Assisted Living in Alabama: A Family Guide
What assisted living is called in Alabama, what it costs, how Medicaid can help, how to check a community’s license and inspections, and who to call if something goes wrong. Every fact links to the official source.
- Licensed communities on Lilisity
- 288 assisted living, 107 with memory care
- Typical cost
- $4,425 a month (state median, CareScout 2025)
- Long-term care ombudsman
- 1-800-243-54632
- File a complaint
- 1-866-873-03663
What assisted living is called in Alabama
- Assisted Living FacilityA licensed home or community that gives housing and personal care to three or more people who need help with daily activities.4
- Specialty Care Assisted Living FacilityAn assisted living facility with a special license and staff to care for people with memory loss or dementia.4
Memory care rules
People whose dementia or memory loss would normally keep them out of regular assisted living can be served in a Specialty Care Assisted Living Facility, which has its own license and staffing.4
Questions to ask memory care about nights.
What assisted living costs in Alabama
The median cost of assisted living in Alabama is $4,425 a month, below the national median of $6,200 (CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025, collected July to November 2025). Prices vary with the apartment, the level of care and the community, so ask each one for its current rate sheet, including care-level fees.
If more care is needed later: nursing home costs in Alabama, with CareScout medians and the private-pay rates Alabama nursing homes publish.
Plan with our free tools: how long will the money last? and home care or assisted living?
Paying for assisted living in Alabama
Medicare does not pay for assisted living. Families pay from savings and income, long-term care insurance, or benefits such as VA Aid and Attendance (estimate it). Who actually pays for long-term care.
Medicaid. Medicaid does not pay rent or meals in assisted living. Whether Alabama Medicaid pays for care services in assisted living, and which communities accept it, is a question for the state Medicaid agency or your local Area Agency on Aging.
How to check a community in Alabama
Look up a license. The state's Health Care Facilities Directory lists licensed facilities, including assisted living and specialty care assisted living. Search Alabama’s records.5
Inspection reports. The state posts inspection findings (deficiencies) online. You can search by facility type, including assisted living and specialty care, and by county.6
Lilisity shows Alabama’s inspection record on each community’s page where the state publishes one: the state’s own records, dated and linked to the official source.
Always visit in person, at a mealtime or in the evening if you can. Bring the tour scorecard and the 8 tour questions.
If something goes wrong
Complaints about care or conditions. The Department of Public Health takes complaints about assisted living facilities by email, phone or letter. Call 1-866-873-0366 or file online.3
Abuse, neglect or exploitation. Call 1-800-458-7214. How to report.7 If someone is in danger, call 911.
The long-term care ombudsman is a free advocate for residents of assisted living and nursing homes: they help resolve problems with a community, including move-out notices. Call 1-800-243-5463 or find your local ombudsman.2
Find assisted living in Alabama
Assisted living by city
Memory care by city
Every community and county in Alabama · 5 with verified resident testimonials
Common questions
The median is $4,425 a month (CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025), compared with $6,200 nationally.
Alabama Department of Public Health, Bureau of Health Provider Standards.
The Department of Public Health takes complaints about assisted living facilities by email, phone or letter. Phone: 1-866-873-0366.
The state's Health Care Facilities Directory lists licensed facilities, including assisted living and specialty care assisted living.
Sources
- Licensing agency (alabamapublichealth.gov)
- Ombudsman (alabamaageline.gov)
- Complaints (alabamapublichealth.gov)
- License types, memory care rules (alabamapublichealth.gov)
- License lookup (dph1.adph.state.al.us)
- Inspection reports (dph1.adph.state.al.us)
- Reporting abuse (dhr.alabama.gov)
- CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025 (state medians)
Facts checked against these official sources on September 28, 2026. Rules and programs change; confirm with the agency before making a decision. General information, not legal or financial advice.
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