutritious meals, participate in stimulating activities, and stay consistent with their medications. Retirees have 7 adult daycare centers to choose from in Louisiana, at an average yearly cost of $14,300, significantly lower than the national average.

Terminally ill seniors often seek out the specialized care of hospices. Hospices help to lessen the emotional anguish of nearing the end of one's life, and mitigate the physical pain of any painful illnesses. There are 157 hospices in the state, with a large concentration in the southern part of Louisiana. All of these hospices will help seniors find the best way to cover the costs through Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance. Counseling is available for loved ones of the senior, to help everyone understand their emotions and express those emotions constructively during this transitional time of life.

Seniors and their caregivers will be glad to know that there are 190 respite care facilities operating in the state. They have an average cost of $55,480 per year, nearly half the cost of the national average. Respite care facilities are for the temporary housing of a senior who needs constant monitoring and assistance with day to day tasks. Such duties can be very taxing on an independent caretaker who is unpaid, like a family member caring for their parent or grandparent. Respite care takes that responsibility off of the independent caretaker's hands so that they can avoid burnout.