Assisted Living in Pennsylvania: A Family Guide

Facts checked September 28, 2026 against official Pennsylvania sources

What assisted living is called in Pennsylvania, 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

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Living, Bureau of Human Services Licensing¹

Licensed communities on Lilisity

1,051 assisted living, 370 with memory care

Medicaid help

Limited: Home and Community-Based Services²

Typical cost

$6,480 a month (state median, CareScout 2025)

Long-term care ombudsman

717-783-8975³

File a complaint

877-401-8835⁴

What assisted living is called in Pennsylvania

• Personal Care Home (PCH)A home that gives housing, meals, supervision, and help with personal care to people who cannot live safely at home but do not need 24-hour nursing care.²
• Assisted Living Residence (ALR)Offers everything a personal care home does, but can serve people with higher care needs and gives more room to age in place.²
• Special Care UnitAn assisted living residence, or part of one, that gives specialized care for people with Alzheimer's disease or dementia, or for people with brain injuries.⁵

Memory care rules

An assisted living residence that serves people with Alzheimer's or dementia in a special care unit must follow extra rules. Before admission, the person needs a medical evaluation that documents the dementia diagnosis and the need for a special care unit.⁵

Questions to ask memory care about nights.

What assisted living costs in Pennsylvania

The median cost of assisted living in Pennsylvania is $6,480 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 Pennsylvania, with CareScout medians and the private-pay rates Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania

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. Personal care homes and assisted living residences usually are not paid for by Medicaid, and most residents pay privately. Some residents also get home and community-based services. Program: Home and Community-Based Services.² Medicaid does not pay rent or meals in assisted living in any state, and not every community accepts it, so ask each one.

Personal Care Home (PCH) Supplement. People who get SSI and live in a licensed personal care home can get an extra monthly state payment to help cover room and board. Some people whose income is too high for SSI, but still below SSI plus the supplement combined, can also get it. Apply through the local Area Agency on Aging using form PA-761.⁶

How to check a community in Pennsylvania

Look up a license. Search licensed personal care homes and assisted living residences by county, region, city, zip code, or name. The directory shows each home's size and license status. Search Pennsylvania’s records.⁷

Inspection reports. The Department of Human Services inspects each personal care home and assisted living residence every year. Its Human Services Provider Directory shows inspection results, though it notes some may not appear during ongoing system upgrades; if one is missing, contact the department.⁷

Lilisity shows Pennsylvania’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 DHS Bureau of Human Services Licensing investigates all complaints about personal care homes and assisted living residences. File online or by phone. Call 877-401-8835 or file online.⁴

Abuse, neglect or exploitation. Call 1-800-490-8505. How to report.⁸ 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 717-783-8975 or find your local ombudsman.³

Find assisted living in Pennsylvania

Assisted living by city

Memory care by city

Every community and county in Pennsylvania · 20 with verified resident testimonials

Sources

1. Licensing agency (pa.gov)
2. Medicaid, license types (pa.gov)
3. Ombudsman (pa.gov)
4. Complaints (pa.gov)
5. License types, memory care rules (pacodeandbulletin.gov)
6. Personal Care Home (PCH) Supplement (pa.gov)
7. License lookup, inspection reports (humanservices.dhs.pa.gov)
8. Reporting abuse (pa.gov)
9. 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.