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As the second-largest city in Wisconsin, Milwaukee has a population of almost 600,000 residents, 10.2% of whom are seniors aged 65 and older. Sitting just off of Lake Michigan’s western shore, Milwaukee is a great place for seniors who enjoy living near the water. Milwaukee is known for its many popular attractions, such as several breweries and the Harley-Davidson Museum, Milwaukee Art Museum, Discovery World and Milwaukee County Zoo.
Assisted living offers both social opportunities and light medical support for aging adults who are ready to move out of fully independent housing. Milwaukee seniors pay an average of $5,324 a month for assisted living, according to data from the Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey. That makes Milwaukee significantly more expensive than either the U.S. average or the Wisconsin average.
In the following overview of assisted living in Milwaukee, we’ll look at how the city’s prices compare to other Wisconsin locations and review some of the free programs that support the lives of Milwaukee’s older residents.
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 >
COVID-19 restrictions and rules for Assisted Living Facilities are typically set by the state – to see the rules in your state, you can read our guide to Assisted Living in Wisconsin. Keep in mind that there may be other policies that communities put in place to protect their residents, so you should contact your local community for more information. Additionally, you can contact your local Area Agency on Aging to learn more – find contact information here.
The cost of assisted living in Milwaukee is on average $5,324 per month for senior citizens.
Milwaukee’s average monthly cost for assisted living is $5,324, which is 14% higher than the Wisconsin average cost of $4,600 and 16% higher than the U.S. average of $4,500.
Racine, 40 minutes south of Milwaukee, has the highest average monthly assisted living cost at $5,450. Appleton, which sits on the northern shores of Lake Winnebago, is roughly $200 cheaper than Milwaukee at $5,138 a month. The Wisconsin capital of Madison reports an average cost of $4,800, which is also above the state average. Green Bay’s average comes in at $874 less than Milwaukee with a reported cost of $4,450 per month. La Crosse and Eau Claire, both in the western half of Wisconsin, report fairly similar prices of $4,263 and $4,375, respectively. The lowest price in the state is in Wausau; its seniors pay $4,125 a month for assisted living care.
Since not everyone can afford to pay for assisted living out-of-pocket, it’s important to find alternative methods to help make assisted living more affordable. Some of these options include:
For more information about your options for making assisted living more affordable, visit our guide to Assisted Living in Wisconsin.
| Contact | Description | |
| Milwaukee County Department on Aging | (414) 289-6874(local)(866) 229-9695(statewide) | The Milwaukee County Department on Aging provides information about and assistance with community resources for seniors. This includes information about public and private benefits, including Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, as well as dementia care and elder abuse. It provides senior dining and offers educational, social, fitness and recreational opportunities at the five county-owned senior centers. The department also helps seniors explore options for long-term care. |
| IRIS | (888) 515-4747 | IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct) is a self-directed program for low-income Medicaid-eligible seniors. This program helps seniors determine which type of long-term care and services they require. Services include transportation and housing counseling. The program is run by the IRIS Management Section of the Division of Medicaid Services, which is a part of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Enrollment is handled by the Milwaukee County Department on Aging. |
| Milwaukee County Veterans Services | (414) 266-1234 | Milwaukee County Veterans Services assists veterans, dependents and survivors with information about benefits available to them through the VA program, including pension programs and health care services, as well as state and federal benefits that can help with the cost of assisted living. |
| Legal Action of Wisconsin (Milwaukee) | (414) 278-7722 | Legal Action of Wisconsin is a nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services to qualified, income-eligible individuals. The organization assists seniors with legal matters, including Social Security benefits, public benefits, veterans’ issues, elder rights and housing. The firm works with hundreds of active volunteer attorneys who help support the staff attorneys in their casework. |
| Eras Senior Network | (414) 488-6500 | Eras Senior Network is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping seniors and adults with disabilities maintain their independence through the assistance of their volunteers, which are of all ages. Volunteers provide rides for medical and personal transportation needs, as well as social visits, telephone calls and help with filling out forms and writing letters. The organization also conducts presentations that cover common types of frauds and scams targeting the senior population. |
Assisted Living Facilities in the Milwaukee area are required to follow a set of rules and regulations that are determined at the state level. For an overview of those rules and regulations, see the information below. For more specific information, talk with your local community or Area Agency on Aging.
