Buffalo has long been known for the beauty of its seasons: moderate summers, cool autumns, beautifully white winters, and not terribly rainy springs. Buffalo is a bit like that proverbial porridge: not too hot, not too cold – it’s just right, which certainly makes it an ideal location for the senior population.
So if you’re looking for a nursing home in Buffalo, you may actually be searching for assisted living or memory care senior living facilities. Nursing homes have become an umbrella term used to describe a range of residential senior care facilities, such as assisted living and memory care facilities. Assisted living facilities provide seniors, who are somewhat independent, with the support they need to successfully complete daily activities. Memory care facilities specialize in 24/7 care and long-term accommodations for the elderly with memory loss, while nursing homes provide constant medical care.
While A Place for Mom doesn’t partner with stand-alone skilled nursing facilities, we do have relationships with 12 senior living communities in the Buffalo area that offer assisted living and memory care. To make the process of finding a senior living community that is perfectly suited to you or your loved one’s needs easier, we’ve put together a detailed guide on assisted living and memory care facilities within a 10-mile radius of Buffalo’s city center. Each is ranked by a variety of categories. You’ll also find additional information on costs, payment options, local and state regulations, transportation services, health care, and more.
Everyone is so friendly, residence and staff. Also I can visit every day if I want since it's so close. Based on the experience we have had, we would recommend Brookdale Kenmore to other families
I feel their problem is not unusual at Peregrines. Staffing is always short-handed. All the staff pitch in and make up for where they are needed. Office staff in the dining room. The staff that works there...
Recently moved my 95 year old Mother from out-of-state Independent Living to Amberleigh Assisted Care since she needs the availability of 24 hour monitoring and nursing/aide care. Overall experience with...
My loved one is a resident at Peregrine Senior Living at Orchard Park and everything has been great so far. I would recommend this facility to others.
We had a great experience with Brookdale & we are grateful for the assistance A Place for Mom provided. My mother in law passed away two years ago, but we do appreciate the recommendation for Brookdale!...
Facility is all private rooms. Nice sitting area outside during summer, under cover from sun and rain. Many activities and staff encourage residents participation. Nursing staff communicates resident's needs...
Overall, good experience. Staff are nice, friendly, and helpful. Place is very clean. Seems to be understaffed. They have PT / OT services and a doctor and nurse that come on site per a schedule. They do...
My mom loves the food and they are very kind to her. She misses her home, of course, but she likes the facility and adjusted very quickly. Her memory has declined further but still doing ok in Assisted...
Staff is very friendly. Housekeeping and maintenance do an excellent job. Communication with family is lacking at times, but has definitely improved after my mom has been there for a few months. My mom...
The facility is perfect, very neat and very clean. I could only eat the meals towards the end, but they were okay. I think the staff should pay more attention to the patients.
I would recommend. We toured only two facilities and really liked Elderwood in Williamsville. My mom is very happy there. And I'm so grateful for the assistance I got from you.
Brompton Heights does a good job at working with you to make sure your loved one has the best care possible. They are compassionate, and skilled at different levels of care for the residents. The meals...
I like the rooms and the friendliness of the staff. There are different staff, from different areas, that stop by every day to see if there is anything they can do and how the coordination is going. The...
it's going okay with my loved one being here so far. i've personally spent some time at another Elderwood community and did not like it. they have several locations, and this one gets a FIVE!
I've been very satisfied. I have been so pleased, I can't tell you how pleased I've been. I'm a retired nurse, so I'm familiar with good and bad nursing care, and they're fantastic. They try their best to...
Therapy has been excellent. My loved one is starting to get some movement back in her legs. The nurses have been nice. The meals are great. The doctors come by on a regular basis.
Everybody provides great care and if I need anything answered, one of the nurses gives you what you need. They give my loved one the rehab he needs. You can smell that it is clean. If I ask them to do...
Overall our experience with Elderwood Assisted Living has been a good one. The staff is very compassionate, and they do a great job explaining everything that is going to be going on. We had a few difficult...
Eden turned out to be an excellent fit for my Uncle. The staff is warm and welcoming; they made sure to give him the time he needed to adjust to his new environment. It's very clean, and bright and there is...
I have regularily been going there for over six years and It has never had a smell of any kind. It is very clean and the food is very good. I have had two relatives there, one of which is my mom. I...
Was expectibg one of the lower tier homes for the price but it’s very nice there!
We are very pleased with the Bristol home. Mom is also very happy there. She has made friends and is much more active. All personnel are friendly. We feel she is safe and well cared for.
She recovered enough to the point that we were able to move her to Assisted Living. The building was older and the rooms were smaller.
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders Buffalo 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
Nursing home facilities in Buffalo average about $12,994 per month for a semi-private room or $13,559 for a private one.[01] According to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data, assisted living in the area costs an average of $4,299 per month.[02] Memory care, on the other hand, is slightly higher, averaging about $4,396 per month.[02] These assisted living and memory care cost figures account for room, board, care services, and other associated fees and add-ons and represent total cost.
Services do vary by facility but often assisted living and memory care involve medication management, snacks and meal services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and dementia therapies, to name only a few. You can also expect a facility to provide an age-friendly environment, amenities, and a range of activities such as live music, day trips, picnics, and holiday parties. Nursing homes, on the other hand, are focused on round-the-clock medical care.
Paying for a nursing home, assisted living, or memory care facility often involves a combination of private and public resources. Below, you’ll find additional information on some common means of paying for care, including VA benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, and personal funds.
Some portion of the costs for skilled nursing, assisted living, or memory care will likely require some private funds. These might include personal savings accounts, pensions, Social Security benefits, distributions from retirement accounts, income generated from investments, and any one or more of the following:
Number of veterans who live in Buffalo
About 25% of Buffalo veterans are over the age of 75
Veterans living in the Buffalo area will have a range of VA benefits available, often starting with the VA Pension. The VA Pension is a needs-based benefit that supplements a veteran’s income, so it can go toward the costs of a skilled nursing home, assisted living community, or memory care facility. The VA Aid and Attendance benefit can also be helpful in offsetting the cost of care, but only for veterans or survivors requiring assistance in their day-to-day activities (i.e., bathing, dressing, eating, etc.) or who meet other requirements, such as having vision impairments, a need to be bedfast, or who reside in a nursing home.
If you have a service-related disability, you may be eligible for VA Disability Compensation, as well. This benefit can be applied toward health-related expenses. It also bears mentioning that your disability status affects VA copays and program eligibility. If you’re eligible and haven’t yet applied, do so by mailing an application to your VA Regional Office or filling out the online form. You can find additional information about the VA Disability Compensation on the VA website.
With the level of complexity involved in the VA benefits system, you may also want to consider working with a veteran service officer. These experts can be a wealth of information and provide much-needed assistance in the application process. To connect with a VA-vetted and recognized advisor, contact any one of the Buffalo area’s veterans service organizations or a local VA office.
Resources for Buffalo veterans
VA Buffalo Regional Office
130 S. Elmwood Ave., Suite 601
Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: 800-827-1000
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Erie County Veterans Service Agency
Rath Office Building
95 Franklin St., Suite 800
Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: 716-862-8902
Disabled American Veterans
130 S. Elmwood Ave., Suite 620
Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: 716-858-6363
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Erie County American Legion
609 City Hall
65 Niagara St.
Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: 716-852-6500
AMVETS Post 72
1881 Clinton St.
Buffalo, NY 14206
Phone: 716-825-6207
Vietnam Veterans of America Post 77
57 Main St.
Tonawanda, NY 14150
Phone: 716-693-4479
VFW Post 898
Col. John B. Weber Post
2909 S. Park Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14218
Phone: 716-823-9605
Medicaid in New York provides comprehensive health coverage for income-eligible seniors and can go a long way in helping offset the costs for a wide range of services. And though the benefit does not pay for custodial care (i.e., room and board) at assisted living communities or memory care facilities, it does pay for custodial care at nursing homes.
However, those living in assisted living or memory care facilities might be eligible for in-home health care coverage through a Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver.
If you require long-term care, Medicaid Managed Care has several different plans available through its Medicaid Managed Long-Term Care Program. These plans generally provide home care and community-based services and may also offer assistance in paying for personal care, adult day care, and specialty health, like physical therapy, speech therapy, audiology, and more. For any senior with Alzheimer’s disease or a dementia-related diagnosis, the Special Needs Assisted Living Residence (SNALR) voucher program is often of benefit, as it can provide vouchers for up to 75% of the regional monthly private pay rate for approved applicants.
The local Office for the Aging has information and applications for the New York State Partnership for Long-Term Care. This is a program that helps seniors protect their assets and remain qualified for Medicaid by using a combination of private long-term care insurance and Medicaid to help with long-term care.
Before choosing a Medicaid plan, it’s always advisable to review your options. You can also get more personalized assistance by contacting a Medicaid enrollment navigator. Your local ombudsman can also help guide you through the process of applying and using your benefits. If you’re not familiar, ombudsmen are trained to help answer health coverage questions, advocate for your rights, and provide assistance with Medicaid, Medicare, and long-term care.
For the application process, you have a number of options available. For one, the enrollment assistants not only can answer questions but help with your application. Additionally, you can apply through any one of the following ways: online (here are step-by-step instructions) or by printing out a paper application for Medicaid and mailing it to the Erie County Work Center.
Buffalo resident Medicaid resources
Medicaid application mailing address
P.O. Box 120
Buffalo, NY 14201-9903
Erie County Work Center
159 Pearl St.
Buffalo, NY 14202
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Office for the Aging
Erie County Department of Senior Services
95 Franklin St., Room 1329
Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: 716-858-8526
Email: nyconnects@erie.gov
New York State of Health Customer Service Center
Phone: 855-355-5777
TYY: 800-662-1220
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program – Region 15
Contact: Susan Fenster, ombudsman coordinator
2447 Main St.
Buffalo, NY 14214
Phone: 716-817-5626
Email: sfenster@people-inc.org
Medicare does not cover custodial care (room and board) in assisted living or memory care facilities. It does, however, cover skilled nursing care but only on a short-term basis to help pay for the following when medically necessary:
For seniors with Alzheimer’s or a dementia-related diagnosis, Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model provides additional benefits, cost savings, and more flexible health care plans – not to mention, improved care coordination. Medicare also covers many of the costs associated with care planning for people with dementia, such as cognitive evaluations, safety evaluations, and other related services.[05]
Other programs to look into include the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). There are two providers in the Buffalo area. PACE is a program that helps seniors avoid nursing home placement by providing a variety of social and medical services in their homes or senior living facilities.
The Medicare Savings Program provides extra assistance to low-income seniors who need help paying copayments or Medicare premiums. Those seniors will also qualify for Extra Help, which provides additional medication coverage. The Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program helps with drug costs.
When submitting an application for Medicare, the Social Security Administration office can provide additional information and help with the Medicare application process. The New York State of Health (NYSOH) provides trained navigators that you can connect with in your area for help with the Medicare process. Another excellent program is the Health Insurance Information, Counseling, and Assistance Program (HIICAP). The long-term care ombudsman for region 15 is also a helpful source of information and assistance.
Buffalo resident Medicare resources
Social Security Administration Office
478 Main St., Suite 200
Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: 800-772-1213
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
EPIC Application and Contact Information
Phone: 800-332-3742
TYY: 800-290-9138
Email: nysdohepic@magellanhealth.com
Catholic Health LIFE PACE Program
55 Melroy Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14211
Phone: 716-819-5433
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Fallon Health Weinberg PACE
461 John James Audubon Parkway
Amherst, NY 14228
Phone: 855-665-1112
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program – Region 15
Contact: Susan Fenster, ombudsman coordinator
2447 Main St.
Buffalo, NY 14214
Phone: 716-817-5626
Email: sfenster@people-inc.org
Health Insurance Information, Counseling, and Assistance Program
Phone: 800-701-0501
NYSOH Navigator Program – Erie County
237 Main St., Suite 400
Buffalo, NY 14203
Phone: 716-847-0650
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Nursing homes are regulated by both the federal and state governments. Once licensed, nursing homes are subject to regular inspections conducted by the New York State Department of Health’s Division of Nursing every nine to 15 months. These nursing home inspections often fall into one of two categories: standard health or life safety code. The former involves observing resident care, staff-resident interactions, and the facility itself, while the latter involves fire safety code requirements. If a facility has an infraction, a subsequent post-survey visit would also occur.
If you’d like to review inspection and complaint information, you can do so through NYS Nursing Home Profiles website. First, select a nursing home from the left of the map or search for a specific nursing home on the map graphic itself.
Assisted living facilities are not federally regulated, but they are licensed and regulated by the state. In New York, that’s done through the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH)
In New York, assisted living facilities fall under the umbrella of Adult Care Facilities, and there are three types that are licensed in the state: Adult Homes, Enriched Housing Programs, and Residences for Adults. An Adult Care Facility is then licensed as an Assisted Living Residence (ALR).
Assisted living facilities provide room and board, housekeeping, case management, medication management, and coordination of any nursing care all in a homey setting. Facilities can also be certified as an Enhanced Assisted Living Residence (EALR), giving them the option to provide nursing care to meet greater medical needs.
Assisted living facilities offering memory care services would also require a Special Needs Assisted Living Residence (SNALR) certification in addition to an ALR license. This ensures that memory care facilities have staff who are specially trained in how to care for residents with dementia and Alzheimer’s. There are also additional specifications around the building itself to ensure security for memory care facilities to keep those with memory loss safe from wandering.
Licensed assisted living and memory care facilities are inspected every 12 to 18 months by New York’s Department of Health to ensure all laws and regulations are being met. If there is a complaint, the inspections can happen more often. Information about inspections and complaints can be found on the New York State Department of Health’s website, which is searchable by facility type, facility name, or by county.
New York State Department of Health
Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12237
Phone: 866-881-2809
Email: dohweb@health.ny.gov
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:45 p.m
New York recently updated its COVID-19 guidelines for nursing homes to align with the federal guidelines. The guidelines cover testing, screening, and visitation, but are not mandates. Each nursing home, assisted living, and memory care facility might have its own rules.
Communities must facilitate but do not require vaccinations and boosters.
Masks are recommended but not mandatory.
Regular sanitization and cleaning, as well as good ventilation, are recommended.
New York follows CDC guidance that recommends passive screening by providing education and posting instructions on signage throughout the facility.
Senior living facilities come in many shapes and sizes. You’ll find that nursing homes, assisted living communities, and memory care facilities offer a range of services and activities that help residents maintain their quality of life while providing whatever level of assistance is necessary. You and your loved one will also have options ranging from more budget-friendly to luxury, which can affect room styles and additional amenities. Needless to say, a move is often a big decision – and one you want to get right. Fortunately, Buffalo is home to a dozen senior housing options within our partner community for you to choose from.[02]
Six of the Buffalo senior living communities in A Place for Mom’s network would fall under the category of stand-alone assisted living, where residents remain mostly independent in a home or apartment setting with some assistance in day-to-day activities. Your other options for communities include stand-alone memory care facilities, focusing more so on providing a safe and structured environment with dementia-related therapies; a combination of assisted living and memory care, independent living and assisted living; and independent living, assisted living, and memory care.[02] Facilities that offer independent living, assisted living, and memory care are especially valuable options for seniors that are living independently now but would like to remain in one community to receive additional care as they need it.
It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that care-related services will vary from one community to the next, often dependent on the type of senior care. While all Buffalo communities in A Place for Mom’s network offer medication management, staff members awake 24 hours, and visiting specialists in occupational, physical, and speech therapy, it does begin to diverge in offerings from there.[02] About half the communities offer memory care.[02] The same can be said for those that have an on-call physician.[02] With memory care, facilities will often provide redirection, cuing, and disorientation care as well as restlessness, pacing, and wandering care.[02]
As with care-related services, activities, and amenities will vary among senior living communities. That said, there will be no shortage of things to do, as all the communities in our partner network staff an activity director.[02] Expect plenty of day trips and outings to enjoy all that Buffalo has to offer. But living in a senior community isn’t just about what you can do around town. Most offer an array of activities on-site, like live musical performances, holiday parties, stretching classes, art classes, devotional activities, and trivia games. You’ll also find those that schedule regular yoga classes, chair yoga classes, brain fitness, and happy hours.
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Number of seniors 65 and older currently living in Buffalo
Median annual income for Buffalo seniors 65 and older
Buffalo is home to a wide variety of health care options for the senior population, some of which are ranked nationally for their care services:
Recognized as Western New York’s No. 1 hospital, Buffalo General has received high-performance ratings in 13 specialty areas including colon cancer surgery, heart bypass surgery, hip and knee replacements.
Serving the communities of Buffalo and Western New York, Mercy Hospital provides full-serve medical care and ranks highly in heart attack care and three other areas.
Certified as a level I adult trauma center, Erie County Medical Center is also a teaching and research facility for the University of Buffalo.
Established in 1998, Sisters of Charity Hospital provides care across Western New York as part of a large nonprofit health care system. The hospital is ranked as high performing in kidney failure care.
From cardiology care to comprehensive cancer care, the Buffalo VA Medical Center is set up to provide medical services to Buffalo’s veteran population.
In Buffalo, 67% of Buffalo senior living communities in A Place for Mom’s network provide residents with complimentary transportation, and the rest provide at-cost transportation. Facility-provided transportation also provides a safe option for seniors to travel as residents receiving memory care should travel with a caregiver.
However, other transit options are available. Going Places Transportation System, for one, provides curb-to-curb van service for the senior population and their caretakers. All that’s necessary is to schedule the ride ahead of time. The Paratransit Access Line (PAL), a curb-to-curb rideshare service offered through the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) is another option for eligible seniors. The service also provides a Personal Care Attendant (PAC) for people unable to travel independently. You will need to apply for PAL and request PAC assistance. Visit the NFTA website or call 716-855-7267 for further details on eligibility requirements and the application process.
The Buffalo area is also home to Accessible Dispatch, another curb-to-curb ride service with the option for door-to-door assistance. Rides can be scheduled either through the mobile app or by calling 646-599-9999.
Apart from that, the Erie County Department of Senior Services offers transportation assistance to individuals who are 60 and older through its “Going Places” program. Call 716-858-RIDE or 716-858-7433 to schedule the service.
Being the second largest city in New York State, it’s no wonder that Buffalo has more than a few attractions, historical sites, and activities that may be of interest to the senior community. You and your loved one are sure to find something to do for a fun day out and about.
The parks system alone is quite the draw, as it was conceived and designed by renowned landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted.[07] Take your loved one to visit the likes of Delaware Park, Cazenovia Park, Front Park, Riverside Park, and South Park to stroll the walking paths and soak in the gardens, trees, and green space – among a variety of other features. In fact, South Park is home to the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, which not only have a wide variety of native and exotic plants from every corner of the globe but the architecture is a sight to see.
Buffalo also has the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Historic Site, where people can take a tour of historically restored rooms and see interactive exhibits. Military history buffs will enjoy the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park, where visitors can go through the museum and see four decommissioned Naval vessels.
Within the senior care facilities, residents can enjoy their indoor and outdoor common areas. Assisted living and memory care facilities have arts and crafts activities that you can participate in with your loved one. Assisted living and memory care facilities in particular have many options for activities within their communities, such as live music, barbecues and picnics, day trips scheduled through the facility, holiday parties, trivia games, and more.
Brookdale Kenmore, Brookdale Niagara (MC) and Peregrine Senior Living at Cheektowaga are the top-rated Nursing Homes facilities near Buffalo, NY. 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 Buffalo is $4,391 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
Genworth. (2021). Cost of Care Survey: Buffalo Area, NY.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran Status (S2101) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Age and Sex (S0101) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.) Is your test, item, or service covered?
U.S. News & World Report. (2023). Best Hospitals in Buffalo, NY.
Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy. (2018). Buffalo’s Frederick Law Olmsted Legacy: The Park System that Started It All.
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
Genworth. (2021). Cost of Care Survey: Buffalo Area, NY.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran Status (S2101) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Age and Sex (S0101) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.) Is your test, item, or service covered?
U.S. News & World Report. (2023). Best Hospitals in Buffalo, NY.
Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy. (2018). Buffalo’s Frederick Law Olmsted Legacy: The Park System that Started It All.