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What Is Assisted Living? Services, Costs, and How to Choose

Find assisted living options near you, and learn what's included, what it costs and how to choose a community.

Not sure? Take the care quizTalk to an advisor

By WeFoundCare Editorial TeamUpdated Sources: public records and federal data

Older residents and a caregiver talk and laugh around a dining table in a bright community room
Photo: Jsme MILA / Pexels
Assisted living at a glance

Directory counts as of October 17, 2026

  • 33,6921licensed assisted living listings in our directory
  • 501states plus D.C. covered, from state licensing records
  • 44.1%2of assisted living and similar residents had dementia in 2022
Overview

What is assisted living?

Assisted living is a residential option for older adults who need some help with daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, managing medications or getting to meals, but don’t need the round-the-clock medical care of a nursing home. Residents usually live in private or shared apartments and share dining rooms, common areas and a calendar of activities. Staff are on site 24 hours a day.

Depending on the state, assisted living may also be called a residential care facility, personal care home, adult care home or board and care home. Communities range from large campuses with hundreds of apartments to small homes with a handful of residents. Many also have a secured memory care wing for residents living with dementia, which matters because dementia is common in assisted living: in 2022, 44.1%2 of residents in assisted living and similar communities were living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

Assisted living is built around independence. Residents keep their own routines, furniture and privacy, with help available when they need it.

Benefits of assisted living

For your loved one

  • Help with daily tasks without giving up independence
  • No more cooking, home repairs, yard work or driving to errands
  • Friends, activities and outings close at hand
  • Staff available day and night if something goes wrong
  • Regular, balanced meals and medication reminders

For your family

  • Peace of mind that help is always nearby
  • Less day-to-day caregiving, so visits can be about time together
  • A care team that notices changes early and keeps you informed
  • A plan for what comes next as needs change

Read on to learn the signs it may be time, what assisted living includes, how it compares with other options, how families pay and how to choose a community.

Featured guides
All family guides
Care and services

Assisted Living Services and Amenities: What's Included

What the monthly rate usually covers, what costs extra and what to ask before you sign.

Read the guide
Signs it's time

Signs it may be time for assisted living

There’s rarely a single moment that makes the decision clear. More often, small changes add up until living alone, or caring for someone at home, starts to feel unsafe or unsustainable. If you notice several of these signs, it’s worth talking about assisted living together.

  • Falls or near-falls, or trouble getting up from a chair
  • Missed or doubled medications
  • Weight loss, an empty fridge or spoiled food
  • Unopened mail, unpaid bills or late notices
  • Bathing less often, or wearing the same clothes
  • A home that’s getting harder to keep clean and safe
  • No longer driving safely, with no easy way to get around
  • Loneliness or pulling away from friends and activities
  • A recent hospital stay or a new diagnosis
  • A family caregiver who is exhausted or can’t keep up

Keep reading

Free care assessment

Not sure assisted living is the right fit?

Our free care quiz asks a few questions about your loved one's needs and suggests the types of care to consider next.

Take the free care quizOr talk to an advisor
Services

Assisted living services and features

Every community is different, but most include the same core services in the monthly rate, with extra care available as needs grow. Select a service to see what it usually looks like.

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Personal care

Staff help with the activities of daily living: bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting and moving around. The amount of help is set out in each resident’s care plan, so someone who only needs a hand in the shower doesn’t pay for the same support as someone who needs help all day.

Keep reading

Alternatives

Assisted living vs. other senior care types

Assisted living sits in the middle of the senior care spectrum. It offers more support than independent living, but it isn’t medical care: residents who need daily skilled nursing usually need a nursing home. Here’s how assisted living compares with the options families most often weigh against it.

Assisted living compared with other care types
CompareThis guideAssisted livingIndependent livingMemory careNursing home
Best forOlder adults who need help with some daily activitiesActive older adults who don’t need daily carePeople with moderate to advanced dementia who need supervisionPeople who need 24-hour skilled nursing, or rehab after a hospital stay
SettingPrivate or shared apartment in a communityApartment, cottage or condo in a senior communitySecured community, wing or small care homeLicensed health care facility, often with shared rooms
Help with daily activitiesYes, based on a care planNot usually; residents can hire outside helpYes, with dementia-trained staffYes, full assistance
Medical careLimited; coordinates with outside providersNone on siteLimited; coordinates with outside providersSkilled nursing and therapy on site
Who licenses itThe stateUsually not licensed as careThe state; dementia care rules varyThe state, plus federal (CMS) standards
Does Medicare pay?No, not for room, board or personal careNoNo, not for room, board or personal careShort-term skilled stays only, up to 100 days3 after a qualifying hospital stay
Can Medicaid help?In many states, through waivers that cover services but not room and boardNoIn many states, through waivers that cover services but not room and boardYes, for people who qualify

Swipe the table to compare

Compare in depth

Licensing

How assisted living is licensed and inspected

Assisted living is licensed by each state, not the federal government, so the rules depend on where your loved one lives. States set standards for staffing and training, medication handling, building safety, admission and discharge, and residents’ rights, and they inspect communities on a schedule and after complaints. Rules keep changing: in its 2025 review, the National Center for Assisted Living found 104 states had changed their direct-care training requirements in a single year.

Every assisted living listing on WeFoundCare comes from a state licensing record. We currently list 33,692 licensed assisted living communities and homes in 50 states, and each listing shows the license it’s based on.

How to check a license and inspection report

Costs and payment

How much does assisted living cost?

What you’ll pay for assisted living depends mostly on where you live, the size and type of apartment, and how much help your loved one needs. Costs can differ a lot between neighboring communities, so compare the full monthly price, not just the base rent.

Communities price care in one of three ways: all-inclusive rates that bundle housing, meals and care; tiered levels of care that rise as needs increase; or a base rate plus fees for each service used. Ask for the fee schedule in writing, including any one-time community fee and how often rates have gone up.

Usually included

  • A private or shared apartment
  • Three meals a day and snacks
  • Housekeeping, laundry and maintenance
  • Activities and social programs
  • Staff on site 24 hours a day
  • Emergency call system

Often extra

  • Help with bathing, dressing and other daily activities (often priced by care level)
  • Medication management
  • Transportation outside a set schedule
  • Salon and barber services
  • Pet fees
  • A one-time community or move-in fee

How families pay for assisted living

  • Private funds

    Savings, retirement income, pensions and the proceeds of a home sale. Many families start here, then layer in benefits as they qualify.

  • Long-term care insurance

    Policies usually start paying once a doctor certifies that the policyholder needs help with two of six daily activities or substantial supervision because of cognitive impairment. Check the daily benefit, waiting period and lifetime maximum.

  • VA Aid and Attendance

    Wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities may qualify for a higher VA pension. From December 1, 2025, the maximum annual rate with Aid and Attendance is $29,093 for a veteran with no dependents, $34,488 with one dependent and $18,6976 for a surviving spouse. The net worth limit is $163,6995.

  • Medicaid waivers

    Medicaid doesn’t pay for room and board in assisted living, but many states use home and community-based services waivers to pay for care services for people who qualify financially and medically.7 States can cap enrollment, so waiting lists are common.8 Examples include Texas STAR+PLUS, Washington COPES and Minnesota’s Elderly Waiver.9

  • Medicare

    Medicare doesn’t pay for long-term custodial care or for room and board in assisted living.10 It still covers medically necessary doctor visits, hospital care, home health, hospice and prescriptions while your loved one lives there.

  • Tax deductions

    Part of the cost may count as a medical expense if your loved one is chronically ill and receives care under a plan prescribed by a licensed health care practitioner. Only unreimbursed medical expenses above 7.5%11 of adjusted gross income are deductible, and only if you itemize.

Assisted living costs by stateHow to pay for assisted livingSenior care cost calculator

Costs and payment guides

Communities

Explore assisted living communities

A sample of licensed assisted living communities from state records, picked from A to Z and listed alphabetically. This isn't a ranking, and we don't publish ratings.

See all 579 in Miami
Choosing

How to choose an assisted living community

Start by listing what matters most: location near family, budget, level of care, and the lifestyle your loved one wants. Then tour at least two or three communities in person, and stay for a meal if you can. Talk with residents and their families, not just the sales team.

Look past the decor. Notice how staff greet residents, whether common areas are being used, and how clean and calm the building feels. Ask for the most recent state inspection report, and find out how the community would handle it if your loved one’s needs increase.

Questions to ask on a tour

  1. What's included in the monthly rate, and how are care levels priced?
  2. How much have rates gone up in each of the last three years?
  3. How many staff are on duty during the day, and overnight?
  4. What training do caregivers complete?
  5. Is a nurse on site, and when?
  6. How are medications handled?
  7. How quickly do staff respond to emergency calls?
  8. Can I see this month's activity calendar and menu?
  9. What happens if my loved one needs more care later?
  10. Is there a memory care wing if dementia develops?
  11. What would require a move out?
  12. May I see your most recent state inspection report?

Keep reading

Moving tips

Tips for moving to assisted living

A move to assisted living goes more smoothly when your loved one has a real say in it. Start the conversation early, visit together, and give the decision time, unless safety makes waiting impossible.

  1. Visit together first

    Join an activity or a meal before move-in so the community feels familiar.

  2. Downsize gradually

    Measure the new apartment and decide together what to bring, starting weeks ahead.

  3. Bring what makes it home

    Favorite chair, photos, bedding and a few cherished objects make the space feel like theirs.

  4. Share the care details

    Give staff a list of medications, doctors, routines and preferences before day one.

  5. Plan the first weeks

    Visit often early on, and encourage your loved one to try activities and meet neighbors.

  6. Give it time

    Adjusting can take a few weeks to a few months. Mixed feelings, on both sides, are normal.

Keep reading

FAQs

Assisted living FAQs

Quick answers to the questions families ask us most.

  • Assisted living provides housing, meals and help with daily activities in a residential setting. Nursing homes provide 24-hour skilled nursing and medical care for people with complex health needs or who are recovering from a hospital stay. Most assisted living residents are fairly independent; most nursing home residents need care around the clock.

Free local advice

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Talk with a local WeFoundCare advisor at no cost. Tell us a little about your situation and we'll help you narrow your options.

  • Compare assisted living options near you
  • Understand costs and how to pay
  • Plan tours and next steps
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Library

More assisted living guides

Browse all family guides

Showing 6 of 23 guides

Browse

Find assisted living by state

Browse 33,692 licensed assisted living listings in 50 states, from state licensing records. Counts show listings, not ratings.1

50 states, listed A to Z with the number of assisted living listings in each.

References

Sources

  1. WeFoundCare directory build from state licensing, CMS and HUD public records (wefoundcare.db). wefoundcare.com/guides/our-data-sources/ Accessed October 17, 2026.
  2. CDC NCHS: FastStats: Alzheimer Disease (NPALS 2022; Biennial Overview Table 4; last reviewed Feb 18, 2026). www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/alzheimers.htm Accessed October 17, 2026.
  3. CMS / Medicare.gov: Skilled nursing facility (SNF) care (2026 cost sharing). www.medicare.gov/coverage/skilled-nursing-facility-care Accessed October 17, 2026.
  4. NCAL (AHCA/NCAL): 2025 Assisted Living State Regulatory Review: Overview & Executive Summary (state summaries members-only). www.ahcancal.org/Assisted-Living/Policy/Documents/2025_RegReview_Overview%20and%20Executive%20Summary.pdf Accessed October 17, 2026.
  5. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Veterans Pension rates (COLA Dec 1, 2025, 2.8%). www.va.gov/pension/veterans-pension-rates/ Accessed October 17, 2026.
  6. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Survivors Pension rates (Dec 1, 2025). www.va.gov/pension/survivors-pension-rates/ Accessed October 17, 2026.
  7. 42 CFR §441.310 via LII: Limits on FFP (room and board excluded from HCBS waiver). www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/42/441.310 Accessed October 17, 2026.
  8. 42 U.S.C. §1396n (SSA §1915) via LII: Medicaid compliance waivers incl. §1915(c) HCBS. www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/1396n Accessed October 17, 2026.
  9. Texas HHSC: STAR+PLUS; Washington DSHS ALTSA: LTC Manual Chapter 8: Residential Services (program availability by setting, rev. 5/2026); Minnesota DHS: Elderly Waiver. www.hhs.texas.gov/services/health/medicaid-chip/medicaid-chip-members/starplus; www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2026-09/Chapter%208.pdf; mn.gov/dhs/people-we-serve/seniors/services/home-community/programs-and-services/elderly-waiver.jsp Accessed October 17, 2026.
  10. CMS / Medicare.gov: Long-term care coverage. www.medicare.gov/coverage/long-term-care Accessed October 17, 2026.
  11. Internal Revenue Service: Publication 502 (2025), Medical and Dental Expenses. www.irs.gov/publications/p502 Accessed October 17, 2026.

How we put this guide together

Listing counts come from the WeFoundCare directory, built from state licensing records, CMS and HUD data, and were current on October 17, 2026. We don’t accept payment to list or rank communities, and we don’t publish ratings. Statistics are cited to their original source and edition. Hero photo by Jsme MILA on Pexels.

The information on this page is for general information only. It isn’t medical, legal or financial advice. Program rules, benefit amounts and costs change; check with the agency or provider before making decisions.