Senior Living Apartments in St Louis, MO

There are multiple ways to pay for a senior apartment in St. Louis. Even though the costs of senior apartments aren’t covered by long-term care insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, these programs can be used in other ways to offset the costs of in-home care and medically necessary services.

Whether you’re considering retirement savings, social security benefits, or housing benefits to cover the cost of senior apartments, many people choose to combine several financial sources.

In this section, you’ll learn how private payment methods, Medicaid, Medicare, VA benefits, and public assistance can all be used to fund a move into a senior apartment community.

Generally speaking, senior apartments have a minimum age requirement of 55 years old.^[03] However, this mainly depends on the community itself, some of which require seniors to be 60 or up.

From a regulatory perspective, senior apartments aren’t licensed because they’re rental properties. However, there are city, county, state, and federal laws that protect renters and ensure safe and equitable housing.

• The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination due to familial status, race, nationality, religion, sex, and disability. Within this act is the Housing for Older Persons exemption which ensures people over 55 can only rent approved housing.
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against those with disabilities and requires senior apartments to have adequate accessibility, including in common areas.
• Under Missouri’s Landlord-Tenant Law, renters are protected from code violations and neglectful tenants by being able to deduct half of a month’s rent, or $300 (whichever is greater).

Rental properties participating in HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Program also require an initial inspection before being rented out; these inspections are valid for two years^[04] and have to be in line with the following criteria. A special inspection can be done if a complaint is filed. Reach out to the Housing Authority of St. Louis County to inquire about inspection reports.

COVID-19 regulations for St. Louis senior apartments communities

There are no COVID-19 regulations for senior apartment complexes, though the city of St. Louis does have some general best practices based on recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control.

The Department of Health also encourages the avoidance of people with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 and isolating if you have COVID-19.

With an abundance of art museums, quirky shops, beautiful gardens, and a significant number of community groups, St. Louis is a great spot for those who want to maintain their independence while developing a sense of community with others. Expect a senior apartment that takes the pressure off, with senior apartment fees often including utilities, security, landscaping, and home maintenance.

Senior apartments are ideal for an active lifestyle

Because senior apartments are typically for people over the age of 55, these communities can provide amenities and activities tailored specifically to people in the same stage of life. Many focus on giving people the opportunity to continue enjoying a bustling lifestyle. Golf, swimming pools, tennis courts, and fitness centers are just some of the amenities offered.

Residents can expect amenities that emphasize community

For those who want to make friends and maintain friendships, many senior apartments offer amenities that bring people together. Whether it’s a scheduled daily event, a trip to the on-site beauty salon, or holiday parties and celebrations, you can expect to see many ways to enjoy life with the people you love.

Senior apartments that are close to everything St. Louis has to offer

Whether you want to spend the day shopping, indulge in any dining option you could imagine, or take a trip to the famous Gateway Arch, senior apartments in St. Louis are close to several attractions. There’s plenty to do for locals and visitors to the area.

Senior apartments in the surrounding St. Louis suburbs

For those looking for senior apartment living a little further out, there are options all the way from standalone facilities to combo facilities that offer independent and/or assisted living within a 25-mile radius of St. Louis’ center.

Health care for seniors in St. Louis

Transportation for seniors in St. Louis

St. Louis is a city where people primarily use cars to get around, though, with a walk score of 66 out of 100, some neighborhoods are walkable.^[10] A walk score measures the walkability of cities.

There are several public transportation options through the Metro system, and all are accessible to people who need assistance. The MetroBus is equipped with lifts or ramps, has kneelers for those who need help with stairs, and has priority seating options. MetroLink has similar accommodations, alongside floor-level entry and exit platforms, with all stations also having ramps or elevators.^[11] Amtrak offers accessible seating, but reservations must be made in advance.^[12]

Metro also offers the Call-A-Ride program, which provides curb-to-curb para-transport services for those with physical or cognitive disabilities. For more information, Metro’s accessibility page outlines all the accessibility features St. Louis public transport has.

For those unable to use public transport or a car, there are several transport options for seniors:

• The City of St. Louis offers free transportation for non-emergency errands and senior centers sponsored by the St. Louis Area on Aging.
• City Seniors offers medical and banking transportation for people over the age of 60, as well as offering pre-planned group trips to shopping centers and luncheons.
• Seniors on the Fly provides personal assistance and transportation within the greater St. Louis metropolitan area.

Mercy Hospital also has a helpful list of transportation options and resources for people on a low income.

Senior activities in St. Louis

Can you say you’ve visited St. Louis if you haven’t visited St. Louis Arch? The arch is the tallest monument in the U.S. and the St. Louis Arch Grounds and Museum is a fun way to see the city and learn more about the Native Americans, explorers, and pioneers that shaped U.S. history. Stay on solid ground or take a tram that will lift you 630 feet in the air for the city’s best views. If you are worried about wheelchair accessibility, the arch includes wheelchair-accessible ramps and elevators.

St. Louis has a strong museum presence, all with different specialties. The St. Louis Art Museum hosts some of the greats – from Monet to Ming Dynasty textiles – while the Missouri History Museum and Soldiers Memorial have short- and long-term exhibitions on the history of St. Louis; both are wheelchair accessible.

Music lovers can take in the National Blues Museum to learn about the genre’s history through exhibits and theatre, which includes a senior discount. Or, if live music is more your thing, you can check out the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra or Sheldon Concert Hall. Led by Stéphane Denève, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra regularly hosts other artists and free community events. The Sheldon Concert Hall is known for its regular jazz, classical, and folk performances and regularly hosts a Coffee Concert for Seniors event.

For those who love spending time outside, consider taking a stroll through Tower Grove Park. This park and its surrounding neighborhood have plenty to see, from the park itself, studded with vibrant flowers in spring, to the cafes and boutique stores surrounding it.

Just 10 minutes from Tower Grove Park, you’ll find the St. Louis Zoo and the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station. St. Louis Zoo is one of the few free zoos left in the country and is home to 12,000 animals across 500 species. Not far away, St. Louis Aquarium lets visitors come face to face with a range of aquatic wildlife. The aquarium is wheelchair accessible and offers free entry to medically necessary paid care attendants traveling with a guest.

Traveling Downtown, sports fans can spend an afternoon or evening at a Cardinals game. Housed in Busch Stadium, accessible seating is available, and you’ll get a great view of the St. Louis skyline while enjoying the game.

Founded in 1852, Anheuser-Busch has been an iconic part of the St. Louis landscape, and there’s no better way to learn about the history of this brewery than visiting the Budweiser brewery. You’ll learn about beer brewing traditions and take in three National Historic Landmarks while you’re at it.

Lovers of Broadway may want to visit one of St. Louis’ esteemed theaters, The Fabulous Fox or The Muny. Both have diverse show offerings and offer accessible seating, communication aids, and listening devices.

For people interested in staying active in the community and making new friends, the following senior centers have various programming and supportive services:

• St. Louis Activity Center
• St. Louis Jewish Community Center
• Five Star Senior Center
• City Seniors Inc.
• Urban League PATCH Center
• Macklind International Senior
• Northside Senior Center
• Southside Wellness Center
• Wesley House Senior Center