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A historic borough located west of Philadelphia, West Chester is home to approximately 20,030 people, and nearly one in 10 are seniors. West Chester is a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, meaning its leaders are striving to meet the needs of older residents.
Despite its small size, West Chester has a thriving arts and culture scene. Some of its many attractions include the annual West Chester Film Festival, the Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center and the Chester County Art Association. Downtown West Chester is on the National Register of Historic Places, and seniors can learn about the borough’s history at the Chester County Historical Society museum.
Assisted living offers a maintenance-free lifestyle for older adults who can’t live independently but don’t need the intensive medical services provided by nursing facilities. Trained aides help seniors with day-to-day activities, including dressing, eating and transferring, with services tailored to meet individual requirements. Fees typically include meals, laundry and housekeeping. In West Chester, PA, assisted living averages $5,685 per month, which is more than the Pennsylvania median.
Below, you’ll find a comparison of assisted living costs in the state as well as options for paying for care. We’ve also listed affordable support resources for seniors and their loved ones.
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 Pennsylvania. 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.
Based on Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey 2021, the median assisted living cost is $5,685 per month in West Chester.
In West Chester, assisted living is significantly pricier than the respective state and national norms of $4,100 and $4,500.
West Chester is among the costliest locations in Pennsylvania for assisted living care, topped only by Reading where monthly fees run around $5,720 each month. The most affordable cities for the same type of long-term care are Scranton and Johnstown, where average rates are $2,875 and $2,725, respectively. Moving west of West Chester, rates gradually decrease to $5,550 in Lancaster, $5,510 in York and $4,515 in Gettysburg. Pittsburgh communities charge around $3,250 per month.
NOTE: Data for West Chester was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Philadelphia, 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 Pennsylvania.
| Contact | Description | |
| The Chester County Department of Aging Services | (800) 692-1100 ext. 6350 | The Chester County Department of Aging Services is the designed Area Agency on Aging for West Chester. Its staff can educate seniors about community resources that provide transportation, counseling and other services. |
| The Senior Citizen Program at West Chester University | (610) 436-3541 | West Chester University’s Senior Citizen Program lets seniors take college courses that interest them. Tuition fees are waived as long as there is space available in the course. Seniors who have undergraduate degrees are allowed to take graduate-level courses. This program is available to retirees who are at least 60 years old and have lived in Pennsylvania for more than one year. |
| West Chester Area Senior Center | (610) 431-4242 | West Chester Area Senior Center provides a variety of social, recreational and educational programming for more than 3,500 people annually. Seniors can have fun and make new friends at the center’s movie nights, tea parties and musical performances. Other activities include support groups, flu shot clinics and seminars on topics such as nutrition and dental health. Free parking is available on-site. |
| Volunteer Chester County | (610) 696-4900 | This program is run by Family Service of Chester County, a local nonprofit. The program aims to match Chester County residents with volunteer opportunities that suit their interests. Seniors can volunteer with hospitals, charities, schools and other local organizations. Both one-time and ongoing opportunities are available. |
| APPRISE Program | (610) 344-5004 | APPRISE is Pennsylvania’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program. It aims to help seniors understand their Medicare options. Seniors can attend Medicare 101 sessions to learn how the program works. They can also schedule a one-on-one counseling session for personalized Medicare help. |
| Legal Aid of Southeastern PA – West Chester Office | (610) 436-4510 | As a legal aid provider, this law firm offers free legal assistance to low-income people. It can help seniors with a wide variety of civil legal issues, including problems with Medicare, Social Security, elder abuse, wills and advance directives. The firm provides other resources for seniors who don’t qualify for legal aid. These include free workshops about various legal topics and the comprehensive PALawHelp.org website. |
| Chester County Ombudsman Program | (610) 344-6350 | The Chester County Ombudsman Program helps protect the rights of seniors who live in assisted living facilities. The volunteer ombudsmen investigate residents’ complaints and help them solve these issues. Ombudsmen also help seniors understand the legal rights they have as assisted living residents. |
Assisted Living Facilities in the West Chester 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.
