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Although it’s located in Indiana, Merrillville is considered part of the Chicago metropolitan area. Recent estimates place the city’s senior population at 5,531, representing 15.9% of its 34,792 total residents. The city has a low cost of living and minimal violent crime. Winters in Merrillville can be frigid, but when warmer spring and summer temperatures arrive, seniors can explore a number of outdoor recreation areas, such as Oak Ridge Prairie, Hidden Lake Park and Gibson Woods Nature Preserve. Additionally, Lake Michigan is only a 20-minute drive away. For medical care, Methodist Hospital Southlake is the leading hospital in the community, and a wider selection of health care options can be found in nearby Crown Point.
According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2020, the median monthly cost of assisted living in Merrillville is $4,585, which is about 6.6% above the national average. Senior can choose from four assisted living communities within Merrillville’s city limits, along with over a dozen more in the surrounding area.
Hundreds of thousands of American seniors utilize assisted living, a figure that is only growing. For these seniors, assisted living combines residential housing,assistance in daily activities, and some healthcare. These communities also strive to provide an atmosphere that is comfortable and engaging for their residents… Read More >
Merrillville seniors can expect to pay $4,585 per month for assisted living, which is $82 above the U.S. median, but $193 less than Indiana’s statewide average. Seniors in adjacent Kentucky pay $886 less per month for assisted living compared to their peers in Merrillville, while those in Michigan spend $182 less. Illinois’s median cost is nearly identical to Merrillville’s, whereas neighboring Ohio’s $4,350 monthly average is closest in cost to the Indiana median.
Among the cities closest to Merrillville, Elkhart and Fort Wayne are the most affordable with respective monthly assisted living costs of $3,223 and $3,503. In South Bend, seniors spend about $234 more at $4,819, while those in Kokomo pay $69 less per month for this level of care.
Note: Data for Merrillville was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Michigan City, was used instead.
Hoosier Care Connect is Indiana’s Medicaid program designed specifically for individuals who are blind, disabled or over the age of 65. Hoosier Care Connect offers a variety of programs for Medicaid-eligible seniors, including the Aged and Disabled Waiver, which pays for assisted living costs. More information about Indiana’s financial assistance options can be found on our Assisted Living in Indiana page.
| Contact | Description | |
| Northwest Indiana Community Action | (219) 794-1829 | NWICA Aging and Disability Resource Center manages and provides seniors with a wide array of services including wellness programs and free health care counseling to help seniors understand the available Medicare and Medicaid benefits. The agency also offers financial management assistance to further clarify how Merriville’s older adults can satisfy the income and assets requirements of government-funded programs that pay for senior care. |
| Lake County Veterans Service Office | (219) 755-3285 | At the Lake County Veterans Service Office, retired military members can receive assistance applying for disability and pension benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. CVSO staff can also help seniors and their dependents find supporting documents and verify addresses to ensure benefit claims are processed smoothly. |
| United Way Retired and Senior Volunteer Program | (219) 464-3583 | The United Way RSVP program enables seniors to stay active and support the betterment of their community through volunteering. Seniors are matched with organizations that can benefit from the individual’s skillset, and many provide training as well. Seniors must be at least 55 years of age to participate. After-school crafting programs and assisting at hospitals, food banks and shelters are a few of the available opportunities. |
| Long-Term Care Ombudsman | (317) 232-7134 or(219) 794-1829 | The Long-Term Care Ombudsman program works to uphold the rights of residents of assisted living and other long-term care communities to ensure they receive high-quality care and dignified treatment. State and local ombudsmen provide free assistance with resolving financial disputes, care concerns and general complaints between assisted living residents and the parties responsible for their well-being. |
| Indiana Legal Services, Inc. | (844) 243-8570 | Indiana Legal Services, Inc. is a nonprofit law firm offering free legal advice and representation to low-income older adults throughout the state. The firm has experience with cases involving negligence, financial exploitation and physical abuse. In addition to the services ILS provides through its Senior Law Project, low-income seniors can submit questions about civil legal matters and receive answers from an attorney through the Indiana Free Legal Answers web page. |
Indiana’s assisted living communities must follow state laws and regulations administered by the Indiana State Department of Health Long-Term Care Division. Visit our Assisted Living in Indiana page to learn more about the rules and regulations governing Indiana’s assisted living facilities.
