In Rhode Island, the license families see for assisted living is "Assisted Living Residence", issued by the Rhode Island Department of Health, Center for Health Facilities Regulation. Before admission or signing the residency agreement, a registered nurse must conduct and sign a comprehensive assessment of the resident's health, physical, social, functional, activity and cognitive needs, using the state form or another form the Department approves. A residence must give 30 days' advance written notice of discharge, stating the reason, end date, appeal rights and the State Ombudsperson's address, except in life-threatening emergencies and for nonpayment.
Key facts
- The median monthly cost of assisted living in Rhode Island was $7,780 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $93,366 a year, $1,580 above the national median of $6,200 a month. (CareScout, 2026)
- Rhode Island Medicaid covers assisted living services, but not room and board, in state-licensed residences that Medicaid has certified, and the state may keep a waiting list when demand exceeds funding. (Rhode Island Aging and Disability Resource Center, 2024)
- Rhode Island's assisted living regulation does not list a TB test for new residents. (216-RICR-40-10-2, 2.4.22 Illness and Emergencies, infection control, 2024)
- In M1 residences, licensed staff (registered medication aides, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses) may give oral or topical medicines; in M2 residences, unlicensed staff may only remind residents and observe self-administration. (216-RICR-40-10-2, 2.4.26 Medication Services, 2024)
- A residence with an Alzheimer's/dementia special care unit needs a dementia care endorsement, with a secure unit and a registered nurse on site at least 35 hours a week. (216-RICR-40-10-2, 2.4.2 Levels of Licensure and 2.5 Alzheimer Dementia Special Care Unit/Program License Requirements, 2024)
Rhode Island licenses assisted living residences, which serve six or more unrelated adults, through the Department of Health under R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 23-17.4 and regulation 216-RICR-40-10-2. Each residence is licensed at set levels for fire code (F1 or F2) and medication (M1 or M2), with added endorsements for dementia care and limited health services. The facts below cover the main assisted living residence license and note where the levels differ.
Rules change and communities can set stricter policies. Before you sign, confirm the details with the community and the Rhode Island Department of Health, Center for Health Facilities Regulation. This page is general information, not legal advice.
The rules at a glance
| Medical assessment before move-in | Before admission or signing the residency agreement, a registered nurse must conduct and sign a comprehensive assessment of the resident's health, physical, social, functional, activity and cognitive needs, using the state form or another form the Department approves. The regulation does not list a physician's exam. [3] More on this |
|---|---|
| TB test | Rhode Island's assisted living regulation does not list a TB test for new residents. The state's resident assessment form records tuberculin status as negative, positive or unknown, and each residence must have infection control policies for admitting and isolating residents with suspected infectious diseases. [4][5] More on this |
| Notice before a move-out | A residence must give 30 days' advance written notice of discharge, stating the reason, end date, appeal rights and the State Ombudsperson's address, except in life-threatening emergencies and for nonpayment. Allowed reasons: not meeting the residency criteria or legal requirements, danger to self or others after reasonable accommodation fails, and fees more than 30 days overdue. [6] More on this |
| Who may give medications | In M1 residences, licensed staff (registered medication aides, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses) may give oral or topical medicines; in M2 residences, unlicensed staff may only remind residents and observe self-administration. Injectables, including insulin, that a resident cannot self-administer must be given by a licensed nurse. [7] More on this |
| Memory care and dementia | A residence with an Alzheimer's/dementia special care unit needs a dementia care endorsement, with a secure unit and a registered nurse on site at least 35 hours a week. It must give anyone seeking placement a written disclosure of its dementia services, and unit staff need 4 hours of training before working alone and 12 hours a year. [8] |
| Long-term care ombudsman | Rhode Island's Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman advocates for residents of care facilities, including assisted living residences, and can be reached at 401-785-3340 or toll-free at 1-888-351-0808. [9] Official page More on this |
| Medicaid help | Rhode Island Medicaid covers assisted living services, but not room and board, in state-licensed residences that Medicaid has certified, and the state may keep a waiting list when demand exceeds funding. Residents pay housing charges themselves, certified residences have a monthly housing cap, and a State Supplemental Payment helps low-income residents. [10][11] Official page More on this |
What assisted living costs in Rhode Island
The median monthly cost of assisted living in Rhode Island was $7,780 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $93,366 a year, $1,580 above the national median of $6,200 a month. [12]
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 Rhode Island
The Department of Health's Find Assisted Living Residences page lets families look up limited health services and specialty-care residences and open details on each one. It is updated weekly, and the Department's license verification site gives more timely licensing information. Search Rhode Island's records. [2]
The licensing agency: Rhode Island Department of Health, Center for Health Facilities Regulation. [1] Our guide on how to read an inspection report explains what to look for.
Put Rhode Island'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 Rhode Island?
The median monthly cost of assisted living in Rhode Island was $7,780 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $93,366 a year, $1,580 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 Rhode Island require before moving into assisted living?
Before admission or signing the residency agreement, a registered nurse must conduct and sign a comprehensive assessment of the resident's health, physical, social, functional, activity and cognitive needs, using the state form or another form the Department approves. The regulation does not list a physician's exam.
Does Rhode Island require a TB test for assisted living?
Rhode Island's assisted living regulation does not list a TB test for new residents. The state's resident assessment form records tuberculin status as negative, positive or unknown, and each residence must have infection control policies for admitting and isolating residents with suspected infectious diseases.
How much notice must an assisted living community in Rhode Island give before a move-out?
A residence must give 30 days' advance written notice of discharge, stating the reason, end date, appeal rights and the State Ombudsperson's address, except in life-threatening emergencies and for nonpayment. Allowed reasons: not meeting the residency criteria or legal requirements, danger to self or others after reasonable accommodation fails, and fees more than 30 days overdue.
Who can give medications in assisted living in Rhode Island?
In M1 residences, licensed staff (registered medication aides, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses) may give oral or topical medicines; in M2 residences, unlicensed staff may only remind residents and observe self-administration. Injectables, including insulin, that a resident cannot self-administer must be given by a licensed nurse.
Who can help with a complaint about assisted living in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island's Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman advocates for residents of care facilities, including assisted living residences, and can be reached at 401-785-3340 or toll-free at 1-888-351-0808.
Does Medicaid pay for assisted living in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island Medicaid covers assisted living services, but not room and board, in state-licensed residences that Medicaid has certified, and the state may keep a waiting list when demand exceeds funding. Residents pay housing charges themselves, certified residences have a monthly housing cap, and a State Supplemental Payment helps low-income residents.
Sources
- Rhode Island Department of Health: Assisted Living licensing page (2025) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Rhode Island Department of Health: Find Assisted Living Residences In Rhode Island (2024) (checked October 22, 2026)
- 216-RICR-40-10-2, 2.4.17 Resident Assessments and Service Plans (Licensing Assisted Living Residences, via RI Department of State), 2024 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 216-RICR-40-10-2, 2.4.22 Illness and Emergencies, infection control (Licensing Assisted Living Residences, via RI Department of State), 2024 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Rhode Island Department of Health: Assisted Living Resident Assessment form (6/2015) (checked October 22, 2026)
- 216-RICR-40-10-2, 2.4.19 Rights of Residents (Licensing Assisted Living Residences, via RI Department of State), 2024 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 216-RICR-40-10-2, 2.4.26 Medication Services (Licensing Assisted Living Residences, via RI Department of State), 2024 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 216-RICR-40-10-2, 2.4.2 Levels of Licensure and 2.5 Alzheimer Dementia Special Care Unit/Program License Requirements (via RI Department of State), 2024 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging: Ombudsman Program (2025) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Rhode Island Aging and Disability Resource Center (myoptions.ri.gov): Medicaid Assisted Living factsheet (December 2024) (checked October 22, 2026)
- 210-RICR-50-10-1, 1.7 and 1.8, Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports: Home and Community-Based Services (via RI Department of State), 2025 (checked October 22, 2026)
- CareScout: Cost of Care Survey 2025, Ranked Median Costs by State (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)