10 Best Nursing Homes in Bronx, NY

If your loved one needs round-the-clock medical support and supervision, you’ll want to understand the costs associated with nursing home care in the area. In 2021, the median monthly cost of a nursing facility was $13,231 for a private room, and $12,471 for a semi-private room in NYC.^[02] While 2023 data is not available, prices will likely increase based on historical trends and inflation.

Nursing home costs typically include the following:

• A private or semi-private room
• Skilled nursing care, such as wound care or IV care
• Dining services, including meals and snacks
• Rehabilitation support for injuries and post-surgery recovery
• Medication management and administration
• Incontinence care and supportive therapies, such as pelvic floor therapy
• Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy

Cost of assisted living in the Bronx

Assisted living in the Bronx is usually cheaper than nursing homes. This is typically because nursing homes offer a higher level of care and intensive supervision. The average monthly cost of assisted living in the Bronx at A Place for Mom’s partner communities is around $7,000 a month, as noted by A Place for Mom’s proprietary data from its partner communities.

Seniors can expect to spend around the same amount per month at A Place for Mom’s partner communities in Staten Island (about $6,700) and Queens (about $6,300).

Among A Place for Mom’s partner communities, Brooklyn offers the cheapest average monthly cost of assisted living at roughly $4,300 a month, while Manhattan is the most expensive at approximately $12,000 per month.^[01]

Assisted living costs in the Bronx usually cover the following:

• A unit within the community
• Meal preparation and dining services
• Maintenance, landscaping, and housekeeping
• Personal care services
• Transportation services
• Social activities, holiday celebrations, and other events

Cost of Bronx memory care

Memory care is typically more expensive than assisted living but may be on par or slightly cheaper than nursing care. The average monthly cost of memory care in the Bronx in A Place for Mom’s partner communities is approximately $8,000 per month.^[01]

This is the second most expensive borough for memory care in NYC, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data from its partner communities. Only Manhattan is more expensive at approximately $13,000 per month.

Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island offer more affordable memory care than the Bronx at around $4,400, $6,700, and $6,700 per month, respectively, as indicated by data from A Place for Mom’s partner communities in NYC.^[01]

These monthly fees usually include services found in assisted living along with the following:

• Specially trained memory care staff
• A secured atmosphere to discourage wandering
• Calming design elements
• Wayfinding supports, such as signs and color-coded hallways

It can feel overwhelming when you look at the costs of senior care. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to cover these expenses, including private funds and public programs.

For information on how to pay for senior care in the Big Apple, visit the payment details on our NYC nursing homes page. If you’d like a broader look at paying for all types of senior care, you can review A Place for Mom’s guide to paying for long-term care.

Private pay options for Bronx nursing homes

It’s common for seniors to pay for senior care out of private funds prior to using public pay options such as Medicaid. These private funds may come from the following:

• Borrowing from a life insurance policy
• Using funds from a health savings accounts (HSA)
• Using long-term care insurance
• Selling a home
• Taking out a reverse mortgage

Public pay options for Bronx nursing homes

In some cases, public programs can help older adults cover the cost of nursing home care in the Bronx. To explore public pay options in NYC, connect with or use the following local resources:

• Senior Services Unit of the Office of the Bronx Borough President
• NYC Department for the Aging
• Bronx Senior Resource Guide

Read on to learn what Medicare, Medicaid, and VA benefits may cover when it comes to nursing home care in the Bronx.

Can Medicare pay for nursing homes in the Bronx?

As a federal health insurance program, Medicare offers coverage to eligible people who are at least 65 years old in the Bronx. Medicare typically covers short-term stays at a skilled nursing facility, but specific conditions must be met for coverage to apply. It’s important to understand that Medicare is not a long-term payment solution for skilled nursing care.^[03]

If your loved one needs assisted living or memory care, Medicare may cover some costs for health care services received in those communities. These may include the following for eligible participants:^[04]

• Prescription medications
• Medical supplies
• Preventative care services
• Hospice care
• Rehabilitative services

For additional information on these benefits, contact a local Social Security Administration (SSA) office in the borough.

Locations can be found on the Social Security Office Locator. Follow these steps to search:

1. Enter your ZIP code.
2. Select “I Need Other Services” to see locations in the area.

Can Medicaid pay for nursing homes in the Bronx?

For Bronx residents, Medicaid is commonly referred to as New York State Medicaid. Medicaid a joint federal and state program that offers health insurance to qualified, low-income New Yorkers. It can also help eligible Bronxites pay for senior care, including the following:^[05]

• Long-term care at a skilled nursing facility
• Rehabilitation services related to a disability, injury, or illness
• Skilled nursing and other related medical care

For those who prefer to reside in an assisted living community, New York offers an Assisted Living Program (ALP). ALP can help Medicaid recipients cover the cost of assisted living services. However, the program is limited and certain conditions must be met for eligibility.

Seniors can connect with any of the following Medicaid offices located in the Bronx for help with Medicaid:

Fordham
241-2529 Bainbridge Ave.
Bronx, NY 10458
Phone: 929-252-3230
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET

Rider Community
305 Rider Ave., Fourth Floor
Bronx, NY 10451
Phone: 718-585-7872
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET

Can VA benefits pay for nursing homes in the Bronx?

With approximately 18% of NYC’s veterans calling the Bronx their home, there are many resources for veterans in the borough.^[06]

Public nursing options are available and may be covered by VA benefits. For veterans interested in living with their fellow brothers-and-sisters-in-arms, the Community Living Center (VA nursing homes) located at James J. Peters VA Medical Center in the Bronx may be a good fit. There are also state veterans homes located nearby in Queens and Long Island. These options are usually less expensive than private nursing home options.

For people who prefer to reside in a private nursing home, assisted living community, or memory care community, the VA offers programs to help cover the costs, including the following:

• VA Aid and Attendance benefit
• VA Pension
• VA Survivors Pension
• VA disability compensation
• VA health benefits

It can be challenging to navigate VA benefits. The New York City Department of Veterans’ Services Bronx location or a local veterans service organization (VSO), such as the American Legion Leonard H. Hawkins Post 156, can typically offer support with VA benefit questions and applications. Additional VSOs are also located near Manhattan.

If your loved one doesn’t qualify for VA benefits or decides they’re not interested in going through the VA application process, they may still qualify for a veteran or military discount at a senior care community. It’s a good idea to inquire about such discounts during a community tour.

The Bronx is known for its diverse population, cultural richness, and distinct neighborhood vibes. Compared to other boroughs, the Bronx has a significant Hispanic population with more than half of its population identifying as such in the latest U.S. Census.^[07] There’s also a rapidly growing Asian population in this borough. Plus, the Bronx features a growing population of older adults with 14% of the Bronx population aged 65 and older.^[08]

The reality of day-to-day life in the Bronx varies from neighborhood to neighborhood. This is especially true when looking at the two regions in the Bronx: the South Bronx and the North Bronx.

While the boundary lines between the South Bronx and the North Bronx may depend upon who you ask, the dividing line is typically Fordham Road or Pelham Parkway. The South Bronx typically has higher population density neighborhoods with urban core vibes. Some areas have benefited from revitalization in the last few decades.

The North Bronx is generally more affluent than the South Bronx, and its neighborhoods tend to have a more suburban feel like Staten Island. There is usually lower population density in this area. A Place for Mom’s assisted living and memory care partner communities are typically located in the North Bronx.

Care and amenities in Bronx nursing homes

Nursing homes in the Bronx can vary widely and may be reflective of its surrounding neighborhood. The South Bronx is more likely to have high-rise or multistory nursing homes with cozy units and more compact layouts, which means they may be easier for residents with mobility issues to navigate. The North Bronx generally has more spacious nursing home accommodations that often feature outdoor spaces.

Regardless of location, these skilled nursing facilities typically offer the following care, services, and amenities:

• Skilled nursing care or other specialized medical care
• 24/7 supervision
• On-site medical equipment, such as a Hoyer lift
• Activities for socialization
• Design elements specialized for people with limited mobility or wheelchair users

Care and amenities in Bronx assisted living and memory care

A Place for Mom’s partner communities in the North Bronx often combine assisted living and memory care into a combined community with separate wings. The assisted living wings typically offer the following care, services, and amenities:^[01]

• Personal care services
• Mobility assistance
• Cultural and religious services
• Educational classes
• Fitness and wellness programs
• Gyms or enclosed walking spaces
• Clean and accessible common areas
• Parties and holiday celebrations
• Game rooms, movie theaters, or other entertainment options
• Beauty salon or barber shop

 
Memory care wings in these combined communities typically offer similar services as the assisted living wings but with additional dementia care and support, such as the following:^[01]

• Specialized programing, such as reminiscence therapy or sensory-based programs
• Safe spaces designed for people with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia
• Staff specifically trained in memory care techniques

As part of New York, nursing homes and assisted living facilities — also referred to as adult care facilities — in the Bronx are monitored by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH).

While nursing homes and adult care facilities fall under different rules and regulations based on their respective care type, NYSDOH works to maintain resident safety and quality of care in the Bronx. This department regularly inspects these facilities at routine intervals.

The NYSDOH website allows the public to view information online about nursing homes and assisted living communities.

To search for nursing homes, use the NYS Nursing Home Profiles search portal. Enter the ZIP code, city, or facility name into the search bar.

To search for assisted living communities, use the adult care facilities search portal. To use this search portal, you’ll need to do the following:

1. Select “Bronx” under the “Select a Region/County” drop-down menu.
2. Click on the blue hyperlinked name of an assisted living facility.
3. After clicking the link, the assisted living facility information should appear.

The Bronx offers a variety of activities for seniors and their families, as noted by the Bronx Tourism Council. If your loved one enjoys seeing the local sites, they may enjoy trips to the following attractions:

• Yankee Stadium, the home of the New York Yankees, a major league baseball team
• Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, the former residence of the renowned 19th century American writer
• Enrico Fermi Cultural Center, a space that celebrates Italian heritage in the heart of the Bronx’s Little Italy

During nice weather, you can take your loved one to enjoy nature and the outdoors at the following destinations:

• The Bronx Zoo, the home to hundreds of species and thousands of animals
• Pelham Bay Park, the largest park in all of NYC
• Orchard Beach, one of NYC’s most famous artificial beaches

While many attractions in NYC promote accessibility, it can be beneficial to call ahead to any place you plan to visit. This way, you can learn whether their building or facility can accommodate your loved one’s unique needs.

As health concerns tend to grow with age, it can be reassuring to family members to know that there are health care resources located within the Bronx. The following health care centers offer quality care to elder Bronx residents:

BronxCare Health System. As a health care system in the borough, BronxCare provides a multitude of medical care options in the Bronx that offer care, such as pulmonary care, critical care, neurology, and physical rehabilitation services.^[09]

Montefiore Medical Center. As a top 10 hospital in NYC, Montefiore Medical Center specializes in adult care, such as cardiology and cancer care.^[09]

Many people in the Bronx rely on other forms of transportation beyond personal vehicles to get around the borough. Among A Place for Mom’s assisted living and memory care partner communities, the majority (about 66%) provide complimentary transportation.^[01] The remaining communities may charge an additional fee. It’s helpful to inquire about transportation options when touring a prospective community.

For visiting family members, the area is serviced by two major airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport. There are also public transportation options in the Bronx, such as railways, subways, and buses. It’s important to understand accessibility guidelines prior to escorting your loved one on these public transportation options, as not all options offer the same level of accessibility.