
Assisted Living in Alabama
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Families looking for assisted living in Alabama (AL) have a wide array of communities to choose from, since estimated that there are more than 30,000 assisted living communities serving seniors across the U.S., and over 196 statewide. The state is also home to a rapidly growing number of senior citizens, with adults over 65 making up an estimated 16 percent of the population. A resident in an assisted living community in Alabama will pay $3,271 per month on average.
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What You Should Know About Assisted Living in Alabama
In Alabama, assisted living facilities are defined as residences that offer both personal care and accommodations to two or more people in need of help with the activities of daily living, also known as ADLs. Those in need of personal care and accommodations who are also cognitively impaired must be admitted to a specialty care assisted living facility that adheres to additional licensing and staffing requirements.
There are three types of assisted living communities in Alabama, categorized by the number of people in residence:
- Care communities with 2 to 3 residents are family assisted living facilities
- Care communities with 4 to 16 residents are group assisted living facilities
- Care communities with 17 or more adult residents are congregated assisted living facilities
Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Alabama
Low-income seniors living in Alabama who need financial assistance to pay for assisted services may find help from one of the following subsidy programs:
Alabama Medicaid Elderly and Disabled Waiver
The Alabama Department of Senior Services offers the Elderly and Disabled Waiver, which helps elderly and disabled Alabamians retain their independence while also receiving proper care. Participating seniors work with a case manager who designs a plan around each person’s individual needs. Services include meal delivery, companionship, help with personal care and more.
Who Is Eligible?
To be eligible for the Elderly & Disabled Waiver program, applicants must demonstrate financial need according to Medicaid guidelines and be at risk of placement in a long-term care facility.
How to Apply
To apply for the Medicaid Elderly & Disabled Waiver Program, call (800) 243-5463 or visit the Alabama Department of Senior Services website.
Supplemental Security Income is a monthly cash payment available to low-income seniors to help offset the cost of in-home or residential care. Payment amounts are based on several factors, including the type of care received and state of residence. Though SSI is technically a federal program operating under the auspices of the Social Security Administration, application and approval is conducted on the county level.
Who is Eligible?
To be eligible for the SSI program, applicants must be 65 years of age or older, blind and/or disabled. They must also have limited income and resources and adhere to other requirements regarding citizenship, continuity of residency and incarceration status. Read more about eligibility requirements here.
How to Apply
Some individuals may be able to apply for SSI benefits online via the Social Security Administration’s website, while other applicants must visit a local SSA office for in-person assistance.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Assisted living residences operate independently from state programs and may or may not accept payment through the subsidies listed above. Check with each community’s financial department to see which programs they accept and whether they offer any in-house assistance options that could help defray costs for lower-income applicants.
More Ways to Finance Assisted Living
While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Visit our 9 Ways to Pay for Assisted Living page for more information.
Free Assisted Living Resources in Alabama
Alabama Area Agency on Aging
There are more than 600 organizations in the United States currently operating under the Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) banner, and a number of them are in Alabama. These Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) provide crucial information and assistance to older or disabled Alabamians, their families and their caregivers.
Find more information on the Alabama Department of Senior Services website or call (800) 243-5463 to locate the nearest ADRC.
Southern Alabama Regional Council on Aging
1075 South Brannon Stand Road, Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 793-6843
Serving Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston counties
Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging
209 Cloverdale Circle, Alabaster, AL 35007
(205) 670-5770
Serving Blount, Chilton, Shelby, St. Clair and Walker counties
United Way Area Agency on Aging of Jefferson County
3600 8th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35232
(205) 458-3330
Serving Jefferson County
Central Alabama Aging Consortium
818 Perry St., Montgomery, AL 3610
800-264-4680 or 334-240-4666
Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments (TARCOG)
5075 Research Drive Northwest, Huntsville, AL 35805
(256) 830-0818
Serving DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison and Marshall counties
North Central Alabama Regional Councils of Governments
216 Jackson Street Southeast, PO Box C, Decatur, AL 35601
(256) 355-4515
Serving Cullman, Lawrence and Morgan counties
West Alabama Regional Commission
4200 Highway 69 North, Suite 1, Northport, AL 35476
(205) 333-2990
Serving Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Pickens and Tuscaloosa counties
Alabama Tombigbee Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging
107 Broad Street, Camden, AL 36726
(334) 682-5206
Serving Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Morengo, Monroe, Perry, Sumter, Washington and Wilcox counties
Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments Department of Aging Services
103 Student Drive, PO Box 26
Muscle Shoals, AL 35661
(256) 389-0500
Serving Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Marion and Winston counties
East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission
1130 Quintard Avenue Suite 300, Anniston, AL 36202
(256) 237-6741
Serving Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Etowah, Randolph, Talladega and Tallapoosa counties
South Central Alabama Development Commission and Area Agency on Aging
5900 Carmichael Place, Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 244-6903
Serving Bullock, Butler, Crenshaw, Lowndes, Macon and Pike counties
Central Alabama Aging Consortium
2500 Fairlane Drive Suite 200, Montgomery, AL 36116
(334) 240-4680
Serving Autauga, Elmore and Montgomery counties
Lee-Russell Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging
2207 Gateway Drive, Opelika, AL 36801
(334) 749-5264
Serving Lee and Russell counties
South Alabama Regional Planning Commission
110 Beauregard Street, Suite 207, Mobile, AL 36633
(251) 433-6541
Serving Baldwin, Escambia and Mobile counties
Military veterans and their family members who live in Alabama and need help gathering information and making decisions about senior care can consult with local branches of the Veterans Administration (VA). Staff at Alabama VA centers can provide details regarding benefits, care options and more, with specific attention to eligibility related to past military service.
The following list includes key contact information for VA Centers in Alabama:
Montgomery Vet Center
4405 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, AL 36109
(334) 273-7796
Birmingham Vet Center
400 Emery Drive, Suite 200, Hoover, AL 35244
(205) 212-3122
Huntsville Vet Center
415 Church Street, Building H, Suite 101, Huntsville, AL 35801
(256) 539-5775
Mobile Vet Center
3221 Springhill Avenue, Building 2, Suite C, Mobile, AL 36607
(251) 478-5906
In addition to offering the SSI subsidy program mentioned above (jump link to SSI paragraph in payment assistance section], Social Security Administration offices in Alabama are solid resources for information on Social Security benefits and referrals to other relevant organizations.
Find a complete list of Alabama Social Security offices here.
Albertville Social Security Office 35951
412 Martling Road, Albertville, AL 35951
1-800-521-0073 or TTY: 1-256-891-8525
Alexander City Social Security Office 35010
63 Aliant Parkway, Alexander City, AL 35010
1-877-405-0483 or TTY: 1-256-329-2429
Andalusia Social Security Office 36420
24467 Alabama Hwy 55, Andalusia, AL 36420
1-877-405-7657 or TTY: 1-800-325-0778
Anniston Social Security Office 36201
801 Quintard Avenue, Anniston, AL 36201
1-877-701-2139 or TTY: 1-256-237-7345
Bessemer Social Security Office 35022
5475 Academy Way, Bessemer, AL 35022
1-800-772-1213 or TTY: 1-800-325-0778
Birmingham Social Security Office 35235
1972 Gadsden Hwy., Birmingham, AL 35235
1-800-772-1213 or TTY: 1-800-325-0778
Cullman Social Security Office 35055
1908 Commerce Ave Nw, Cullman, AL 35055
1-877-803-6323 or TTY: 1-800-325-0778
Decatur Social Security Office 35601
717 Mcglathery Ln Se, Decatur, AL 35601
1-888-289-9185 or TTY: 1-800-325-0778
Dothan Social Security Office 36303
1778 Whatley Drive, Dothan, AL 36303
1-877-452-4192 or TTY: 1-800-325-0778
Fairhope Social Security Office 36532
101 Courthouse Dr, Fairhope, AL 36532
1-866-837-5964 or TTY: 1-800-325-0778
Florence Social Security Office 35630
203 South Walnut St, Florence, AL 35630
1-855-884-3407 or TTY: 1-256-764-3116
Gadsden Social Security Office 35904
204 Enterprise Drive, Gadsden, AL 35904
1-877-316-4418 or TTY: 1-800-648-8361
Huntsville Social Security Office 35805
4970 Research Drive,nw, Huntsville, AL 35805
1-866-593-0665 or TTY: 1-256-837-8803
Jackson Social Security Office 36545
4249 N College Ave, Jackson, AL 36545
1-877-476-4484 or TTY: 1-800-325-0778
Jasper Social Security Office 35504
501 The Mall Way, Jasper, AL 35504
1-877-575-5199 or TTY: 1-205-387-8990
Mobile Social Security Office 36602
550 Government St, Mobile, AL 36602
1-866-593-1922 or TTY: 1-800-325-0778
Montgomery Social Security Office 36106
4344 Carmichael Rd, Montgomery, AL 36106
1-866-593-0914 or TTY: 1-334-272-0076
Opelika Social Security Office 36801
1800 Corporate Dr, Opelika, AL 36801
1-877-512-3857 or TTY: 1-334-745-2498
Selma Social Security Office 36701
120 Executive Park Ln, Selma, AL 36701
1-877-628-6541 or TTY: 1-334-875-4702
Talladega Social Security Office 35160
736 North Street East, Talladega, AL 35160
1-877-619-2854 or TTY: 1-256-315-0029
Tuscaloosa Social Security Office 35401
2005 University Blvd, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
1-877-480-4988 or TTY: 1-800-325-0778
The Alabama Long-Term Care Ombudsman (LTCO) acts as an advocate for seniors or other long-term care residents who might be experiencing problems with their care or caregivers or who need help understanding or acting on their rights. LTCO services are open to anyone who is a resident or employee of a long-term care facility as well as friends and family members of those residents and employees.
To contact the LTCO, go to any of the Area Agencies on Aging offices in Alabama, visit the LTCO page on the Alabama Ageline website or call (800) 243-5463.
Council of Local Governments
103 Student Drive, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661
256-389-0500
Regional Council of Governments
5075 Research Dr. NW, Huntsville, Al 35805
256-830-0818
Regional Council of Governments
216 Jackson St SE, Decatur, AL 35601
256-355-4515
East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission
Quintard Tower, Suite 300, 1130 Quintard Avenue, Anniston, AL 36201
256-237-6741
West Alabama Regional Commission
4200 Highway 69 North Suite 1, Northport, Al 35476
205-333-2990
United Way Area Agency on Aging of Jefferson County
3600 8th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35232
205-458-3330
Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging
209 Cloverdale Circle, Alabaster, AL 35007
205-670-5770
Lee-Russell Council of Governments
2207 Gateway Dr., Opelika, AL 36801
334-749-5264
Central Alabama Aging Consortium
818 Perry St., Montgomery, AL 36104
334-240-4666
Development Commission
5900 Carmichael Place, Montgomery, AL 36117
334-244-6903
Regional Commission
107 Broad St., Camden, AL 36726
334-682-5206
Regional Council on Aging
1075 S. Brannon Stand Road, Dothan, AL 36305
334-793-6843
Regional Planning Commission
110 Beaureguard St., Suite 207, Mobile, AL 36602
251-433-6541
The Assisted Living Association of Alabama is a nonprofit organization committed to helping the state’s seniors understand their rights and locate the kind of ongoing care that best meets their individual needs. The ALAA maintains a list of “member communities” that are licensed by the Alabama Department of Public Health. The organization also educates caregivers on dementia and aids seniors in their search for an appropriate assisted living community.
For more information about members or to ask about a specific listing, visit the ALAA website or call (800) 826-9410.
Assisted Living Association of Alabama
2740 Zelda Road Suite 3B, Montgomery, AL 36106
334-262-5523
Assisted Living Laws and Regulations in Alabama
Assisted living communities in Alabama are bound by state regulations that dictate everything from the paperwork signed upon admission to the quality and quantity of residents' daily meals. Here are some of the most important rules by which these assisted living operations must abide:
Assisted Living Service Plan Requirements
Prior to admission, residents must be examined by a physician to determine their needs. The results of that exam are then used to develop a comprehensive plan of care. Service planning includes not just the physician but also the resident and, if the resident chooses, a third-party representative.
Assisted Living Admission Requirements
Assisted living facilities in Alabama may not admit or retain residents who:
- Require restraints
- Are unable to understand the in-house medication system
- Require complex medical care or daily monitoring for chronic health conditions
- Need assistance beyond care for typical activities of daily living
- Have been diagnosed with severe cognitive impairment
Some exceptions may be made for residents who require additional care for 90 days or less or if that resident is under hospice care for a non-cognitive condition.
Assisted Living Scope of Care
Assisted living facilities in Alabama must provide services, including general health supervision, regular assistance with the activities of daily living, medication assistance, housekeeping, laundry, transportation to medical appointments and coordination of social activities. Activities of daily living include but are not limited to:
- Bathing
- Oral hygiene
- Hair
- Manicure/pedicure
- Shaving
- Food service
- Personal safety
- Making and keeping appointments
Some services may be provided by an outside home health agency or hospice organization contracted by the assisted living facility.
Assisted Living Medicaid Policy
Medicaid may cover some assisted living costs for eligible residents, but not all facilities accept Medicaid or related programs as a form of payment. The Alabama Medicaid Elderly and Disabled Waiver helps seniors with demonstrated financial need avoid nursing home placement in favor of other appropriate care alternatives.
Individuals interested in using Medicaid benefits to pay for assisted living care in Wyoming should ask whether their preferred assisted living facility accepts Medicaid or the Elderly and Disabled Waiver program as payment.
Assisted Living Facility Requirements
According to state law, assisted living properties in Alabama may have single- or double-occupancy unites. Apartment-style living is not required. These units may share bathrooms and bathing facilities, but there must be a minimum of one sink and toilet per every six residents and a minimum of one shower or bathtub per every eight residents.
Medication Management Regulations
Residents who understand their medical conditions and who are judged to be capable and competent may store and administer their own medication or ask for assistance from both licensed and unlicensed staff members.
Staff at the assisted living community may only store and administer medication that is packaged in single-dose units. Staff may help residents with medication reminders, opening medications and offering liquids to help residents take oral medications, but staff cannot actually administer medication, give injections or prepare any other medications in any way. This includes:
- Administering eye drops, inhalers, enemas or suppositories
- Telling a patient to take an as-needed (PRN) medication
- Crushing, splitting or otherwise altering medications
- Loading medications into a feeding tube
- Combining medications with a resident's food or beverage
All medications given to a resident must be recorded in the resident's medication administration record.
Staffing Requirements
Alabama has no minimum staff-to-resident ratios in place for assisted living facilities. Instead, staffing must be “adequate to meet residents' needs.” All assisted living communities must have an administrator to oversee operations and the personal care staff in charge of general resident care. Any community that intends to administer medication to residents must also have a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) on staff.
Each community must have an automated external defibrillator (AED) and be continuously staffed by at least one employee who is certified in AED use by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association and at least one employee who is certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Staff Training Requirements
Staff at assisted living facilities in Alabama must be trained both upon hire and on a continual basis on subjects including:
- All federal, state and facility-specific laws and policies
- Guidelines for recognizing and reporting abuse, neglect and exploitation of residents
- Needs of elderly, infirm and mentally disabled residents
- First aid
- Advanced directives
- Resident privacy and overall confidentiality
- Basic nutrition as it pertains to the elderly
- Fire safety
- Environmental safety
- Signs of dementia
Administrators of assisted living facilities must complete at least six hours of continuing education annually.
Background Checks for Assisted Living Staff in Alabama
Anyone classified as a worker at an adult care facility in Alabama (including contract employees, volunteers and applicants for those positions) must be fingerprinted and undergo a background check. Anyone who appears on the Alabama Department of Public Health Nurse Aide Abuse Registry may not be employed by a long-term care facility.
Requirements for Reporting Abuse
Caregivers in Alabama are legally required to report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of seniors as well as any other person who is physically or mentally impaired. This mandate also applies to Alabama’s Long Term Care Ombudsman. Reportable situations include infliction of pain or injury, willful deprivation of care, failure to provide essential services and needs such as food and shelter, exploitation of an individual or their resources, reckless infliction of anguish and other definitions as outlined by the State Code of Alabama.
Instances of abuse or expected abuse should be reported to local law enforcement or by calling the Abuse Hotline at (800) 458-7214.
Assisted Living Facilities in Alabama
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Top-Rated Caring Stars Winners in Alabama
Caring.com’s Caring Stars award program recognizes the best assisted living facilities across the U.S. based on reviews from family caregivers and older adults. This award is meant to help older adults and their loved ones find the best assisted living or in-home care option in their area. The list below shows up to 10 listings that have won the most Caring Stars annual awards in their state, sorted by their current overall average rating. For a complete list of Caring Stars winners for each year, please visit our Caring Stars info center.