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Assisted Living in Rhode Island

19th

OVERALL STATE RANK

Overview of assisted living in Rhode Island

Assisted living in Rhode Island offers seniors long-term housing and care in a safe, social community setting. The average cost of assisted living in Rhode Island is $5,500 a month, or $66,000 a year, according to A Place for Mom’s most recent proprietary data from our network of partner communities.[01] From charming New England towns to beaches known for their natural beauty, Rhode Island has a variety of benefits for seniors seeking assisted living in one of the nation’s most historic states.
A PLACE FOR MOM

Assisted living state rankings report

State scorecard

How we determine rankings

Our 2023 state ranking for assisted living uses A Place for Mom’s proprietary data collected from our community partners. First, we sorted through our metrics and grouped them into three pillars that are key in a quality assisted living experience. We weighted these pillars differently based on insights from our senior living experts. Then, we used these categories and their weighting to determine how each state ranks. Read our full methodology

Top ranked Rhode Island cities for assisted living overall

Key findings

85%
of communities are pet friendly
89%
of communities host off-site activities
82%
of communities have restaurant-style dining
82%
offer memory care services
85%
have medication management services
93%
offer respite care

State highlights

Assisted living communities in Rhode Island keep residents entertained with a variety of unique amenities and activities. 90% offer off-site activities, and 83% include live musical or dance performances, daytrips and outings, art classes, book clubs, and parties for residents.

Top ranked Rhode Island cities - Services & Amenities

Key findings

35%
of communities cost less than the national monthly median

Rhode Island vs. the national monthly median cost of assisted living

Top ranked Rhode Island cities - Affordability

Key findings

100%
of communities are rated 4 out of 5 for cleanliness
92%
of communities are rated 4 out of 5 for meals
88%
of communities are rated 4 out of 5 for care services
79%
of communities are rated 4 out of 5 for value for cost

Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Rhode Island

12
12 Photos available
8
8 Floor plans available

Atria Lincoln Place

612 George Washington Highway, Lincoln, RI 02865
9.9
Review Score
59 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Russell Cunha - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

When it’s time to make a tough decision on finding a new home for your parents or an elderly family member Atria should be on the top of your list. The staff is not only accommodating they are so supportive...

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12
12 Photos available

The Lighthouse at Lincoln

425 Albion Road, Lincoln, RI 02865
9.7
Review Score
55 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Joseph K - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

[name removed] has been at The Lighthouse since end of August. I cannot say enough good things about his care, the staff and overall! Very pleased. I would recommend if looking for placement of a loved one...

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13
13 Photos available
9
9 Floor plans available

Atria Bay Spring Village

147 Bay Spring Avenue, Barrington, RI 02806
9.7
Review Score
67 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Our family and our mom made the best decision this past summer. Mom joined the independent living community at Atria and was been through happy ever since. She even took or a new spot bocce at age 90! Go mom...

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Lincoln

See top facilities
12
12 Photos available
8
8 Floor plans available

Atria Lincoln Place

612 George Washington Highway, Lincoln, RI 02865
9.9
Review Score
59 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Russell Cunha - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

When it’s time to make a tough decision on finding a new home for your parents or an elderly family member Atria should be on the top of your list. The staff is not only accommodating they are so supportive...

Get Pricing
11
11 Photos available
6
6 Floor plans available

Atria Draper Place

25 Hopedale Street, Hopedale, MA 01747
9.8
Review Score
67 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Mike - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

I recently visited my grandma. She has always been very quiet. She knew everyone and I think she introduced me to everybody who lives there. She enjoys the staff and activities and the facility is...

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13
13 Photos available

Brookmeadow at Blue Hills

2121 Central St, Stoughton, MA 02072
9.8
Review Score
31 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Cheryl F - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

My dad was at Brook meadow about 8 months and loved it. The staff is superb and there are all kinds of activities for everyone to enjoy. Extremely clean and homey. Would definitely recommend Brook meadow.

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in East Providence

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9
9 Photos available

Anchor Bay at East Providence

1440 Wampanoag Trail, East Providence, RI 02915
9.6
Review Score
66 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Kim G - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

My Mom moved into Anchor Bay following a rehab stay after a fall, in October 2020. She has been a resident for 4 years and counting. The staff is and has always been incredibly friendly, attentive and...

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19
19 Photos available

The Residence at Cedar Dell

628 Old Westport Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747
9.9
Review Score
32 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Eileen G - I'm a current/former resident or client

Overall, the community is very nice. I especially enjoy walking the grounds to see the nature we are surrounded by. I love reading large print books from the library. We recently found out that we will be...

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12
12 Photos available
8
8 Floor plans available

Atria Lincoln Place

612 George Washington Highway, Lincoln, RI 02865
9.9
Review Score
59 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Russell Cunha - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

When it’s time to make a tough decision on finding a new home for your parents or an elderly family member Atria should be on the top of your list. The staff is not only accommodating they are so supportive...

Get Pricing

Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Providence

See top facilities
11
11 Photos available

Wingate Residences on Blackstone Boulevard

353 Blackstone Blvd, Providence, RI 02906
9.2
Review Score
23 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

The most significant consideration was geographic location. The resident, my father, was already residing in a senior living facility, called [faculty removed]. Wingate and Wingate have building adjacent to...

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14
14 Photos available
3
3 Floor plans available

Capitol Ridge at Providence

700 Smith Street, Providence, RI 02908
9.1
Review Score
29 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
MJ - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

They were attentive to my mother’s needs. The food was fantastic and the staff were friendly. She loved the music entertainment, and enjoyed the church services. The facility was very clean and well kept as...

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13
13 Photos available

Highlands on the East Side

101 Highland Avenue, Providence, RI 02906
9.0
Review Score
27 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Jennifer D - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

The staff at Highlands on the East Side are very hands on. There are always three or four nurses in the room with them. They don't just put you on a couch all day to watch tv. They interact with the...

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Cranston

See top facilities
12
12 Photos available
8
8 Floor plans available

Atria Lincoln Place

612 George Washington Highway, Lincoln, RI 02865
9.9
Review Score
59 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Russell Cunha - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

When it’s time to make a tough decision on finding a new home for your parents or an elderly family member Atria should be on the top of your list. The staff is not only accommodating they are so supportive...

Get Pricing
13
13 Photos available
9
9 Floor plans available

Atria Bay Spring Village

147 Bay Spring Avenue, Barrington, RI 02806
9.7
Review Score
67 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Our family and our mom made the best decision this past summer. Mom joined the independent living community at Atria and was been through happy ever since. She even took or a new spot bocce at age 90! Go mom...

Get Pricing
16
16 Photos available

Smithfield Woods

171 Pleasant View Ave, Smithfield, RI 02917
9.7
Review Score
38 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Margaret - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

I like its physical location-in a neighborhood, on a pond and not far from our home. Majority of the apartments have been upgraded and it is clean. Staff and management friendly and respectful.

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Cost of assisted living in Rhode Island

The average monthly cost of assisted living in Rhode Island is around $5,500 a month, according to A Place for Mom’s internal data.[01]. This amount is only slightly higher than the national average cost of assisted living, which is roughly $5,100 a month.

Assisted living costs throughout the state vary greatly — they range from about $5,000 to over $8,000 a month. Location can contribute to these cost differences — beachfront communities or facilities located in the city of Providence may cost more than communities in smaller towns. Services, amenities, and the types of apartments offered can also affect costs. Luxury communities will often come with a higher price tag than smaller, more homelike options.

The prices listed above cover all of your loved one’s care needs, from assistance with activities of daily living, like dressing and bathing, to nutritious meals, housekeeping, and transportation. Eligible seniors may qualify for Medicare, Medicaid, or other benefits to help offset the costs of assisted living in Rhode Island.

Compare costs of Rhode Island vs. the national average

Average monthly costs

Rhode Island

$4,866/mo

US National average

$4,618/mo

Compare costs of assisted living vs. nearby states

Average monthly costs

Rhode Island

$4,866/mo

Massachusetts

$6,859/mo

Connecticut

$9,476/mo

New Hampshire

$6,130/mo

Vermont

$6,288/mo

Compare costs of assisted living in Rhode Island vs. nearby cities

Average monthly costs

Rhode Island

$4,866/mo

Warwick, RI

$4,983/mo

Westerly, RI

$5,281/mo

Compare costs of assisted living vs. other senior care types in Rhode Island

Average monthly costs

Let our care assessment guide you

Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.

Paying for assisted living in Rhode Island

Understanding your loved one’s financial situation and budget is a key first step to paying for assisted living. By planning ahead, your family may be able to access a variety of benefits to help cover Rhode Island assisted living costs. Below, we’ll explore a selection of public and private payment options available to Rhode Island seniors. For more details about how families pay for senior care, check out our complete guide to paying for long-term care.

Families commonly use private pay resources, like pensions, retirement accounts, and assets to cover the majority of assisted living costs.

Selling a house

If your loved one owns a home, they may consider selling it to pay for assisted living expenses in Rhode Island.

Reverse mortgage

Equity from a reverse mortgage can free up funds for assisted living in Rhode Island.

Health savings accounts (HSAs)

Health savings accounts may cover the cost of some medically necessary services and supplies in an assisted living community in Rhode Island.

Life insurance

Selling or surrendering a life insurance policy can help cover the cost of assisted living in Rhode Island.

Social Security benefits for assisted living

Social Security benefits can help offset assisted living costs for Rhode Island seniors.

A number of benefits are available to veterans and their surviving spouses, but navigating U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) resources can be complex and time-consuming. If your loved one is a veteran, surviving spouse, or otherwise military-connected, they may be eligible for VA benefits to offset some Rhode Island assisted living costs.

The State of Rhode Island Office of Veterans Services has put together a comprehensive list of benefits available to veterans and their families. The VA Providence Regional Benefit Office can also provide Rhode Island veterans and their families with support and advocacy services.

Additional benefits for Medicaid-eligible veterans are also available through the state. These cover the costs of transportation to and from medical appointments as well as substance abuse help.[02]

Local chapters of various veterans service organizations (or VSOs), like AMVETS, the American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars can offer families resources and benefits counseling, as well.

Medicaid is a public health insurance program jointly funded by the state and federal governments. It provides health insurance benefits to eligible low-income Americans and people with certain disabilities. The Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services facilitates safe, secure care options for seniors in need of health care assistance who choose to remain in their own homes or in communal settings, like assisted living.

Rhode Island Medicaid offers two main benefits programs.

The SSI Enhanced Assisted Living Program offers financial assistance to eligible low-income seniors in need of assisted living care. The SSI enhanced benefit is an increased Supplemental Social Security Income payment that qualifying seniors can use to pay for room and board in an approved assisted living community. To receive this benefit, seniors must:

  • Have a gross income of under $1,212 per month
  • Have resources or assets lower than $2,000
  • Participate in a health care assessment
  • Not require extensive medical or skilled nursing services
  • Apply for or already receive SSI

Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) is designed to serve seniors in the setting that best suits their needs. Services can be provided in an institutional setting, in a senior’s home, or in a community setting, like an assisted living facility. To qualify for LTSS, your loved one has to meet both financial and level of care requirements. They must:

  • Reside in Rhode Island full-time
  • Need high-level care, but not nursing home or skilled nursing care, according to a doctor’s assessment
  • Have a maximum of $4,000 in countable resources

Families can learn more about eligibility on the Department of Human Services website, and can apply for benefits through their Medicaid LTSS application portal.

For more information and application assistance, families can contact The Point helpdesk at (401) 462-4444 or visit a local chapter of the Office of Healthy Aging.

Medicare is a federal health insurance program available to all adults over 65 years of age. Medicare benefits may cover some medical expenses in assisted living, such as on-site therapy services, prescription drugs, home health services, and medical supplies.

The Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging compiled a convenient brochure of available Medicare resources seniors and their families can review for information on benefits and how to apply.

Rhode Island’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is a network of trained, compassionate volunteers and community partners dedicated to helping seniors find the right Medicare coverage fit. They’re able to provide free, unbiased, personal guidance based on your loved one’s individual health and personal care needs.

Assisted living requirements and regulations in Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, the Department of Health, Office of Residences Regulation is tasked with licensing assisted living communities. These communities are designed for seniors who don’t need significant medical or nursing care, but who do require assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and personal grooming, as well as room and board and medication assistance.

Facilities are categorized and licensed in the following ways:[03]

  • Fire code: Fire code level 1 licensure is for communities with residents who aren’t capable of self-preservation in case of an emergency. Fire code level 2 licensure is for communities with residents who are able to effectively evacuate themselves in an emergency.
  • Medication: Medication level 1 licensure is required when any number of residents in the community require storage or administration of medications. Level 2 licensure is for communities where all residents self-administer medications.
  • Dementia care: This type of licensure is necessary when one or more residents have a level of dementia that affects their ability to function, based on state-specified criteria.

An assisted living community can have distinct wings, floors, or areas with separate licenses.

Staffing requirements for Rhode Island assisted living facilities

All assisted living facilities in Rhode Island must:[04]

  • Have a department-certified administrator tasked with maintaining safety and operations
  • Have a sufficient number of staff members to manage residents’ health and personal care needs, though there are no minimum staff-to-resident ratios
  • Have at least one staff member trained in CPR and emergency preparedness awake and on-site at all times
  • Provide at least 10 hours of training and orientation to all staff members who are regularly in contact with residents

Facilities licensed for dementia care must:

  • Have a registered nurse with dementia-related training and knowledge of behavioral issues on staff and available for consultation
  • Train all new employees for at least 12 hours on dementia communication, behavior management, and dementia care

Let our care assessment guide you

Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.

Understanding Rhode Island’s system of regulation and records

We developed a system to rate each state on how easy — or difficult — it is to find important assisted living records and reports, and we compiled tips to help you in your search.

States with the most transparent records allow you to look up important information about each assisted living facility online, including inspections, complaints, survey results, violations, capacity, and whether the facility accepts Medicaid.

Access to Rhode Island assisted living records: High

Public access to assisted living records and reports for the state of Rhode Island is exceptional. Here are some key findings that informed this rating:

  • Rhode Island has increased in rating due to their updated website allowing for increased transparency. For example, capacity size and administrator names are now listed with licensing information.
  • Rhode Island only requires mandatory inspections of assisted living communities every two years.

How to look up Rhode Island assisted living licenses and records

  • Contact the Rhode Island Department of Elderly Affairs directly to find out about the backgrounds of providers.
  • If you need to make a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to get records, consider browsing the state-by-state resources from the National Freedom of Information Coalition, which includes sample state-specific FOIA letters.

How we arrived at our Rhode Island rating

We developed a standard methodology for state data collection and evaluation, and we based our rating primarily on the objective, state-specific accessibility criteria outlined in these questions:

  1. Are licensed assisted living communities listed online in any form? Yes
  2. If Yes to #1, is the information updated frequently? Yes
  3. If Yes to #1, is the list of licensed communities searchable? Yes
  4. Does the state post inspections, complaints, survey results, or violations online? Yes
  5. If Yes to #4, is the information updated frequently (within 90 days)? Yes
  6. If Yes to #2 and #4, is the enforcement information included in the same place as licensed communities? No
  7. If Yes to #4 and No to #6, are violations and inspections searchable at all? No
  8. Is information about special licensing for care shown? No
  9. Is capacity shown? Yes
  10. Are payment types shown (e.g., Medicaid, private pay)? No
  11. Is the administrator/contact name shown? Yes
  12. Can the state fine a facility? No
  13. What is the frequency of inspections? Every 24 months
  14. Does the website include pricing of facilities? No

References

  1. A Place for Mom. (2022). A Place for Mom Proprietary Data.

  2. State of Rhode Island Office of Veterans Services. (2021, November 18). Additional benefits For Medicaid eligible benefits.

  3. State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Department of Health. (2012, September). Rules and regulations for licensing assisted living residences.

  4. State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Department of Health. (2012, September). Rules and regulations for the certification of administrators of assisted living residences.

Top cities in Rhode Island for assisted living

8.9
Providence, RI
32 facilities
8.9
Cranston, RI
33 facilities
8.8
Warwick, RI
29 facilities
8.7
Lincoln, RI
29 facilities
8.7
East Providence, RI
29 facilities
8.6
North Kingstown, RI
12 facilities

Find assisted living in other states

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.