In Kentucky, the license families see for assisted living is "Assisted Living Community (ALC)", issued by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General, Division of Health Care. Before admission, a person must have a medical exam with medical history, physical examination and diagnosis; a discharge summary or health and physical report from the prior 14 days may be used. The lease must give at least 30 days' move-out notice for nonpayment; for other reasons the law requires only reasonable notice.
Key facts
- The median monthly cost of assisted living in Kentucky was $5,528 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $66,330 a year, $672 below the national median of $6,200 a month. (CareScout, 2026)
- Kentucky Medicaid does not pay for assisted living services, and House Bill 488 (2026), which would have added them to the Home and Community Based (HCB) waiver, did not pass. (Kentucky General Assembly, 2026)
- A TB risk assessment, plus a skin or blood test unless an exclusion applies, must be started for each new resident before or during the first week of admission, with results recorded within two weeks. (902 KAR 20, 2022)
- Unlicensed staff may give preloaded insulin injections only in communities licensed for basic health services or dementia care, and only with a certified medication aide II credential and a nurse's delegation. (902 KAR 20, 2023)
- A community with a secured dementia care unit must hold an assisted living community with dementia care license and give its dementia care policies to residents and their representatives at move-in. (902 KAR 20, 2023)
Kentucky licenses assisted living communities (ALCs) through the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General, under KRS 194A.700 to 194A.729 and 902 KAR 20:480, which replaced the older certification rule 910 KAR 1:240 (now repealed). There are three license levels: social model ALC, ALC with basic health care (ALC-BH) and ALC with dementia care (ALC-DC). Personal care homes are licensed separately (902 KAR 20:036), and the facts below cover the assisted living community license at all three levels.
Rules change and communities can set stricter policies. Before you sign, confirm the details with the community and the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General, Division of Health Care. This page is general information, not legal advice.
The rules at a glance
| Medical assessment before move-in | Before admission, a person must have a medical exam with medical history, physical examination and diagnosis; a discharge summary or health and physical report from the prior 14 days may be used. The community must also complete a functional needs assessment (Form OIG-20:480-A) at move-in and update it when needs change, at least every 12 months. [4][5] More on this |
|---|---|
| TB test | A TB risk assessment, plus a skin or blood test unless an exclusion applies, must be started for each new resident before or during the first week of admission, with results recorded within two weeks. If the first skin test is negative, a second test is required 7 to 21 days later for residents age 14 and older. [6][5] More on this |
| Notice before a move-out | The lease must give at least 30 days' move-out notice for nonpayment; for other reasons the law requires only reasonable notice. A resident may be moved out only for medical reasons, their own welfare, the welfare of other residents, or nonpayment, and the lease must say how the community will help find another place to live. [7][8] More on this |
| Who may give medications | Unlicensed staff may give preloaded insulin injections only in communities licensed for basic health services or dementia care, and only with a certified medication aide II credential and a nurse's delegation. In a social model community, staff may only help residents take their own medicine, such as reminders, handing over doses and opening containers, and may not give injections. [5][9] More on this |
| Memory care and dementia | A community with a secured dementia care unit must hold an assisted living community with dementia care license and give its dementia care policies to residents and their representatives at move-in. Direct care staff on the unit need 16 hours of dementia training within 30 days of working independently and 8 hours each year after. [5][10] |
| Long-term care ombudsman | Kentucky's Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, which reports to the Department for Aging and Independent Living, protects residents of nursing homes, personal care homes, assisted living communities and family care homes, and the state office can be reached at (859) 277-9215 or toll free at (800) 372-2991. [11][12] Official page More on this |
| Medicaid help | Kentucky Medicaid does not pay for assisted living services, and House Bill 488 (2026), which would have added them to the Home and Community Based (HCB) waiver, did not pass. The HCB waiver covers services such as attendant care, respite and adult day health care. [13][14] Official page More on this |
What assisted living costs in Kentucky
The median monthly cost of assisted living in Kentucky was $5,528 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $66,330 a year, $672 below 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 Kentucky
The Office of Inspector General posts a directory of licensed assisted living communities (PDF and Excel) that is updated at the start of each month. Its inspection findings database lists nursing home and personal care home surveys, and residents and their responsible party have a right to see all inspection reports on the facility. Search Kentucky's records. [2][3][8]
The licensing agency: Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General, Division of Health Care. [1] Our guide on how to read an inspection report explains what to look for.
Put Kentucky'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 Kentucky?
The median monthly cost of assisted living in Kentucky was $5,528 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $66,330 a year, $672 below 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 Kentucky require before moving into assisted living?
Before admission, a person must have a medical exam with medical history, physical examination and diagnosis; a discharge summary or health and physical report from the prior 14 days may be used. The community must also complete a functional needs assessment (Form OIG-20:480-A) at move-in and update it when needs change, at least every 12 months.
Does Kentucky require a TB test for assisted living?
A TB risk assessment, plus a skin or blood test unless an exclusion applies, must be started for each new resident before or during the first week of admission, with results recorded within two weeks. If the first skin test is negative, a second test is required 7 to 21 days later for residents age 14 and older.
How much notice must an assisted living community in Kentucky give before a move-out?
The lease must give at least 30 days' move-out notice for nonpayment; for other reasons the law requires only reasonable notice. A resident may be moved out only for medical reasons, their own welfare, the welfare of other residents, or nonpayment, and the lease must say how the community will help find another place to live.
Who can give medications in assisted living in Kentucky?
Unlicensed staff may give preloaded insulin injections only in communities licensed for basic health services or dementia care, and only with a certified medication aide II credential and a nurse's delegation. In a social model community, staff may only help residents take their own medicine, such as reminders, handing over doses and opening containers, and may not give injections.
Who can help with a complaint about assisted living in Kentucky?
Kentucky's Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, which reports to the Department for Aging and Independent Living, protects residents of nursing homes, personal care homes, assisted living communities and family care homes, and the state office can be reached at (859) 277-9215 or toll free at (800) 372-2991.
Does Medicaid pay for assisted living in Kentucky?
Kentucky Medicaid does not pay for assisted living services, and House Bill 488 (2026), which would have added them to the Home and Community Based (HCB) waiver, did not pass. The HCB waiver covers services such as attendant care, respite and adult day health care.
Sources
- Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General: Applications for Health Care and Long-Term Care, Assisted Living Community license (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General: Health Care Facilities and Regulations, facility directories (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General: Nursing Home Inspection Findings (includes personal care homes from 2024) (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Ky. Rev. Stat. 216.765, Medical examination required prior to admission to personal-care home or assisted living community (Kentucky Legislature), 2022 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 902 KAR 20:480, Assisted living communities (Kentucky Legislative Research Commission), 2023 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 902 KAR 20:200, Tuberculosis (TB) testing for residents in long-term care settings (Kentucky Legislative Research Commission), 2022 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Ky. Rev. Stat. 194A.713, Contents of lease agreement (Kentucky Legislature), 2022 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Ky. Rev. Stat. 216.515, Rights of residents (Kentucky Legislature), 2022 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Ky. Rev. Stat. 194A.700, Definitions for KRS 194A.700 to 194A.729 (Kentucky Legislature), 2022 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Ky. Rev. Stat. 194A.7205, Training requirements for assisted living community with dementia care (Kentucky Legislature), 2022 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, agency reports: Office of the Kentucky State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, FFY 2023 Annual Report (2023) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Nursing Home Ombudsman Agency of the Bluegrass (houses the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman): Contact (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Kentucky General Assembly: 2026 Regular Session, House Bill 488, relating to the Medicaid home and community based waiver program (bill status and text, last action 02/03/26), 2026 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 907 KAR 7:010, Home and community based waiver services version 2 (Kentucky Legislative Research Commission), 2023 (checked October 22, 2026)
- CareScout: Cost of Care Survey 2025, Ranked Median Costs by State (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)