In Maine, the license families see for assisted living is "Assisted Living Facility", issued by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Licensing and Certification. Maine's assisted living rule does not require a physician's exam before move-in. The facility must give at least 15 days' written notice before a non-emergency discharge, and may discharge involuntarily only for a listed reason: broken contract terms, direct threat to others, intentional property damage, unpaid charges, needs it cannot meet, or license loss.
Key facts
- The median monthly cost of assisted living in Maine was $8,205 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $98,460 a year, $2,005 above the national median of $6,200 a month. (CareScout, 2026)
- For apartment-style assisted living facilities, MaineCare covers only one personal care service: daily medication administration by certified residential medication aides, and only if the facility has a state contract. (MaineCare Benefits Manual, 2026)
- Unlicensed staff may give medications only after passing a Department-approved course, and may give injections, including insulin, only if that course allows it. (10-144 CMR ch. 113 Part A, 2025)
- A memory care unit must be licensed as a residential care facility and meet Part B, Section 17, even inside an assisted living building. (10-144 CMR ch. 113 Part B, 2025)
- The Maine Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, a free and confidential advocate, serves residents of assisted housing programs including residential care and assisted living, and can be reached at 1-800-499-0229 or (207) 621-1079. (Maine Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, 2026)
Maine licenses assisted housing through the Department of Health and Human Services under 22 M.R.S. chapters 1663 and 1664 and 10-144 CMR chapter 113, whose current rule took effect September 18, 2025. Assisted living facilities (Part A) serve residents in private apartments, while residential care facilities (Part B) serve residents in private or semi-private bedrooms and also cover memory care units; independent housing with services programs need no license. The facts below are for the assisted living facility license unless they say otherwise.
Rules change and communities can set stricter policies. Before you sign, confirm the details with the community and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Licensing and Certification. This page is general information, not legal advice.
The rules at a glance
| Medical assessment before move-in | Maine's assisted living rule does not require a physician's exam before move-in. Instead, the facility must screen each person's health and service needs before admission and complete a functional assessment within 30 calendar days, with reassessments at least every six months. [4] More on this |
|---|---|
| TB test | Not confirmed from an official source yet. Ask the community and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Licensing and Certification. |
| Notice before a move-out | The facility must give at least 15 days' written notice before a non-emergency discharge, and may discharge involuntarily only for a listed reason: broken contract terms, direct threat to others, intentional property damage, unpaid charges, needs it cannot meet, or license loss. A resident has five calendar days after receiving notice to appeal. [5] More on this |
| Who may give medications | Unlicensed staff may give medications only after passing a Department-approved course, and may give injections, including insulin, only if that course allows it. They need an eight-hour recertification within two years, and a nurse must train them on diabetes care, including insulin injection technique, at hire and yearly. [6] More on this |
| Memory care and dementia | A memory care unit must be licensed as a residential care facility and meet Part B, Section 17, even inside an assisted living building. Residents need a physical exam and a dementia diagnosis on file, and direct care staffing must be at least 1:12 by day, 1:18 in the evening and 1:30 overnight. [7][8] |
| Long-term care ombudsman | The Maine Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, a free and confidential advocate, serves residents of assisted housing programs including residential care and assisted living, and can be reached at 1-800-499-0229 or (207) 621-1079. [9] Official page More on this |
| Medicaid help | For apartment-style assisted living facilities, MaineCare covers only one personal care service: daily medication administration by certified residential medication aides, and only if the facility has a state contract. Residential care facilities with a private non-medical institution (PNMI) contract can be paid for care after a medical eligibility check, but room and board is not covered. [11][13][10] Official page More on this |
What assisted living costs in Maine
The median monthly cost of assisted living in Maine was $8,205 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $98,460 a year, $2,005 above the national median of $6,200 a month. [14]
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 Maine
The Division of Licensing and Certification's Licensed Provider Search has an Assisted Housing option that opens the state's license database for assisted living and residential care facilities. Facilities must tell residents that survey results are public and kept in a common area, and complaints can be filed online or at 1-800-383-2441. Search Maine's records. [2][3][5]
The licensing agency: Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Licensing and Certification. [1] Our guide on how to read an inspection report explains what to look for.
Put Maine'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 Maine?
The median monthly cost of assisted living in Maine was $8,205 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $98,460 a year, $2,005 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 Maine require before moving into assisted living?
Maine's assisted living rule does not require a physician's exam before move-in. Instead, the facility must screen each person's health and service needs before admission and complete a functional assessment within 30 calendar days, with reassessments at least every six months.
How much notice must an assisted living community in Maine give before a move-out?
The facility must give at least 15 days' written notice before a non-emergency discharge, and may discharge involuntarily only for a listed reason: broken contract terms, direct threat to others, intentional property damage, unpaid charges, needs it cannot meet, or license loss. A resident has five calendar days after receiving notice to appeal.
Who can give medications in assisted living in Maine?
Unlicensed staff may give medications only after passing a Department-approved course, and may give injections, including insulin, only if that course allows it. They need an eight-hour recertification within two years, and a nurse must train them on diabetes care, including insulin injection technique, at hire and yearly.
Who can help with a complaint about assisted living in Maine?
The Maine Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, a free and confidential advocate, serves residents of assisted housing programs including residential care and assisted living, and can be reached at 1-800-499-0229 or (207) 621-1079.
Does Medicaid pay for assisted living in Maine?
For apartment-style assisted living facilities, MaineCare covers only one personal care service: daily medication administration by certified residential medication aides, and only if the facility has a state contract. Residential care facilities with a private non-medical institution (PNMI) contract can be paid for care after a medical eligibility check, but room and board is not covered.
Sources
- Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Licensing and Certification: Assisted Housing (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Licensing and Certification: Licensed Provider Search (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Licensing and Certification: File a Complaint (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- 10-144 CMR ch. 113 Part A (Assisted Living Facilities): Section 6(B) Resident care limitations and Section 8(B) Assessments and reassessments, effective September 18, 2025 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 10-144 CMR ch. 113 Part A (Assisted Living Facilities): Section 4(W) to (Y) Right to continued residence, appeal of involuntary discharge, survey information, effective September 18, 2025 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 10-144 CMR ch. 113 Part A (Assisted Living Facilities): Section 5 Medications and Treatments, effective September 18, 2025 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 10-144 CMR ch. 113 Part B (Residential Care Facilities): Section 17 Specialized Care Unit Standards, effective September 18, 2025 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Licensing and Certification: Important Notice for Assisted Housing Providers, Ch. 113 compliance guidance (2025) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Maine Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: Home page (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter II, Section 97 Private Non-Medical Institution Services, 97.02-4 and 97.06-1 (via Maine Secretary of State, amended April 28, 2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter II, Section 96 Private Duty Nursing and Personal Care Services, 96.01-4, 96.01-28 and 96.05 (via Maine Secretary of State, accessibility check January 14, 2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, Chapter 1664: Assisted Housing Facilities, section 7852 Definitions (current through October 1, 2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 97 Appendix C, Medical and Remedial Services Facilities, sections 1030 and 2020 (via Maine Secretary of State, accessibility check February 5, 2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- CareScout: Cost of Care Survey 2025, Ranked Median Costs by State (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)