Called one of the most ‘quintessentially American’ cities, Madison, Wisconsin, has so much to offer. Between its top-rated museums and art galleries, scenic lakefront views and activities, and historical attractions, Madison is rated the fifth-best city in the nation for the quality of life of senior residents. If you or a loved one are looking for nursing home-quality care, Madison is a great choice.
Typically, “nursing home” is used as a catch-all term to describe many different types of senior care and elderly living facilities. A nursing home refers to a facility providing patients with round-the-clock, hospital-like care to elderly patients. While A Place for Mom doesn’t partner with any standalone skilled nursing homes, we do partner with assisted living and memory care facilities, which might offer the kind of care you’re actually looking for.
Both options provide on-site care and regular assistance with routine daily activities. In the case of memory care, residents are treated for Alzheimer’s or dementia-related ailments.
A Place for Mom partners with 33 assisted living and memory care facilities within a 10-mile radius of central Madison. No matter what degree of care you or your loved one requires, our senior care facilities treat residents with personalized, top-shelf care that provides regular peace of mind. This guide will explore cost, payment options, care-type specifics, and other notable insights about Wisconsin’s capital city.
I have lived at the Waterford for 6 years. It is very friendly and the staff is excellent, very kind and courteous. The apartments are spacious and comfortable with fireplaces!
my mother has been a resident for about 4-5 years. She has been going very well since her move to the larger common are and with mom's contact with others. There have been challenges, however they have been...
We highly recommend Brookdale Madison West. My Aunt is living in the very best community she can possibly be. She is safe, comfortable and well cared for.
The staff at Charter Senior Living of Madison are kind, caring and courteous. The facility is a country-like setting. They have an attentive meal service. The management is approachable. Welcoming reception....
Actually, my folks moved the end of August because my Mom needed memory care and they did not have a unit in memory care that would fit 2 people. Med passers and activities staff were very friendly. They...
Coventry Village is a nice place, beautifully appointed. The staff seemed to be over-worked. Sometimes it would take an hour for someone to come after the call button was pushed. My mother was not a...
I can’t imagine a better assisted living place for my mother than Camomile 1. First, she has a great apartment – living area, sleeping area, kitchen alcove, bathroom and two large closets. Great windows...
The common areas, dining, etc. was very clean. The cleanliness of my loved one's apartment fell a little bit short of our expectations. The staff are friendly, engaging, and they treat the residents as...
A room opened up and so we moved her. All Saints has a very well-established and robust memory program. Mom seems to be happy there. These retirement communities are super expensive. That said, All Saints...
I have lived here a year now and feel like I’m part of a big family. I really like the people, they are so caring and nice. The food is so good! [name removed] keeps me full and is great!
My dad is a resident at Talamore Sun Prairie. He loves it. He is very comfortable and has met friends. I'm glad they have a lot of activities for him and he participates in a lot.
The staff at Cardinal View Senior Living are amazing! My loved one's room is cleaned once a week and the facility is also clean. Communication with the family is great. The move in process went very smooth....
In comparison to other alternatives, Charter Senior Living of Verona (formerly Cedarhurst) is a safe, caring and very affordable home for seniors.
It's a beautiful facility and very clean. I liked the wide hallways and open spaces. The bathroom was very accessible. I liked the country setting with southern exposure. The head chef had been in the...
My loved one was previously a resident at Brookdale Middleton Stonefield and the overall experience at this facility was great for her. The staff was friendly and very helpful. Based on our experience, I...
Homestead has been the answer to our prayers when it came time for my Mother to leave her home. We had her in a couple of other places before arriving here. This environment is more homelike, set up in a way...
Very nice facility. The Director is excellent. My friend really enjoys the food and all of the interns. Everyone is very friendly and they do an excellent job with meds, laundry, social activities, and care...
They were AMAZING. My mom was not here very long, but they really treated her like their own. A few of the staff members cried just as hard as we did when she passed away. We knew that if for some reason...
Cleaning of residents apartments is sub-par. Even though the administrator states they do, the cleaning service they employ does no dusting, no cleaning mirrors, no bed sheet changing. It appears that all...
I am very sure that working on a memory care unit is extremely difficult for staff. Staff have to be mind readers with the patience of a saint when dealing with folks with dementia who can be violent, angry,...
My loved one is currently a resident at Tennyson Retirement Living. Overall, the experience has been positive so far. Like everyone else, they have staffing challenges. But there seems to be some steadiness...
McFarland Villa is a really great place. The staff were all very nice and accommodating, and they put up with my loved one. He did not want to live this far away from his friends so he moved. I would...
We chose Prairie Gardens because it is a very local place and we actually knew some of the caretakers who worked here so it was more of a familiar feel. It is a super nice place and everyone was informative....
The staff is very patient and friendly to the residents. They're very good at communication with me as well. The food is good, and they're good about serving a fair amount of fruits and vegetables. A...
My parents really enjoy Renaissance place.
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that ranks communities based on factors
we know are important to seniors and their families:
We’ve collected data from and about our network of more than 14,000 senior living communities in the U.S. for over twenty years, and we update this information at least once a year.
Additionally, we’ve gathered over 350,000 reviews from senior living residents and family members to provide first-hand accounts of what senior living communities are really like.
Stays at senior living facilities vary based on what type of care patients require. The national monthly average for a private nursing home room is $9,551.[02] According to our proprietary data, stays at assisted living facilities that partner with A Place for Mom cost an average of $5,412 monthly, while memory care facilities are $5,891 a month.[03]
The totally monthly cost for assisted living and memory care includes service fees and add-ons. With their investment, tenants can expect 24-hour care, customized treatment plans, room and board, meals prepared with dietary stipulations in mind, and in the case of memory care patients, in-house Alzheimer’s and dementia care focus.
If the prospect of paying for a senior living facility is a daunting one, rest assured that there are several options that can help. Whether you’re going to a skilled nursing facility or require a less intensive level of 24-hour care via assisted living or memory care, your or your loved one’s stay can be financed privately or federally through avenues like VA benefits, Medicaid, or Medicare. In these tabs, we’ll explore how these payment strategies can apply.
If you’re searching for the most red-tape-free way to pay for skilled nursing, assisted living, or memory care, look no further than your own accrued wealth. Whatever personal savings you or your loved ones might have on hand can apply to whatever care is needed. Now, what if that, alone, won’t make ends meet? Try leveraging other options like Social Security benefits and pensions or cashing in on side investments like a stock portfolio or real estate assets. You can even tap into long-term or life insurance to help make monthly payments. Click below for other alternatives.
With more than a quarter of the city’s veterans older than 75, it is appropriate for Madison to have a strong support network for seniors who served the country at home or abroad. If you or your loved one are a veteran in need of senior living facility care, VA benefits can be a reliable resource.
Ask a local veterans services officer about the VA Aid & Attendance benefit.[04] Eligible recipients must be receiving a VA Pension and have logged a disability with a registered VA facility. If qualified, an additional monthly amount will be added to the VA Pension.
Also, note that certain ailments suffered during combat might make additional benefits available to you or the loved one needing care. Review the Presumptive Disability Benefits to see if any of these criteria apply to you or your loved one.[05]
Madison is host to multiple Veterans Services Organizations (VSOs) and facilities that can help navigate some of these questions. The VFW Department of Wisconsin is a state-wide support system for veterans and can be especially helpful for those needing help financing their senior living facility stays. And in Madison, connecting with the local VFW or American Legion branches can help point older veterans in the right direction.
Number of veterans who live in Madison
About 26% percent of Madison veterans are 75+
Resources for Madison Veterans
Dane County Veterans Service Office
1709 Aberg Ave., Suite 2
Madison, WI 53704
Phone: 608-266-4158
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Wisconsin
4622 Dutch Mill Road
Madison, WI 53716
Phone: 608-221-2576
Veterans of Foreign Wars Day Post 7591
301 Cottage Grove Road
Madison, WI 53716
Phone: 608-221-9326
Severson-Cairns American Legion Post 501
105 Dempsey Road
Madison, WI 53614
Phone: 608-244-7716
Low monthly income should not preclude you or a loved one from financing their nursing home, assisted living, or memory care stay. Wisconsin Medicaid is available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents living in Wisconsin who meet one of the following criteria: be aged 65 or older, have a disability, or have someone with a disability living in your home.[06] The amount of support Medicaid can cover for your loved ones’ stay is dependent on the type of medical care needed.
Wisconsin Medicaid will cover nursing home stints at Medicaid-accredited facilities if a patient’s financial assets and income fall below a certain level and if a screening process determines they require skilled nursing-level care. Should your loved one meet both criteria, they’ll receive the following coverage during their nursing home stay:[06]
Those interested in applying for Wisconsin Medicaid can review the state’s eligibility handbook for application details.[07]
In Wisconsin, there is also a waiver known as Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), which keeps a waiting list of potential qualifiers and provides skilled nursing quality care at home or in an assisted living or memory care facility.[08] HCBS recipients must fall under certain financial thresholds and demonstrate a need for assistance with activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) (i.e., bathing, dressing, medication management).
Assisted living and memory care tenants can receive Medicaid coverage through HCBS waivers and apply that funding to help conduct activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Though coverage depends on the facility chosen, Medicaid will typically help assisted living tenants with ADLs, medication oversight, appointment transportation, behavioral therapy, and other approved services.
Those who are 65 and older can also tap into Wisconsin’s SeniorCare program to get help with prescription drug costs.
For help checking into which benefits you or your loved one might qualify for, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services offers assistance at the Job Center. The Ombudsman Program through the Board on Aging and Long-Term Care Local Area Agency on Aging are both ready to provide help, too.
Madison resident Medicaid resources
Job Center
1819 Aberg Ave.
Madison, WI 53704
Phone: 888-794-5556
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Board on Aging and Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
1402 Pankratz St., Suite 111
Madison, WI 53704
Phone: 800-815-0015
Dane County Area Agency on Aging
2865 N. Sherman Ave., Northside Town Center
Madison WI, 53704
Phone: 608-261-9930
Email: AAA@countyofdane.com
Office hours: Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Medicare is federal health care coverage available to people aged 65 and over, people under 65 receiving Social Security, or anyone at any age living with ALS or who has been diagnosed with end-stage renal failure.
While Medicare doesn’t cover skilled nursing custodial costs (e.g., room and board) or needs (i.e., dressing, bathing, eating, etc.), it could provide support for individuals with the following services in nursing facilities:[09]
In addition, Medicare Part A is the equivalent of hospital insurance and will cover any skilled nursing facility needs deemed medically necessary. This coverage will kick in for a hospital-related medical condition. Medicare Part A will support your loved one’s care, but it will not pay for an assisted living facility stay or any assisted daily living executed during the stay. It won’t cover custodial care, but Part A will fund some skilled nursing needs for assisted living or memory care residents if done by a certified nurse or doctor in an assisted living or memory care facility.
Medicare’s different plans and specifications might seem overwhelming at first. Luckily, the Madison area has several resources that you or your loved ones can use to help find coverage. Wisconsin’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) makes counselors available in person and on the phone for people needing information on the intricacies of Medicare and its programs. The program outlines examples of how it can support you and your loved one.
The Wisconsin Medicare Savings Program is a qualified beneficiary provider through Dane County, and SeniorCare focuses specifically on prescription medication needs. There are application forms available online to take advantage of this cost-savings program, details on how to apply can be found here.
MyChoice Wisconsin sets members up with resources in their communities to find the best care at the most affordable rates. There’s also a Social Security office in Madison, as well as the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Dane County (ARDC) and the long-care ombudsman through the Wisconsin Board on Aging and Long-Term Care.
No matter your situation, there’s someone in Madison ready to help you get the care you or your loved one needs.
Resources for Madison Medicare recipients
Madison Social Security Administration Office
6011 Odana Road
Madison, WI 53719
Phone: 866-770-2262
Fax: 833-950-3737
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Aging and Disability Resource Center of Dane County
2865 N Sherman Ave.
Madison, WI 53704
Phone: 608-240-7400
Fax: 608-240-7401
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Board on Aging and Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
1402 Pankratz St., Suite 111
Madison, WI 53704
Phone: 800-815-0015
The Wisconsin State Legislature defines nursing homes as a place where five or more unrelated people live because they need some level of nursing care 24/7. These facilities have to follow a long list of regulations that govern everything from staff training requirements to care standards. Here are some of the standards nursing homes must follow:
There are both federal and state regulations that govern nursing homes. To find out about any Madison nursing home’s compliance, take a look at the annual Consumer Information Reports compiled by the Division of Quality Assurance to help consumers determine the quality of care at all nursing home facilities. You can also use this online provider search tool and filter the results by nursing homes. You can also reach out to the DQA’s Bureau of Nursing Home Resident Care Regional Office, which is responsible for licensure and inspection of nursing homes.
The DQA’s Bureau of Assisted Living is the branch in charge of licensure and inspection of assisted living and memory care facilities. Facilities are inspected at least once every two years to check for compliance with laws and regulations. To see how facilities fared, use the online provider search tool or reach out to the DQA’s Bureau of Assisted Living Regional Offices.
Memory care is classified as assisted living, and there are three distinct types of assisted living in Wisconsin. They are:
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services lays out a comprehensive list of resources to help you find more information about each type.
1 W Wilson St.
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608-266-1865
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Madison does not have strict COVID-19 guidelines regarding tenants of nursing homes, memory care, and assisted living facilities in Madison. That said, the city does acknowledge CDC guidelines and takes every step to ensure tenants and employees take the proper precautions.
Vaccinations. Patients and visitors are not required to be vaccinated.
Masking. Masking is encouraged but not required. Individuals are asked to assess their own personal care needs before choosing to wear a mask
Facility cleanliness. Staff members are asked to regularly disinfect themselves and common areas.
Madison is a beautiful town to settle down in; it’s got a small-town feel with big-city amenities. Considering that there are also 32 assisted living and memory care facilities partnered with A Place for Mom within a 10-mile radius of central Madison, there are also many options for you or a loved one to find the perfect fit.[03]
Madison’s variety of senior living facilities also offer a variety of activities and perks to keep residents healthy and engaged:[03]
Residents have semi-private or private rooms with bathrooms attached, and they have access to both indoor and outdoor common areas to co-mingle with their fellow residents and entertain guests.
The kind of care that you or a loved one might need can evolve over time, which is why there are a wide variety of facilities in Madison that we partner with that offer a combination of care types:[03]
Within Madison, there are two standalone memory care facilities. Memory care facilities are designed to care for and treat residents with memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease, or other dementia, so these facilities provide closer supervision for seniors and memory-focused therapy programs. Memory care facilities are often equipped with special security measures to keep you or your loved one safe and secure, regardless of circumstance. They also employ therapies to reduce confusion and agitation.
There are 16 facilities combining assisted living and memory care throughout Madison that we partner with, making this the most available type of care. Residents can expect memory care treatment along with daily assistance on needs such as bathing, dressing, and the administering of any prescription medications. Those who don’t need memory care will get assistance with daily living.
Seen as a more modern form of care, the three hybrid-style facilities have options for seniors needing daily assistance in or out of memory care and assisted living or elderly tenants who are still able to live with little-to-no help. Senior tenants are all afforded on-site housing and meals, with varying types of on-site care available as needed. If care needs change, a move to another facility won’t be necessary.
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Number of seniors over the age of 65 currently living in Madison
Percentage of seniors 65 and older within the Madison population
Median annual income for Madison seniors 65 and older
Madison residents can attend these two major health care providers for geriatric, general, and other necessary health needs that arise in addition to the VA hospital in Madison.
University Hospital in Madison is the top-ranked health care provider in Madison as well as the 35th-best hospital nationally for geriatric care.
SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Madison is the No.2-ranked hospital in Madison and the sixth-best medical center in Wisconsin. The system performs highly in lung surgery, spinal fusions, stroke care, and other practices.
A national award for patient experience went to Madison’s VA hospital in 2022. The facility offers a wide-variety of care including cancer, cardiology, orthopedics, and more.
Of the assisted living and memory care facilities we partner with, 77% offer at-cost transportation options to residents, while 41% provide complimentary rides. Seniors’ ability to run errands freely and make appointments is a nice thing to offer, especially when considering how critical it is to keep elderly residents safe.
Madison has a walkable downtown and 41 bus and public transportation lines, so senior residents have several options at their disposal if the need arises to go out with a friend or family member.
The city’s Metro Transit is a popular carrier, providing accessible boarding and offboarding features for passengers and audible and legible in-ride announcements. And for just $1, passengers 65 and over with a valid ADA card can use Metro’s fixed-route service. The Group Transit Service conducts regular stops around Madison, focusing on nutritional venues and special event locations.
Dane County Department of Human Services offers even more individualized ride options. Those include Older Adult Transportation Assistance (OATA), which does scheduled door-to-door service to seniors 60 and over and the Retired Senior and Volunteer Program (RSVP) for people living with disabilities who need drop-offs to medical appointments. Phone numbers for each program are available on the site to make reservations.
Whether with peers or out with their families, senior living residents have many entertaining activity options in Madison. The city’s reverence for history, natural beauty, and cultural acumen combine to afford something for everyone to do.
If museums are for you, visit the Wisconsin Veterans Museum or the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. The Wisconsin Historical Museum is fully wheelchair accessible and welcomes service animals. The Chazen Museum of Art is along several Madison Metro bus routes and has an accessible park near it.
What about games of chance? Ho-Chunk Gaming is a popular casino offering bingo, electric gaming, and other staples.
And if you need some fresh air, Picnic Point on Marsh Loop Trail, the UW arboretum, and Howard Temin Lakeshore Path all offer beautiful walking paths for all ages. Not to mention some of Madison’s many accessible outdoor parks like Washington Manor Park, Vilas Henry Park, and Warner Park. Here you’ll find plenty of peaceful outdoor space to enjoy a quiet stroll with your loved ones, sit and watch the people, or participate in one of the city’s frequent summer social events. Olbrich Botanical Gardens and Bolz Conservatory has wheelchair accessible grounds and lots of benches for resting.
Azura Memory Care of Stoughton, The Waterford at Fitchburg and New Perspective Senior Living Sun Prairie are the top-rated Nursing Homes facilities near Madison, WI. These Nursing Homes facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Nursing Homes in Madison is $4,622 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
Azura Memory Care of Stoughton, The Waterford at Fitchburg and New Perspective Senior Living Sun Prairie are the top rated nursing homes facilities near Madison, Wisconsin. See full list of communities.
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There are 63 $4,467nursing homes facilities near Madison, Wisconsin See the full list.
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WalletHub. (2022). Best & Worst Places to Retire.
Cost of long-term care by state: Cost of care report. Genworth. (n.d.).
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Department of Veterans Affairs. (2022, October 12). VA Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound allowance
United States Department of Veterans Affairs. (2022, October 12) Presumptive Disability Benefits
Wisconsin Department of Health Services. (2023, March 8). Medicaid Programs for Seniors.
Medicaid Eligibility Handbook. (n.d.).
Wisconsin Medicaid. (2023, January). Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Programs.
Medicare. SNF Care Coverage. (n.d.).
Wisconsin State Legislature. (2021-22). Special Provisions Applying to Licensing and Regulation of Nursing Homes.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services. (2023, February 1). Background Check Requirements.
U.S. News and World Report. (2023). Best Hospitals in Madison, WI.
U.S. News and World Report. (n.d.). UW Health University Hospital: Geriatrics.
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
WalletHub. (2022). Best & Worst Places to Retire.
Cost of long-term care by state: Cost of care report. Genworth. (n.d.).
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Department of Veterans Affairs. (2022, October 12). VA Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound allowance
United States Department of Veterans Affairs. (2022, October 12) Presumptive Disability Benefits
Wisconsin Department of Health Services. (2023, March 8). Medicaid Programs for Seniors.
Medicaid Eligibility Handbook. (n.d.).
Wisconsin Medicaid. (2023, January). Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Programs.
Medicare. SNF Care Coverage. (n.d.).
Wisconsin State Legislature. (2021-22). Special Provisions Applying to Licensing and Regulation of Nursing Homes.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services. (2023, February 1). Background Check Requirements.
U.S. News and World Report. (2023). Best Hospitals in Madison, WI.
U.S. News and World Report. (n.d.). UW Health University Hospital: Geriatrics.