Congregate Housing provides supportive services to residents in selected independent living communities. As residents age, supportive services are provided on site to help them remain independent. Because services are offered to many of the residents, they can be provided at a lower cost. Services are supervised by an on-site care manager or social worker.

Congregate Housing services are offered in senior citizen apartment buildings that serve low-to-moderate income residents and may be operated by local housing authorities, non-profit organizations, or housing management companies.

Residents of Congregate Housing facilities live in their own apartments. Eligible persons receive daily meals, weekly housekeeping and laundry, and some personal assistance. Assistance with the activities of daily living, escort to meals, and medication reminders are some common services provided.

In Maryland, the State Department of Aging contracts with housing and senior service provider organizations to operate a Congregate Housing Services Program for eligible residents of designated buildings. The program seeks to provide support to state residents with low and moderate incomes who need help with daily living activities because of age or disability.

Currently, there are about 800 units of congregate housing services located in more than 30 senior citizen apartment buildings in Maryland. To be eligible for one of these units, potential participants must meet eligibility requirements. Individuals must be 62 years of age or older. They must be physically or mentally impaired and need assistance with one or more of the essential activities of daily living. Potential participants must be in need of one or more of the congregate housing services available in the facility and be able to function in the facility if provided with those services. Spouses of eligible participants must be 55 years of age or older and meet the same eligibility requirements.

Individual program participants contribute to the cost of congregate housing based on a sliding scale. State subsidies are available for eligible residents of participating sites who require financial assistance. To qualify for a subsidy, an individual’s income may not exceed 60% of the state median income, and assets may not exceed $27,375 for an individual or $35,587 for a couple.

Maryland residents should contact the Maryland Department of Aging (1-800-243-3425) for more information. In D.C. and Virginia, residents should contact their local Area Agency on Aging for information on congregate housing and congregate meal sites.

This article was reprinted with permission from Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook, to access the original article and additional senior living resources in VA, MD, DC, DE, PA, NJ click here.