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What Is Level 5 Assisted Living?
Date Updated: November 7, 2025
Written by:
Amy Boyington is a freelance writer and editor with over a decade of experience crafting content for family, health, higher education, and personal finance publications. She also specializes in ghostwriting digital content such as blogs, white papers, and informational guides to help brands build authority and connect with their audiences. Her work has appeared in online publications such as Credible, Forbes Advisor, and Online MBA.
Amy holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Phoenix. Her strong background in research and writing allows her to deliver accurate, informative, and reader-friendly pieces.
Edited by:
Matt Whittle is a freelance writer and editor who has worked with higher education, health, and lifestyle content for eight years. His work has been featured in Forbes, Sleep.org, and Psychology.org. Matt has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Penn State University.
Matt brings experience taking complicated topics and simplifying them for readers of all ages. With Caring, he hopes to assist seniors in navigating the systems in place to receive the care they need and deserve. Matt is also a freelance composer — you may have heard his work in global online ad campaigns for various products.
Senior Living Advisor
Caring
Level 5 care in assisted living is one of the most intensive care types based on a tiered scale, with level one offering limited support services. National regulations don't govern care levels in American assisted living communities. In many states, facilities define these levels and the services they include.
The highest care level usually varies between three and five, with Level 5 care supporting complex medical conditions. Individuals should always check that communities offer the type of assisted living they need.
Key Takeaways
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Typical Services Provided by Level 5 Assisted Living
Level 5 often stands as the highest care level in assisted living. It provides a wide range of services that often require greater caregiver attention and time. Seniors at this care level commonly need almost full support with several activities of daily living (ADLs), which include:
- Dressing
- Eating
- Personal hygiene activities, such as bathing, brushing teeth, and shaving
- Toileting, including getting to and from the bathroom, using the toilet, cleaning following toilet visits, and continence care
- Transferring to and from the bed
- Moving throughout the facility, with or without mobility devices
Depending on state regulations, facility licenses, and available services, Level 5 assisted living may also include:
- Medication management or administration
- Intermittent skilled nursing, such as wound care or pain management
- Physical, occupational, or speech therapy
- Modified dining and therapeutic menus
- Specialized recreational programming
Is Your Loved One Ready for Assisted Living?
Giving your loved one independence and knowing when they might need more help is a fine line to walk. Identifying when it's time for assisted living is important because waiting too long can affect their safety and quality of life. Common signs of needing more daily support include mobility issues, personal hygiene changes, bruises or wounds, and social withdrawal.
Do you need help finding the right level of care or an assisted living facility in your area? Contact a Caring Family Advisor toll-free at (800) 558-0653 to explain the assisted living process, help you navigate your options, and assist you with starting the conversation with your loved one.
Bottom Line
Level 5 care is not available in all assisted living facilities, as level three is commonly the highest level of care. Still, many facilities do have tiered support levels to assist your loved one at every stage. Learn more about assisted living care, costs, and caregiving support in our assisted living resource hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- Assisted living levels of care: Levels 1-3 explained. (n.d.). Sunflower Communities
- Does Medicare pay for assisted living? (2025). National Council on Aging
- Huddleston, Cameron. (2025). How to assess when an older adult requires caregiving assistance. AARP
- 4 levels of care in assisted living. (2025). High Point Residence