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Tonawanda is a suburban town on the serene coast of the Niagara River and within the Buffalo metropolitan area. About 20% of Tonawanda residents are seniors, with the town’s overall population totaling 72,636. Tonawanda is an attractive town for seniors who want a low cost of living, pleasant summer and spring weather and a strong sense of community. Tonawanda seniors also enjoy many riverside attractions along with convenient access to the Kenmore Mercy Hospital.
Seniors having trouble living independently can benefit from moving to an assisted living community. Assisted living facilities arrange accommodations, meals, personal care and day-to-day activities, but they do not usually provide a nursing home level of care. Assisted living in Tonawanda is relatively affordable at $4,741 per month on average. This is only slightly higher than the statewide average of $4,580 per month.
This guide provides an overview of assisted living in Tonawanda. Continue reading to learn more about paying for assisted living, statewide cost comparisons, state laws and regulations that protect assisted living residents and resources available to Tonawanda seniors.
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 New York. 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 average cost of assisted living in Tonawanda is $4,741 per month, which may vary depending on location, amenities and services.
Compared to the average assisted living monthly costs nationally and statewide, Tonawanda seniors can expect to pay slightly more.
Assisted living costs vary across New York, tending to be lower in Rust Belt cities. The highest monthly assisted living fee is in Watertown ($8,415), followed by Ithaca ($8,075). To the east, New York City ($5,750), Poughkeepsie ($4,770) and Albany ($5,269) are more affordable but still considerably higher than the statewide median. The state’s least expensive cities for assisted living are Rochester ($3,775) and Glens Falls ($4,250).
Note: Data for Tonawanda was unavailable, so data for the nearest region, Buffalo Area, NY, was used instead.
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 New York.
| Resource | Contact | Service |
| Erie County Senior Services | (716) 858-8526 | Erie County Senior Services provides a wide range of support programs to Tonawanda seniors. The agency’s one-stop source of long-term care information, NY Connects, gives unbiased guidance to seniors over the phone and email about their local care options. Seniors can schedule free transportation to medical and non-medical appointments through the Going Places Transportation Program. The agency also offers free 45- to 60-minute courses located at senior-friendly spaces throughout Erie County that cover humanities, science, medical, financial and wellness topics. |
| Buffalo Vet Center | (716) 862-7350 | The Buffalo Vet Center just east of Tonawanda helps veterans identify and apply for VA benefits, which can potentially cover education, medical and assisted living expenses. The center also welcomes veterans and family members who need confidential, whole-person counseling for mental health, grief and bereavement, trauma and family-related issues. |
| Community Education at Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda Union Free School District (UFSD) | (716) 874-8500 ext. 32621 | The Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda UFSD offers one- to two-hour courses designed for seniors about financial planning, retirement, Medicare and community services such as volunteering and local tax rebates. Seniors are also welcome to enroll in all-ages courses covering a range of topics, including language learning, art and music, computer skills and hobbies. |
| Town of Tonawanda Senior Citizens Center | (716) 874-3266 | The Town of Tonawanda Senior Citizens Center fosters a friendly and safe environment for seniors over 60 to get together for recreational activities. For a small annual membership fee, seniors can access 75 recreational programs involving games, dances, hobby clubs, parties and more. |
| Center for Elder Law and Justice | (716) 853-3087 | The Center for Elder Law and Justice provides free legal services to Erie County seniors dealing with legal issues related to housing, consumer protection, health care and LGBTQ+ rights. The Long-Term Care Ombudsman program advocates for the rights of seniors in assisted living, helping them navigate issues such as facility discharges, evictions and the arrangement of powers of attorney documents. The center hosts free online Mobile Legal Unit seminars that explain seniors’ legal rights in a range of conflicts and situations. |
| Erie County Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) | (716) 858-7548 | Erie County RSVP connects seniors to volunteering opportunities across more than 90 local nonprofit and public agencies. Volunteering is flexible, allowing seniors to choose how much time they volunteer and what skills they want to contribute and develop. After a 90-minute orientation, seniors can volunteer as museum tour guides, tutors for children, friendly phone callers and more. |
Assisted Living Facilities in the Tonawanda 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.
