Assisted living facilities

Assisted living provides housing, meals and help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing and medications. Nursing homes provide 24-hour nursing care for people with more complex medical needs. Assisted living is licensed by states; most nursing homes are also certified by Medicare and Medicaid.

Medicare generally does not pay for room and board or ongoing personal care in assisted living. Some state Medicaid programs help pay for services in assisted living through waiver programs, and eligibility rules vary. Check Medicare.gov and your state's Medicaid agency for current rules.

States license assisted living providers through a state agency. Ask the provider for its license number and look it up on the agency's website, along with any inspection or complaint reports it publishes.

Paid placements are labeled "Sponsored" and shown separately. Payment never changes verification status, government quality data or the order of regular listings.