Assisted Living in Kentucky: A Family Guide

Facts checked September 28, 2026 against official Kentucky sources

What assisted living is called in Kentucky, 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 by

Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Division of Health Care¹

Licensed communities on Lilisity

233 assisted living, 84 with memory care

Typical cost

$5,528 a month (state median, CareScout 2025)

What assisted living is called in Kentucky

• Social model assisted living community (ALC)Assisted living that provides assisted living services but not basic health and health-related services.²
• Assisted living community with basic health care (ALC-BH)Assisted living that also provides basic health and health-related services directly to residents, and does not have a secured dementia care unit.²
• Assisted living community with dementia care (ALC-DC)Assisted living that provides dementia care services in a secured dementia unit.²

Memory care rules

Assisted living with a secured dementia unit needs its own ALC-DC license. Only dementia-trained staff may care for residents on that unit, except in a temporary emergency, and the facility must evaluate each resident on the unit and develop an individualized activity plan.²

Questions to ask memory care about nights.

What assisted living costs in Kentucky

The median cost of assisted living in Kentucky is $5,528 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 Kentucky, with CareScout medians and the private-pay rates Kentucky 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 Kentucky

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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky

Look up a license. OIG posts a downloadable Assisted Living Community Directory (Excel and PDF), plus Personal Care Home and Family Care Home directories. They are updated at the start of each month. Search Kentucky’s records.¹

Inspection reports. OIG posts inspection findings for personal care homes and for assisted living communities that hold a basic health services or dementia care license, starting in 2024, as scanned reports in a yearly search. It posts no findings for assisted living communities that are only certified.³

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. Complaints about a licensed long-term care facility go to the OIG complaint coordinator for your region: Northern 502-595-4958, Eastern 859-246-2301, Southern 606-330-2030, Western 270-889-6052. Check OIG's regional map to pick the right branch. file online.⁴

Abuse, neglect or exploitation. Call (877) 597-2331. How to report.⁵ 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. find your local ombudsman.⁶

Find assisted living in Kentucky

Assisted living by city

Memory care by city

Every community and county in Kentucky · 4 with verified resident testimonials

Sources

1. Licensing agency, license lookup (chfs.ky.gov)
2. License types, memory care rules (apps.legislature.ky.gov)
3. Inspection reports (chfs.ky.gov)
4. Complaints (chfs.ky.gov)
5. Reporting abuse (chfs.ky.gov)
6. Ombudsman (chfs.ky.gov)
7. 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.