Lawrenceville is located in Georgia’s Gwinnett County approximately 40 minutes northeast of state capital Atlanta. It’s a relatively small city of 30,629, and approximately 12% are senior citizens, according to U.S. Census data. This area’s weather is appealing for those who enjoy warmer temperatures; the mercury stays in the high 80s throughout the sunny summers, and even in the winter, lows usually stay above the freezing mark.
The overall cost of living in Lawrenceville is 2.5% below the U.S. average, but a few sectors of the economy contain even greater potential savings for seniors. The cost of health care is 8.4% below the national average, and the cost of housing is 4.6% below. Sales taxes are also lower than average, and Georgia offers a homestead exemption that can help seniors significantly reduce their yearly tax bills.
The city is home to Northside Hospital Gwinnett, the 8th-ranked hospital in Georgia by U.S. News and World Report. On top of that, U.S. News’ top five hospitals in Georgia are all located less than 45 minutes away in Atlanta; Emory University Hospital takes top honors in the state and excels in geriatrics, urology, neurology, diabetes and cancer care.
According to 2021 data collected by Genworth Financial, you can expect to pay an average of $4,290 a month for home care in Lawrenceville and $4,576 a month for home health care. In some areas, the average costs of home care and home health care are identical; where those prices differ, home health care usually costs a bit more.
The aforementioned average monthly costs assume that you’ll be charged for 44 hours of home care per week. Should your weekly needs be lesser or greater, your costs will change accordingly. Lawrenceville’s home care costs approximately $22.50/hr, and its home health care costs an average of $24/hr.
The average cost for home care in Georgia is $4,290, which is identical to that of Lawrenceville, but the state’s average cost for home health care is $4,385, which is roughly $200 cheaper than Lawrenceville’s. Average U.S. prices are higher across the board, with home care costing $4,957 monthly and home health care costing $5,148. Albany has some of Georgia’s lowest prices at $3,527 for home care and $3,928 for home health care. In Columbus, both kinds of care average $4,290 a month, and in Augusta, they average $4,528.
A few other long-term care options exist in the Lawrenceville area. Adult day care is easily the least expensive at $1,327 a month, but the level of individual supervision is lower than home care’s. Assisted living, at $3,845 a month, is slightly cheaper than in-home care and may be better suited for seniors who enjoy having other people around. Nursing home care is the most expensive option; a semiprivate room in such a community costs an average of $7,528 a month.
Finding a home care provider for yourself or a loved one can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Below, we explain the process of how to find a home care provider in 5 simple steps. Use the infographic below to help guide your search for in-home care in Lawrenceville, GA.
What You Should Know
You can save money on your energy bills by applying for home weatherization grants through this state program. If you qualify for its assistance, you can have contractors come to your home to repair windows, install additional insulation, caulk drafty entryways and update heating elements, among other services.
For Gwinnett County residents, the Weatherization Assistance Program is a joint project of the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority and the Area Committee to Improve Opportunities Now. ACTION performs an in-home inspection to determine the kinds of upgrades that may fit your needs and then schedules a contractor to perform the work.
Who Is Eligible?
There are some income restrictions on program participation, but no age restrictions. If you qualify financially, staff members can explain the specific upgrades you’re eligible for following your home inspection.
How to Get Started
Call the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority at (404) 584-1000 or call ACTION’s Weatherization Program Director at (706) 546-8293.
What You Should Know
All Georgia homeowners automatically qualify for a break on property taxes for their primary residences in the form of a $2,000 homestead exemption. If you’re a senior citizen, the amount of the exemption is doubled to $4,000.
You are eligible for some extra property tax breaks if you’re a disabled military veteran (or, in some cases, the surviving spouse of one). For veterans, the amount of the exemption can go all the way up to $86,645, depending on the size of your property tax obligation.
Seniors who fall below a certain income level also have the option to take an inflation-proof property tax exemption. This exemption permanently ties the taxable value of your primary residence to the year in which you apply for the exemption, which means future increases in home value won’t increase your property tax bill.
Who Is Eligible?
The inflation-related exemption is only for adults 62 and older who have household incomes no greater than $30,000. The senior homestead exemption is for all state residents age 65 and up who own the residence they live in.
How to Get Started
Apply for these exemptions by getting in touch with the office of the Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner at (770) 822-8800.
What You Should Know
The county makes three primary services available to its homebound seniors. You can apply to get up to 4 hours of respite care service per week, which can allow your primary caregiver to get a little time off for their own needs. There’s also a county-based home care service that provides cleaning and organizing assistance on a biweekly basis. Finally, Gwinnett County’s home-delivered meals plan lets you get frozen foods brought right to your door 5 days a week.
Who Is Eligible?
You must be 60 or older to participate in these programs. Respite care and home care services payments are based on a sliding scale, and the meal delivery program is free with donations accepted.
How to Get Started
Call the metro Atlanta Empowerline at (404) 463-3333 for questions regarding Gwinnett County’s in-home service programs. For more general questions about Gwinnett County Senior Services, call its Information and Assistance line at (678) 377-4150. You can also learn more about its programs in person at the Gwinnett Senior Services Center, located at 567 Swanson Drive in Lawrenceville.
What You Should Know
This federally created program provides funding to help low-income households pay their water bills. The program works by the government paying the water vendors directly. LIHWAP can only pay bills for water vendors who are already registered in the program, so you may need to file a request with your water vendor to participate.
Who Is Eligible?
You’re eligible for this program if your water vendor is part of the LIHWAP, you’re a legal resident of the U.S., your income is below 60% of the state median and you hold primary responsibility for paying water costs in your home.
How to Get Started
Contact your water vendor or call the Georgia Department of Human Services’ Division of Family and Children Services; the number is (404) 657-3433.
What You Should Know
This state-level office is charged with investigating complaints regarding abuse of seniors. Types of behavior targeted by APS include physical, sexual and mental abuse, as well as financial exploitation and neglect. Seniors who neglect their own well-being may also be eligible for APS support.
Who Is Eligible?
Anybody who suspects the abuse, neglect or exploitation of a senior who does not live in a long-term care community may file a report with Adult Protective Services. Seniors who do reside in long-term care communities such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities are served by the state’s LTC ombudsman.
How to Get Started
File a report through APS’ online portal or call the agency at (866) 552-4464. Note that APS is not considered an emergency service and does not send immediate responders.