Assisted Living in Washington: A Family Guide
What assisted living is called in Washington, 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
- Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Home and Community Living Administration, Residential Care Services1
- Licensed communities on Lilisity
- 5,718 assisted living, 292 with memory care
- Medicaid help
- Yes: Assisted living Medicaid service packages: Adult Residential Care, Enhanced Adult Residential Care, Enhanced Adult Residential Care - Specialized Dementia Care Services, Assisted Living2
- Typical cost
- $7,600 a month (state median, CareScout 2025)
- Long-term care ombudsman
- 1-800-562-60283
What assisted living is called in Washington
- Assisted Living FacilityA licensed community setting where staff take responsibility for residents' safety and well-being. Some also provide nursing care.4
- Memory care facility or memory care unit (certification for assisted living facilities)An assisted living facility, or a wing of one, that offers memory care or specialized dementia care must hold a state memory care certification.5
Memory care rules
An assisted living facility cannot call itself a memory care or dementia care facility, or lock its doors to keep residents in (restricted egress), without a state memory care certification. Certified facilities must meet extra rules, such as yearly dementia training for direct care staff.5
Questions to ask memory care about nights.
What assisted living costs in Washington
The median cost of assisted living in Washington is $7,600 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 Washington, with CareScout medians and the private-pay rates Washington 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 Washington
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. Yes. Assisted living facilities that serve Medicaid residents offer one or more service packages, which set the level of care and support the facility provides. Use the state search to find facilities that accept Medicaid. Program: Assisted living Medicaid service packages: Adult Residential Care, Enhanced Adult Residential Care, Enhanced Adult Residential Care - Specialized Dementia Care Services, Assisted Living.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 Washington
Look up a license. Search assisted living facilities by location or name. You can filter to facilities that accept Medicaid or are certified for memory care. The same site has lookups for adult family homes and nursing homes. Search Washington’s records.4
Lilisity shows Washington’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
Abuse, neglect or exploitation. Call 1-877-734-6277. How to report.1 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 1-800-562-6028 or find your local ombudsman.3
Find assisted living in Washington
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Common questions
Yes. Assisted living facilities that serve Medicaid residents offer one or more service packages, which set the level of care and support the facility provides. Use the state search to find facilities that accept Medicaid. Medicaid does not pay rent or meals in assisted living.
The median is $7,600 a month (CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025), compared with $6,200 nationally.
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Home and Community Living Administration, Residential Care Services.
Search assisted living facilities by location or name. You can filter to facilities that accept Medicaid or are certified for memory care. The same site has lookups for adult family homes and nursing homes.
Sources
- Licensing agency, reporting abuse (dshs.wa.gov)
- Medicaid (dshs.wa.gov)
- Ombudsman (waombudsman.org)
- License types, license lookup (fortress.wa.gov)
- License types, memory care rules (app.leg.wa.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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