Assisted Living in Maryland: A Family Guide

Facts checked September 28, 2026 against official Maryland sources

What assisted living is called in Maryland, 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

Maryland Department of Health, Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ)¹

Licensed communities on Lilisity

1,673 assisted living, 109 with memory care

Medicaid help

Limited: Community Options Waiver (also known as the Home and Community-Based Options Waiver)²

Typical cost

$7,173 a month (state median, CareScout 2025)

File a complaint

(410) 402-8217 / (800) 492-6005¹

What assisted living is called in Maryland

• Assisted Living ProgramMaryland's license for assisted living. It covers programs that provide housing plus help with daily activities, supervision, and health-related services.¹
• Level 1 (Low)For residents who need occasional help or support.³
• Level 2 (Moderate)For residents who need a lot of help in one or more areas.³
• Level 3 (High)For residents who need extensive, frequent help in several areas.³

What assisted living costs in Maryland

The median cost of assisted living in Maryland is $7,173 a month, above 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 Maryland, with CareScout medians and the private-pay rates Maryland 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 Maryland

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 can pay for assisted living services through the Community Options Waiver, but there is a waitlist. Call Maryland Access Point at 844-627-5465 to get on the waiver registry. Program: Community Options Waiver (also known as the Home and Community-Based Options Waiver).² Medicaid does not pay rent or meals in assisted living in any state, and not every community accepts it, so ask each one.

How to check a community in Maryland

Look up a license. OHCQ posts a downloadable Excel list of every licensed assisted living program. Search Maryland’s records.⁴

Inspection reports. For assisted living programs with 10 or more beds, the Maryland Health Care Commission website shows rates, services, and OHCQ survey reports. Reports for smaller homes are not listed there.⁵

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. OHCQ investigates complaints about licensed assisted living programs. File with the online Assisted Living Complaint form or call the Assisted Living team. The OHCQ complaint page (health.maryland.gov/ohcq/Pages/File-a-Complaint.aspx) also offers a paper form by mail or fax and accepts anonymous complaints. Local ombudsman offices, listed by county on the Department of Aging page, also help residents. Call (410) 402-8217 / (800) 492-6005 or file online.¹

Abuse, neglect or exploitation. Call 1-800-917-7383. How to report.⁶ 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.⁷

Find assisted living in Maryland

Assisted living by city

Memory care by city

Every community and county in Maryland

Sources

1. Licensing agency, complaints, license types (health.maryland.gov)
2. Medicaid (health.maryland.gov)
3. License types (health.maryland.gov)
4. License lookup (health.maryland.gov)
5. Inspection reports (healthcarequality.mhcc.maryland.gov)
6. Reporting abuse (dhs.maryland.gov)
7. Ombudsman (aging.maryland.gov)
8. 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.