Indianapolis Nursing Homes

Indiana's capital and largest city has many different assisted living options for seniors. Whether you want to live downtown, in the suburbs or in one of the quiet neighboring towns, Indianapolis has something for everyone. You'll find a low cost of living and all the cultural amenities of a big city.

For many seniors, living on a fixed budget is a fact of life. That's what makes Indianapolis so attractive. The city's cost of living is almost 20% lower than the national average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median sales price on homes was recently $131,466. Indiana's total state/local burden is 9.5% or 25th in the country. Social security is exempt from taxes; some military retirement income is exempt; out-of-state pensions are fully taxed. The average car insurance premium is $1,700. And the average property tax in Indianapolis is $2,562.

The climate of Indianapolis is classic Midwestern: cold winters and hot and humid summers. The January average temperature is 18 degrees F while July's average is 85 degrees F. The city averages 186 yearly sunny days and 16 inches of sun.

Befitting a city of nearly 800,000, Indianapolis has over 3,000 restaurants, 350 bars, 67 libraries, and 50 movie theaters, according to a Money magazine report. The city hosts the Indy Jazz Festival, the Indiana State Fair, and the Penrod Art Fair to name a few. And for sports fans, there's the Indianapolis 500, the Colts and the Pacers.

For active seniors, Indianapolis boasts 137 public golf courses, 11,000 park acres, and 121 public tennis courts. Just completed, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail is a public bike and pedestrian path that connects downtown's five cultural districts.

If you like the big city atmosphere, consider Lockfield Village, an assisted living facility on the Indiana University-Purdue University campus. Outside the city, the Hearth at Windemere-an assisted living and independent living facility-sits in the town of Fishers. Fishers was ranked eighth in Money Magazine's best places to live in 2010.

If you know generally where you want to live in Indianapolis, type a zip code or address into the advanced search feature. You'll get a listing of all the assisted living facilities, nursing homes, etc. as well as a map with their locations. You can also click on one of the facility tabs at the top to search by type of living.

Indianapolis has 54 skilled nursing homes, but only 36 have Medicare ratings. The average rating is 2.7 stars out of 5, meaning most homes rate below average. Ten homes have 4 stars or better, while 19 rate 2 stars or lower. Families should know that ratings vary significantly across the city.

Staffing levels are low; the average is 3.7 nursing hours per resident daily, with only 0.6 hours from a registered nurse. Annual staff turnover is 51%, which means consistent care is harder to maintain. These numbers suggest many homes operate with minimal staffing, potentially affecting daily care quality.

There are 14 hospitals in Marion County, including Eskenazi Health with an emergency department. The statewide average cost for a shared room is $68,250 yearly. Families should prioritize homes rated 4 stars or higher within Indianapolis, as ten exist, or consider neighboring towns if better-rated options are needed locally.