More Assisted Living Communities Pop Up as Baby Boomers Age

Assisted living communities are spreading throughout the MetroWest area of Massachusetts, with 21 such places listed on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' website. Statewide, 263 are listed in total, according to U.S. News & World Report . SeniorLiving.org estimates that the average monthly price to live in a Massachusetts-based assisted living community is $5,463, while the National Center for Assisted Living lists the national average as about $4,000. Moreover, residents at assisted living communities pay out of pocket, while Medicare or Medicaid covers the bulk of costs for nursing home residents. The MetroWest Chamber of Commerce's Alyson Smith nevertheless acknowledges a sizable "swing in the industry toward assisted living because it's more of a social model compared to a medical model."