In Alaska, the license families see for assisted living is "Assisted Living Home (ALH)", issued by the Alaska Department of Health, Division of Health Care Services, Residential Licensing. If an Alaska assisted living home provides or arranges health-related services, the resident's assisted living plan must include a physician's statement with a medical history and physical not older than six months. The home must give at least 30 days' written notice before ending the contract for a documented pattern of harmful conduct, nonpayment or other contract violations, closure, or because it can no longer meet the resident's needs.
Key facts
- The median monthly cost of assisted living in Alaska was $9,882 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $118,578 a year, $3,682 above the national median of $6,200 a month. (CareScout, 2026)
- Alaska Medicaid can pay for services in a licensed assisted living home through its Alaskans Living Independently (ALI) waiver, as residential supported-living services that need prior authorization and a nursing facility level of care. (7 AAC 130.255, 2021)
- The assisted living regulations (7 AAC 75) require a TB check for staff, not residents: anyone in direct contact with residents must give the administrator evidence of being free from active pulmonary tuberculosis before contact, and every year after. (7 AAC 75.220, 2009)
- An assisted living home may be delegated the task of giving medications by a nurse under the Board of Nursing's delegation rule, and the staff who give them must complete a board-approved medication course. (7 AAC 10.1070, 2022)
- Alaska has no separate memory care license; an assisted living home license can cover residents who are elderly or have dementia but are not diagnosed as chronically mentally ill. (7 AAC 75.020, 2004)
Alaska calls assisted living an assisted living home, a residence for three or more unrelated adults, or any number of adults if the home receives state or federal payment. The Alaska Department of Health, Division of Health Care Services, Residential Licensing licenses these homes under AS 47.33 and 7 AAC 75, and a home holds either a probationary or a standard license.
Rules change and communities can set stricter policies. Before you sign, confirm the details with the community and the Alaska Department of Health, Division of Health Care Services, Residential Licensing. This page is general information, not legal advice.
The rules at a glance
| Medical assessment before move-in | If an Alaska assisted living home provides or arranges health-related services, the resident's assisted living plan must include a physician's statement with a medical history and physical not older than six months. The plan must be developed and approved within 30 days after admission, and a registered nurse must review its health-related services section. [3] More on this |
|---|---|
| TB test | The assisted living regulations (7 AAC 75) require a TB check for staff, not residents: anyone in direct contact with residents must give the administrator evidence of being free from active pulmonary tuberculosis before contact, and every year after. [6] More on this |
| Notice before a move-out | The home must give at least 30 days' written notice before ending the contract for a documented pattern of harmful conduct, nonpayment or other contract violations, closure, or because it can no longer meet the resident's needs. For medical reasons or a physician-ordered emergency transfer, notice is due within 72 hours and not less than 24 hours before. [4][5] More on this |
| Who may give medications | An assisted living home may be delegated the task of giving medications by a nurse under the Board of Nursing's delegation rule, and the staff who give them must complete a board-approved medication course. Injectable medications cannot be delegated to home staff, so unlicensed staff may not give insulin injections. [8][9][10] More on this |
| Memory care and dementia | Alaska has no separate memory care license; an assisted living home license can cover residents who are elderly or have dementia but are not diagnosed as chronically mentally ill. The assisted living regulations (7 AAC 75) set no dementia-specific staffing, training or disclosure rules. [7] |
| Long-term care ombudsman | Alaska's Office of Long Term Care Ombudsman represents Alaskans aged 60 and older who live in assisted living homes or nursing homes, and can be reached at (907) 334-4480 or 1-800-730-6393. [11] Official page More on this |
| Medicaid help | Alaska Medicaid can pay for services in a licensed assisted living home through its Alaskans Living Independently (ALI) waiver, as residential supported-living services that need prior authorization and a nursing facility level of care. Medicaid does not pay room and board, and the state's ALI waiver application says there is no waitlist. [12][13][14] Official page More on this |
What assisted living costs in Alaska
The median monthly cost of assisted living in Alaska was $9,882 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $118,578 a year, $3,682 above the national median of $6,200 a month. [15]
A median is the middle of the rates communities reported, so many charge more or less. Rates differ between regions and by the care a resident needs, so ask each community for its full fee list in writing. More: assisted living costs in every state, a monthly budget and the costs that aren't in the base rate.
How to check a community in Alaska
The Alaska Department of Health keeps a current list of licensed assisted living homes, posted as a spreadsheet on its Assisted Living Licensing page, and Residential Licensing can be reached at 907-334-2400. Reports of harm in an assisted living home go to Centralized Reporting through Adult Protective Services at 1-800-478-9996. Search Alaska's records. [2][1]
The licensing agency: Alaska Department of Health, Division of Health Care Services, Residential Licensing. [1] Our guide on how to read an inspection report explains what to look for.
Put Alaska's paperwork on a date
Parent Move Plan counts every task back from the move-in day, including the medical assessment and TB screening the community will ask for, so nothing lands in the last week.
Get your first 3 days freeFrequently asked questions
How much does assisted living cost in Alaska?
The median monthly cost of assisted living in Alaska was $9,882 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $118,578 a year, $3,682 above the national median of $6,200 a month. A median is the middle of the rates communities reported, so many charge more or less, and rates differ between regions and by the care a resident needs.
What medical assessment does Alaska require before moving into assisted living?
If an Alaska assisted living home provides or arranges health-related services, the resident's assisted living plan must include a physician's statement with a medical history and physical not older than six months. The plan must be developed and approved within 30 days after admission, and a registered nurse must review its health-related services section.
Does Alaska require a TB test for assisted living?
The assisted living regulations (7 AAC 75) require a TB check for staff, not residents: anyone in direct contact with residents must give the administrator evidence of being free from active pulmonary tuberculosis before contact, and every year after.
How much notice must an assisted living community in Alaska give before a move-out?
The home must give at least 30 days' written notice before ending the contract for a documented pattern of harmful conduct, nonpayment or other contract violations, closure, or because it can no longer meet the resident's needs. For medical reasons or a physician-ordered emergency transfer, notice is due within 72 hours and not less than 24 hours before.
Who can give medications in assisted living in Alaska?
An assisted living home may be delegated the task of giving medications by a nurse under the Board of Nursing's delegation rule, and the staff who give them must complete a board-approved medication course. Injectable medications cannot be delegated to home staff, so unlicensed staff may not give insulin injections.
Who can help with a complaint about assisted living in Alaska?
Alaska's Office of Long Term Care Ombudsman represents Alaskans aged 60 and older who live in assisted living homes or nursing homes, and can be reached at (907) 334-4480 or 1-800-730-6393.
Does Medicaid pay for assisted living in Alaska?
Alaska Medicaid can pay for services in a licensed assisted living home through its Alaskans Living Independently (ALI) waiver, as residential supported-living services that need prior authorization and a nursing facility level of care. Medicaid does not pay room and board, and the state's ALI waiver application says there is no waitlist.
Sources
- Alaska Department of Health: Residential Licensing (page read through the Internet Archive), 2026 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Alaska Department of Health: Assisted Living Licensing and Renewals (page read through the Internet Archive), 2026 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Alaska Department of Health, Residential Licensing: Resident Files training slides, quoting AS 47.33.220, 47.33.230 and 47.33.990 (read through the Internet Archive), 2025 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Alaska Department of Health, Residential Licensing: Residential Service Contracts training slides, quoting AS 47.33.360 (read through the Internet Archive), 2025 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 7 AAC 75.340, Notification requirements (via Cornell LII), 2017 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 7 AAC 75.220, General requirements (via Cornell LII), 2009 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 7 AAC 75.020, Types of license; duration; licensing responsibility (via Cornell LII), 2004 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 7 AAC 10.1070, Medications (via Cornell LII), 2022 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 12 AAC 44.965, Delegation of the administration of medication (via Cornell LII), 2025 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 12 AAC 44.970, Nursing duties that may not be delegated, read with 12 AAC 44.966, Delegation of the administration of injectable medication (via Cornell LII), 2018 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Alaska Office of Long Term Care Ombudsman: home page (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- 7 AAC 130.255, Residential supported-living services (via Cornell LII), 2021 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Alaska Department of Health: Alaskans Living Independently waiver, 1915(c) application AK.0261.R06.04, effective September 1, 2024 (read through the Internet Archive), 2024 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Alaska Department of Health: Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers (page read through the Internet Archive), 2026 (checked October 22, 2026)
- CareScout: Cost of Care Survey 2025, Ranked Median Costs by State (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)