Long-Term Care Cost Guide

The West Virginia Medicaid answer, verified

No - West Virginia Medicaid does not pay for assisted living: the statewide Aged and Disabled Waiver (ADW) states that "ADW services may not be provided in assisted/independent living residences or group residential facilities," and state-plan Personal Care Services "generally may not be provided in assisted living residences" (only narrow prior-authorized exceptions for care the facility is not already required by law to provide), and in every case room and board is explicitly not reimbursable - so an Assisted Living Residence is private pay in WV, while Medicaid covers nursing facility care or ADW/Personal Care services delivered in the person's own home. Here is what that means in practice for Morgantown families - eligibility, what waivers cover, and what stays out of pocket.

Assisted living near Morgantown compares against a national median of $6,200 a month - and West Virginia's own median of $6,340, ranked #23 of 50 states.

A semi-private nursing home room runs $9,581 a month at the 2025 national median - the number Morgantown families weighing skilled care start from.

In-home care averages $35 an hour nationally - about $80,080 a year at 44 hours a week for Morgantown households.

Medicaid is the payer of last resort for long-term care, and whether it helps with assisted living depends entirely on your state. No - West Virginia Medicaid does not pay for assisted living: the statewide Aged and Disabled Waiver (ADW) states that "ADW services may not be provided in assisted/independent living residences or group residential facilities," and state-plan Personal Care Services "generally may not be provided in assisted living residences" (only narrow prior-authorized exceptions for care the facility is not already required by law to provide), and in every case room and board is explicitly not reimbursable - so an Assisted Living Residence is private pay in WV, while Medicaid covers nursing facility care or ADW/Personal Care services delivered in the person's own home. Nursing home care is covered in every state for those who qualify financially - assisted living is the state-by-state question.

The honest West Virginia answer, verified against official sources: No - West Virginia Medicaid does not pay for assisted living: the statewide Aged and Disabled Waiver (ADW) states that "ADW services may not be provided in assisted/independent living residences or group residential facilities," and state-plan Personal Care Services "generally may not be provided in assisted living residences" (only narrow prior-authorized exceptions for care the facility is not already required by law to provide), and in every case room and board is explicitly not reimbursable - so an Assisted Living Residence is private pay in WV, while Medicaid covers nursing facility care or ADW/Personal Care services delivered in the person's own home. Eligibility is strict - income and asset limits apply, and there is typically a five-year look-back on gifts and transfers - so families planning a Medicaid path should talk to an elder law attorney early.

Single-story senior living community exterior with covered entrance and garden beds
Wide, well-lit corridor in a care community with handrails on both walls
Bright private room in a senior community with bed, armchair and family photos on the dresser
Clipboard with a facility tour checklist resting on a lobby table

The 2026 numbers

Care type2025 national medianWhat it covers
In-home care$35/hourNon-medical help at home - meals, bathing, companionship
Adult day care$95/dayDaytime supervision and activities, evenings at home
Assisted living$6,200/monthHousing plus daily-living help; care-level fees extra
Memory caretypically 20-40% above assisted livingSecured dementia care with higher staffing
Nursing home (semi-private)$9,581/month24/7 skilled medical care
Nursing home (private room)$355/daySame care, private room
The U.S. median for assisted living is $6,200 a month; a semi-private nursing home room runs $9,581 a month; in-home care averages $35 an hour.Source: CareScout / Genworth 2025 Cost of Care Survey (published March 2026)

Find senior care options near Morgantown

These platforms show communities and home-care agencies near you with pricing guidance. Advisors are free to families - providers pay them, as they do this site.

A Place for MomFree advisor - largest U.S. senior living networkSee communities with A Place for Mom
Caring.comDirectory with reviews and pricing guidanceBrowse communities on Caring.com

Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you connect with a provider through a link here, the platform may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes your price - and it never changes what the inspection records say.

West Virginia: Medicaid, prices and the inspection file

QuestionWest Virginia answer
Medicaid & assisted livingNo - West Virginia Medicaid does not pay for assisted living: the statewide Aged and Disabled Waiver (ADW) states that "ADW services may not be provided in assisted/independent living residences or group residential facilities," and state-plan Personal Care Services "generally may not be provided in assisted living residences" (only narrow prior-authorized exceptions for care the facility is not already required by law to provide), and in every case room and board is explicitly not reimbursable - so an Assisted Living Residence is private pay in WV, while Medicaid covers nursing facility care or ADW/Personal Care services delivered in the person's own home.
State median, assisted living$6,340/month (#23 of 50 states)
Licensing & inspection recordsWest Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification (OHFLAC), West Virginia Office of Inspector General

West Virginia does not use the term "assisted living facility" - it licenses an "Assisted Living Residence" (any residence serving four or more residents needing personal assistance, split into Small 4-16 beds and Large 17+ beds) and, separately, a "Residential Care Community" (17 or more apartments inside a larger independent-living community, where residents must be capable of self-preservation and not bedfast).

No - West Virginia Medicaid does not pay for assisted living: the statewide Aged and Disabled Waiver (ADW) states that "ADW services may not be provided in assisted/independent livSource: West Virginia Medicaid / official source
Inspection and complaint records for West Virginia senior care facilities are public.Source: West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification (OHFLAC), West Virginia Office of Inspector General

This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published costs and state rules. It is not a care provider, placement agency, law firm or financial advisor - care and Medicaid decisions deserve professional advice for your family's situation.

Weekly medication organizer and pill bottles on a kitchen counter

What this means for Morgantown families

A fair comparison prices the whole picture: home care hours plus home maintenance, transport, and the family hours nobody bills. Communities bundle those in - which is why the sticker comparison understates what assisted living replaces.

This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published costs and state rules. It is not a care provider, placement agency, law firm or financial advisor - care and Medicaid decisions deserve professional advice for your family's situation.

Common questions

What fees do communities add on top of rent?

Care-level fees (assessed need tiers that can add $500-1,500+ monthly), medication management, and one-time community or move-in fees are the big three. Always compare communities on the all-in monthly number at your parent's assessed level - base rent alone is a marketing figure.

What is memory care and why does it cost more?

Memory care is assisted living specialized for dementia - secured areas, higher staffing, trained caregivers - and typically prices 20-40% above standard assisted living in the same market. If dementia is in the picture, ask specifically about memory-care rates and staff training, not the general rate.

Does long-term care insurance actually help?

If your parent bought a policy years ago, yes - claim it early, as most policies have elimination periods before benefits start. Buying new coverage in one's 80s is generally not realistic. Check old files: policies bought decades ago are routinely forgotten and unclaimed.

How do I check a facility's inspection record?

Every state has a licensing or certification agency that publishes inspection results and complaint histories - this guide links your state's agency on every page. Search every finalist before any deposit: violations, complaint patterns and how the operator responded tell you more than the tour.

How much does in-home care cost?

About $35 an hour at the 2025 national median - roughly $80,000 a year at 44 hours a week. Since the 2025 survey, non-medical caregivers are tracked as a single category, so quotes for 'homemaker' versus 'home health aide' services should no longer differ much for non-medical help.

Find senior care options near Morgantown

These platforms show communities and home-care agencies near you with pricing guidance. Advisors are free to families - providers pay them, as they do this site.

A Place for MomFree advisor - largest U.S. senior living networkSee communities with A Place for Mom
Caring.comDirectory with reviews and pricing guidanceBrowse communities on Caring.com

Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you connect with a provider through a link here, the platform may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes your price - and it never changes what the inspection records say.

Prices in nearby cities

Moundsville · Mount Hope · Mullens · New Cumberland · New Haven · New Martinsville · Newburg · Nitro · North Hills · Northfork · Nutter Fort · Oak Hill

All West Virginia cities

National price ranges and what moves them