When you hear the phrase “nursing home,” you may picture a standard retirement community like an assisted living or independent living community. Nursing home, however, technically refers to a skilled nursing facility with round-the-clock medical supervision and treatments for people with severe health conditions. For those who don’t require constant medical oversight, assisted living and memory care facilities are often a better match. These types of facilities provide senior care services and are a fraction of the cost of a skilled nursing facility.
A Place for Mom partners with 27 senior care facilities within a 10-mile radius of Indianapolis’ downtown area, which includes both assisted living and memory care facilities. Assisted living facilities offer help with personal care and activities of daily living, security, and convenient on-site services. Memory care facilities are similar to assisted living but feature additional specialized therapies, security, and programs for seniors with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. This in-depth guide breaks down senior care facilities in the Indianapolis area with details on their amenities and services, costs, ways seniors pay, and local senior benefit resources.
Our experience with Traditions at North Willow was wonderful. What we liked most about the community was the residents, the staff and the activities. We would recommend them to other families based on the...
Overall the experience is good, the cleanliness is great as well as the staff. The meals however could be better but the activities are very good. The value for cost is very good as well.
It has been a while, but our experience with everything and everyone there was just fine! It was in a great location and close to my sister and I so we could visit often. Mom was happy there, I would...
What has made The Wellington at Southport such a good experience so far is the friendliness of their staff team, the quality of care and then the meals that are served. We would recommend this community to...
My mom is extremely independent and the thought of moving to a “ facility” was unbearable for her. Magnolia Springs has more of a hotel feel, at the same time providing the assistance she needs. Although the...
Mom has enjoyed the community. The staff is friendly. Value was good, but costs increased. Probably still a good price if compared to similar areas. Mom has enjoyed her neighbors and the community is her...
Overall the facility was clean, but after 2 years all of a sudden my in-laws room had bed bugs. It was treated over and over and never solved. Also after treatments they wouldn't come in and sweep or do...
It is nice that there are all private rooms on the unit where my Mom lives. They have daily activities to engage and stimulate the residents that are quite varied.
I gave quality of care a 3 because they have moved her a lot in the long-term memory care unit, and they've lost quite a few of her things. Regarding number 6, my grandmother has dementia and doesn't...
My husband, who has Parkinson's, was a respite resident at The Commons on Meridian for most of the month of November, We were very staisfied with the facility and staff, Our initial tour highlighted the...
It's been a great experience for my loved one. It's been genuinely a great experience. [name removed] doesn't believe it but I believe it saved her life. She is much healthier now because of all the...
It was nice. There could have been some entertainment like music playing or a performer singing. And it was a little rushed. Food was great. Staff is very friendly and helpful. The place is always clean and...
What we like the most about The Harrison is the convenient location, compassionate care and diversity in staff and client population. We would absolutely recommend The Harrison to other families based on the...
I took a tour and this was top of our list, it seemed like it was going to be a great fit. ALL of the staff is helpful no matter what you need help with! I realize activities for memory care is difficult. ...
I would tell a friend that Bloom went out of their way to admit my mom on short notice and that the community is very friendly and there are many activities for your loved one.The main reason we picked Bloom...
Staff has always been friendly in communication; email, text and verbal. I have witnessed interactions between the staff and residents and never been worried about my parents being there. The facility has...
Enjoy the workers and the staff. really appreciate taking care of the people who are there. enjoy seeing my mom and the other people. all so friendly. Clean and safe. glad they have security. love being...
My mother has been at Wyndmoor for over 5 years now. This facility provided the diligent care necessary during the COVID pandemic! No cases of COVID outbreak until Dec 2020 and even that was limited and...
My mom is tenderly and lovingly watched over by the Manor staff at GVS. It is my hope that this facility fiscally cares for these folks as they are worth their weight in gold. (Looks like their break area...
After the horrible experience we had at the previous facility we were apprehensive about a new place. Since coming to Demaree, my mom has improved greatly and is smiling and laughing and “talking” so much...
The management team at Independence Village are truly dedicated to providing the best quality of life for the community. They get to know their residents personally as well as their families. Just great...
The level of care has been very good. Any problems have been addressed quickly. The staff is kind and very attentive. This is especially important as my friend is nonverbal and has trouble conveying what she...
Rating of 5 for all categories except category 5. Dad isn't a fan of the meals/dining area but he was spoiled by my mom's home cooking. The staff appeared to go out of their way to help Dad through the...
I live in the memory care unit at the Altenheim because my husband has late stage Alzheimer’s disease. We live in a nice one bedroom apartment. We are given three good meals a day and there is a nurse who...
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders Indianapolis community options based on factors we know are important to seniors and their families:
We collect proprietary data from our network of 14,000+ senior living communities in the U.S., with regular refreshes of data and information
We have 387,000+ reviews from senior living residents and family members that provide first-hand accounts about senior living communities
The cost of a senior care facility in Indianapolis is widely dependent on the level of care provided there. In almost all cases, a skilled nursing facility will cost more than an assisted living or memory care facility, because of the extensive medical support and supervision it provides.
It’s important to be aware of how much care services affect the cost and be familiar with what services are provided in different types of senior care facilities. Otherwise, you could end up paying for services that aren’t actually needed.
On-site medical staff, round-the-clock medical supervision, and skilled nursing services make skilled nursing facilities the costliest type of senior care facility. The cost can vary depending on whether you have a private or semi-private room. On average, the cost of a semi-private room in a skilled nursing home is $7,057 and $8,973 for a private room, according to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care survey.[01]
Many seniors seek out an assisted living facility when they need help with personal care services or activities of daily living (ADLs). The average cost of one of our in-network Indianapolis assisted living facilities is $3,900 per month, according to A Place for Mom’s 2022 proprietary data.[02] This total amount factors in the cost of rent and personal care services that are often bundled into the monthly rate. Here are the services you can expect to find at our partner Indy assisted living communities:
Some assisted living facilities have dedicated memory care units for residents with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Residents in memory care units receive similar services provided in an assisted living facility, like those above, as well as specialized memory care services. Memory care residents receive advanced services like enhanced security measures, 24-hour awake staff, and specialized activities and therapies. Memory care staff may also be required to have advanced training in memory care-caregiving techniques.
These more specialized care services usually result in memory care costing slightly more than assisted living alone. On average, the cost of one of our partner Indianapolis memory care facilities is $4,400 per month, according to A Place for Mom’s 2022 proprietary data.[02]
There are a variety of ways to pay for nursing homes in Indianapolis. Families will often use a mix of private and public pay options. Depending on a couple of different factors, Medicare and Medicaid can help out with some of the costs of long-term care or skilled nursing services. Veterans and surviving spouses may also be able to turn to certain benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
No matter what stage you’re at in your search for long-term care, it’s important to understand what financial resources may be available to help stay a step ahead of the costs. We delve into what specific payment methods can be used to cover certain long-term care costs at senior care facilities below.
Personal assets like savings accounts, investment returns, and retirement income are often the first resources seniors and families look into to pay for their ideal senior care facility. In some cases, the following options below may also be available to help pay for long-term senior care costs:
Number of veterans living in Indianapolis in 2021
About 25% of veterans in Indianapolis are age 75 and older.
Veteran-specific benefits may be available to help veterans or their spouses pay for long-term senior care costs. The Indianapolis Office of Veterans Services has several appointed county veterans service officers (CVSO) to help Indianapolis veterans access benefits. Disability benefits like the Aid and Attendance benefit are particularly helpful. This benefit provides monthly payments to eligible veterans or spouses for anything that improves quality of life, such as senior housing and care. You or a loved one may qualify for more benefits than you think, and local resources are there to help make sure you don’t miss out on any.
The first step to applying is contacting a CVSO or one of the veterans service organizations (VSO) located at the Indianapolis VA Regional Office. VSOs like the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and American Veterans (AMVETS) advocate for veterans and families and can help out with the complex benefits application process. Other VSOs include The American Legion, The Military Order of the Purple Heart, and Paralyzed Veterans of America. Find contact information and other online resources below.
Resources for Indianapolis veterans
The American Legion
575 N. Pennsylvania St., Room 325
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: 317-916-3605
American Veterans (AMVETS) — Find a post
575 N. Pennsylvania St., Room 314
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: 317-916-3613
Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
575 N. Pennsylvania St., Room 324
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: 317-916-3615
The Military Order of the Purple Heart
575 N. Pennsylvania St., Room 312
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: 317-916-3623
Paralyzed Veterans of America
575 N. Pennsylvania St., Room 313
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: 317-916-3626
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
575 N. Pennsylvania St., Room 319
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: 317-916-3629
Eligible individuals who meet financial and medical requirements may qualify for certain health care services through the Indiana Medicaid program. Medicaid is jointly managed by the federal and state government. In some cases, it may be used to pay for long-term care costs in nursing homes, memory care, and assisted living facilities. Find out how Medicaid may be used to pay for long-term care expenses in different types of senior care settings below.
Indiana Medicaid provides coverage for medically necessary care within a nursing home — or a skilled nursing facility — for patients who require a nursing home level of care. This means a person requires a level of care that can only be provided by licensed nurses and other types of health care professionals. Medicaid nursing homes provide the following to patients:
To qualify, you must be age 65 or older, blind, or disabled. You must also meet certain income and asset limits, which can change every year and vary by family size.
The cost to live in a private memory care or assisted living facility is not covered by Indiana Medicaid. However, some Medicaid programs let patients access in-home health care services in the residence or community of their choice. These programs meet the needs of seniors who need a nursing home level of care but would rather receive the services in their community or home instead of an institutional-like nursing home.
Depending on the facility, Medicaid will cover certain care services inside an assisted living or memory care facility through home and community based services (HCBS) waiver programs. The following HCBS programs may be available to help seniors with the cost of certain health care services:
You’ll need to apply for Medicaid before applying for the A&D waiver or the PACE program, which can be done in person at your local Division of Family Resources (DFR) office or online. Once that step is complete, you can contact your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) to get started with the application process to enroll in the A&D waiver program.
To apply for PACE, contact your local PACE organization. You can find a list of all Indiana PACE programs and contacts listed on the state’s Department of Family and Social Services Administration website.
Indiana Medicaid resources
Medicare is the federal health insurance program designed to help seniors pay for medically necessary health care costs. Depending on a person’s Medicare plan and the type of senior care setting, Medicare will pay for certain medically necessary, short-term care services.
Nursing homes in Indianapolis — or skilled nursing facilities — can be covered by Medicare for up to 100 days. To qualify for Medicare coverage, seniors must have a confirmed medical diagnosis and meet all of the following criteria:[04]
Most expenses incurred in an assisted living or memory care facility are considered custodial costs and aren’t covered by Medicare. However, there are some specific services and expenses that Medicare may pay for while a patient is living in an assisted living or memory care facility, like the following:
Indianapolis seniors have access to ample resources to help with Medicare. Trained Medicare counselors are available through the Indiana State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), as well as CICOA Aging and In-Home Solutions — the Marion County Area Agency on Aging (AAA). Both provide no-cost Medicare counseling to guide seniors through Medicare-approved services, eligibility requirements, how to file claims, and more.
Medicare resources
Indiana State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
Find a SHIP location near you
Central office phone: 800-452-4800
CICOA — Marion County Area Agency on Aging
Online request form
4755 Kingsway Dr., Suite 200
Indianapolis, IN 46205-1560
Phone: 317-254-5465
The state regulations for senior care facilities in Indiana vary somewhat depending on the type of care setting. We highlight some important state regulations in place for Indiana skilled nursing, assisted living, and memory care facilities below.
Skilled nursing facilities are also referred to as comprehensive care facilities in Indiana. Skilled nursing facilities are required to be licensed through the Comprehensive Care Facility Licensing and Certification Program by the Indiana Department of Health. Skilled nursing facilities are required to provide the following:[05]
Read on to find out about types of care provided in a skilled nursing facility, as well as some specific regulations for skilled nursing facilities.
Skilled nursing facilities are licensed to provide comprehensive nursing care, which goes beyond what’s provided in settings like assisted living or memory care facilities. Comprehensive nursing care includes the following types of medical care services:[05]
Indiana’s regulations for skilled nursing facilities help make sure facilities provide a safe and sanitary environment that promotes residents’ quality of life and dignity. We highlight a few of those regulations for skilled nursing facilities below:[05]
Assisted living facilities in Indiana can be licensed or unlicensed to operate. Both types of facilities should provide assistance with activities of daily living to individuals. We outline some distinctions between both types of facilities, as well as Indiana regulations for licensed assisted living facilities below.
Assisted living facilities can be either licensed or unlicensed in Indiana. Assisted living facilities that are licensed fall under the category of residential care facilities and are regulated and inspected by the Indiana Department of Health about every nine to 15 months. Licensed assisted living facilities can provide more advanced health care services like medication administration. Unlicensed assisted living facilities, on the other hand, can’t provide medication administration. However, residents can hire their own home health care caregivers if they need such services while living in a facility.
Unlike skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities — both licensed and unlicensed — can’t provide comprehensive nursing services or admit residents who need round-the-clock nursing care. They also can’t admit seniors who require total assistance with all their activities of daily living. We outline some more key regulations in place for licensed Indiana assisted living facilities below.
Any medication administration needs to be ordered by a resident’s doctor and supervised by a licensed nurse, though residents may self-administer or receive medication assistance from staff when appropriate and safe.
Below are some regulations for licensed assisted living communities in Indiana:[06]
Licensed assisted living facilities that offer memory care are required to submit an Alzheimer’s and dementia special care unit form. This form outlines a facility’s specific mission and philosophy for caring for patients with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, as well as the following:[06]
Memory care facilities that submit the disclosure form must have a designated director for the Alzheimer’s and dementia care unit. This director needs to complete the following:
All memory care staff are required to complete an initial orientation and annual in-service training. Memory care staff must also meet the following training requirements:[06]
You can find consumer reports of all licensed nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Indiana by searching the Indiana Department of Health online lookup tool. You can use the tool to search directly for a provider in the “find any provider” search box.
You can also look up a provider using the list menu, organized by county. Once you click the provider type (such as nursing homes or residential care facilities), you’ll have a list of all Indiana counties to choose from. Select the county you’re interested in, and a list of all licensed facilities will appear. From there, choose a facility and a pop-up box will open up and let you view the consumer report.
You can also submit a complaint to the Indiana Department of Health regarding any licensed health facility.
There currently aren’t any statewide mandates or restrictions in place for senior care communities, like assisted living or memory care, in Indianapolis. But private communities can set their own standards, so it’s important that you check with a prospective facility beforehand to understand their COVID-19 policies.
You can find the most recent public guidance and view county-specific information on the state’s COVID-19 response website. You can also find the latest guidance for Indianapolis on the Marion County Public Health Department website.
Indianapolis skilled nursing facilities have more advanced standards in place since they’re considered health care facilities. All Indianapolis skilled nursing facilities need to follow COVID-19 guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) specific to health care settings. These guidelines include the following:
Staff should use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) whenever there’s a confirmed case of COVID-19.
Everyone is recommended to stay current with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
Patients who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate in a private room for at least 10 days.
Health care professionals should wear masks and other types of personal protective equipment (PPE) around residents with confirmed COVID-19.
Senior care facilities are often grouped into a single category in people’s minds. But there are some pretty important distinctions you’ll want to be aware of when considering a senior care facility for a loved one. We lay out some key distinctions between different types of senior care facilities in Indianapolis below.
Skilled nursing facilities are often a short-term care option for people with complex medical needs or conditions. They provide medical care services just below those available at a hospital, such as round-the-clock, medically supervised nursing care. Most skilled nursing homes require a referral from a physician before admission. These facilities are designed to accommodate people who need to recover from an illness, surgery, or injury. Patients often return to their homes or move into a different type of senior care setting once they’ve recovered.
A Place for Mom doesn’t partner with stand-alone skilled nursing facilities. However, you can still find general nursing services at nearly all of our in-network assisted living and memory care facilities. Some of our partner assisted living and memory care facilities even have skilled nursing units right on-site, in the event their current residents require such advanced medical care.
Seniors who don’t need the level of care provided in a skilled nursing facility may consider an assisted living facility. In Indiana, assisted living facilities can be either licensed or unlicensed. The main difference between the two is that only licensed facilities can provide health services like medication administration. Assisted living facilities are designed to help seniors with activities of daily living (ADLs) while also providing socially engaging activities for them to participate in, which include the following:
Transportation, meals, housekeeping, and personal laundry are often considered baseline services at most assisted living facilities. Baseline services are typically included as part of the monthly cost. Many assisted living communities also offer access to on-site amenities such as fitness centers, resident lounges, game rooms, theaters, and outdoor courtyards. Additionally, you’ll find Indianapolis assisted living facilities offer a diverse selection of floor plans, with some featuring elegant, in-unit upgrades like stainless steel appliances and granite countertops.
Memory care facilities provide similar services and amenities as general assisted living facilities, with more specialized standards for staff and security. The facilities are designed to provide a secure living environment for residents with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. They also offer advanced therapies and person-centered activities for individuals with dementia. These specialized activities and therapeutic programs help to reduce loneliness, boredom, and aggressive behaviors in residents. Reminiscence and sensory-based programs are popular, and they help residents remember positive moments from the past and create new memories.
Most of our in-network memory care facilities feature enclosed courtyard areas, outdoor walking paths, and Wander Guard or similar systems to prevent residents from wandering away from the grounds. All of our partner memory care facilities have round-the-clock awake staff available, and staff are required to complete annual dementia-specific training. Some communities exclusively accommodate residents with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. But most of our partner memory care facilities operate on the same campus as an assisted living facility.
Know where to start.
Identify the right care for your loved one with our free assessment.
See what you can afford.
Understand cost and payment for long-term care based on your loved one's needs.
Find top facilities for you.
Free, personalized guidance from our Senior Living Advisors can help you narrow your search.
Tour your favorite facilities.
Our free touring checklist can help you choose the right community.
Number of seniors age 75+ currently living in Indianapolis
Average household earnings in Indianapolis[08]
Indianapolis is anything but short on exceptional health care and top-notch hospitals, according to Google reviews from patients. Take a peek at just a couple of Indianapolis’ biggest local hospitals.
Ascension St. Vincent Hospital Indianapolis
Ascension St. Vincent Hospital Indianapolis is a full-service hospital and a prime destination for specialty care. The hospital has highly qualified doctors on-site to provide both primary and specialty care in areas from cardiac rehabilitation to stroke care. Ascension St. Vincent also features a Level I trauma center and transplant center at its Indianapolis campus.
Indiana University Health — IU Health Methodist Hospital
IU Health Methodist Hospital is affiliated with Indiana University Health and is the state’s largest hospital. As a magnet-designated hospital, patients and families can expect the highest quality of care and exceptional nursing services. The hospital specializes in several specialties that include urology, neurology, and orthopedics.
More than half of our partner Indianapolis senior care facilities offer some form of transportation service to their residents. Most provide complimentary transportation, and a select few communities provide at-cost transportation. Residents in assisted living or memory care facilities often find the transportation services to be especially helpful for medical appointments and other errands. Not only is this highly convenient, but it’s also safer for seniors who can’t travel independently. Memory care facilities will even offer caregiver escorts on rides for seniors with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia.
For visiting friends and loved ones, Indianapolis has an expansive public transit system. IndyGo is Indianapolis’ primary public transit service and is made up of over 200 buses. All IndyGo buses are ADA-accessible, and there’s also a paratransit service available for passengers with disabilities who can’t access the fixed routes. Seniors who can safely travel on IndyGo buses receive a discounted fare when they present a valid Medicare card or Half Fare ID card. You can find an application for a Half Fare ID card online.
Indianapolis has several other transportation services as well, such as Way2Go, which helps Marion County seniors get to and from locations such as medical appointments, grocery stores, and pharmacies. You may also find one of the following Indianapolis transportation services to be helpful to you or your loved one:
From live theater performances and museums to outdoor excursions, Indianapolis is full of family-friendly experiences and attractions. Several of the city’s key points of interest have adaptations available to make them accessible to people of all abilities. Take a peek at some of Indianapolis’ best and most accessible attractions below.
Take a stroll through one of Indianapolis’ lovely outdoor spaces. These parks all boast different accessibility features, like accessible parking and restrooms, as well as crosswalks with visual prompts and audio commands.
Indianapolis has several historic attractions for everyone to enjoy. Most of these venues allow trained service animals and have accessible parking, restrooms, and elevators for guests with limited mobility.
From concerts to Broadway shows, Indianapolis has plenty of live entertainment options at its performing arts venues, with generous accessibility options. Many venues offer features like accessible seating, shows with American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, and sensory-friendly performances.
Some of Indianapolis’ most popular attractions have adaptations available that make it possible for people all of ages and abilities to get in on the fun. Take a look at some of Indianapolis’ top destinations and the accessibility accommodations they offer below.
Magnolia Springs Bridgewater, Greenwood Village South and Demaree Crossing are the top-rated Nursing Homes facilities near Indianapolis, IN. 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 Indianapolis is $4,423 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
Views -> Challenger -> By Care type answer 3
Genworth. (2021). Cost of care survey: Indianapolis area, Indiana.
A Place for Mom. (2022). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran status (S2101): Indianapolis. [Data set]. American community survey.
U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Skilled nursing facility (SNF) care. Medicare.gov.
Indiana Department of Health. Indiana Administrative Code. Article 16. Health facilities; Licensing and operational standards.
Indiana Department of Health. (2022). Residential care facilities.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). ACS demographic and housing estimates (DP05): Indianapolis. [Data set]. American community survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Population 65 years and over in the United States (S0103): Indianapolis. American community survey.
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
Genworth. (2021). Cost of care survey: Indianapolis area, Indiana.
A Place for Mom. (2022). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran status (S2101): Indianapolis. [Data set]. American community survey.
U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Skilled nursing facility (SNF) care. Medicare.gov.
Indiana Department of Health. Indiana Administrative Code. Article 16. Health facilities; Licensing and operational standards.
Indiana Department of Health. (2022). Residential care facilities.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). ACS demographic and housing estimates (DP05): Indianapolis. [Data set]. American community survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Population 65 years and over in the United States (S0103): Indianapolis. American community survey.