Assisted Living in West Virginia: A Family Guide

Facts checked September 28, 2026 against official West Virginia sources

What assisted living is called in West Virginia, 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

West Virginia Office of Inspector General (OIG), Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification (OHFLAC)¹

Licensed communities on Lilisity

83 assisted living

Typical cost

$6,340 a month (state median, CareScout 2025)

Long-term care ombudsman

1-800-834-0598²

File a complaint

304-558-0050³

What assisted living is called in West Virginia

• Assisted Living Residence (W. Va. Code §16B-5)West Virginia's assisted living residence license. It covers any place available for four or more residents that gives personal help or supervision to people who depend on others because of physical or mental limits.⁴
• Residential Care Community (W. Va. Code §16B-9)A group of 17 or more apartments inside a larger independent living community that offers personal help and supervision to residents.⁵
• Alzheimer's/Dementia Special Care UnitOHFLAC lists Alzheimer's/dementia special care units as their own facility type.¹

Memory care rules

A facility that offers or provides care through an Alzheimer's special care unit or program must explain in writing how its care is suited to people with Alzheimer's. It gives this to OHFLAC and to people seeking placement and their families, and OHFLAC checks it at each license renewal.⁶

Questions to ask memory care about nights.

What assisted living costs in West Virginia

The median cost of assisted living in West Virginia is $6,340 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 West Virginia, with CareScout medians and the private-pay rates West Virginia 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 West Virginia

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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia

Look up a license. OHFLAC's Health Care Facility Lookup lets you search assisted living residences, residential care communities and Alzheimer's units by name or county, and shows survey (inspection) information. Search West Virginia’s records.⁷

Inspection reports. Survey (inspection) information is shown in the online facility lookup.⁷

Lilisity shows West Virginia’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. OHFLAC takes complaints about licensed facilities through an online complaint form. The phone number is OHFLAC's general contact line. Call 304-558-0050 or file online.³

Abuse, neglect or exploitation. 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 1-800-834-0598 or find your local ombudsman.²

Find assisted living in West Virginia

Assisted living by city

Every community and county in West Virginia

Sources

1. Licensing agency, license types (oig.wv.gov)
2. Ombudsman (legalaidwv.org)
3. Complaints (ohflac.wvdhhr.org)
4. License types (code.wvlegislature.gov)
5. License types (code.wvlegislature.gov)
6. Memory care rules (code.wvlegislature.gov)
7. License lookup, inspection reports (ohflac.wvdhhr.org)
8. Reporting abuse (bss.wv.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.