In Tennessee, the license families see for assisted living is "Assisted-Care Living Facility (ACLF)", issued by the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission. Tennessee's ACLF rules do not require a physician's exam or a state form for every new resident, but a direct care staff member must complete a written assessment within 72 hours after admission. A facility must give a resident 30 days' written notice before a transfer or discharge, unless a physician orders the transfer because the resident needs a higher level of care.
Key facts
- The median monthly cost of assisted living in Tennessee was $5,845 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $70,140 a year, $355 below the national median of $6,200 a month. (CareScout, 2026)
- TennCare's CHOICES program pays for assisted care living facility services for members in Groups 2 and 3, but the member must pay for room and board. (TennCare, 2026)
- Tennessee's ACLF rules do not require a tuberculosis test for new residents. (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0720-26-.08, 2022)
- Medicines must be self-administered under the resident's plan of care or given by a licensed or certified health care professional, which includes a certified medication aide working under a nurse's delegation. (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0720-26-.07, 2022)
- A facility with a secured unit must show surveyors that an interdisciplinary team, with a physician, a registered nurse and a family member or patient care advocate, evaluated each resident before admittance and reviews the placement quarterly. (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0720-26-.08, 2022)
Tennessee calls assisted living an assisted-care living facility (ACLF) and licenses it under Chapter 0720-26 of the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission's rules. Licensing moved from the Department of Health to the Commission on July 1, 2022, and homes for the aged (Chapter 0720-21) and Level 2 adult care homes (Chapter 0720-37) are separate licenses, so the facts below cover the ACLF license.
Rules change and communities can set stricter policies. Before you sign, confirm the details with the community and the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission. This page is general information, not legal advice.
The rules at a glance
| Medical assessment before move-in | Tennessee's ACLF rules do not require a physician's exam or a state form for every new resident, but a direct care staff member must complete a written assessment within 72 hours after admission. A person who meets nursing facility level of care may be admitted only if the treating physician certifies in writing that the facility can meet their needs. [5][6] More on this |
|---|---|
| TB test | Tennessee's ACLF rules do not require a tuberculosis test for new residents. They do bar admitting or keeping a person with an active, infectious, reportable disease in a communicable state that requires contact isolation. [6][2] More on this |
| Notice before a move-out | A facility must give a resident 30 days' written notice before a transfer or discharge, unless a physician orders the transfer because the resident needs a higher level of care. The rules bar a continued stay for residents who need continuous nursing care, show aggression that is an imminent physical threat, or have needs the facility cannot safely meet. [7][6] More on this |
| Who may give medications | Medicines must be self-administered under the resident's plan of care or given by a licensed or certified health care professional, which includes a certified medication aide working under a nurse's delegation. A medication aide may never give medicines by injection, so aides cannot give insulin shots. [8][9] More on this |
| Memory care and dementia | A facility with a secured unit must show surveyors that an interdisciplinary team, with a physician, a registered nurse and a family member or patient care advocate, evaluated each resident before admittance and reviews the placement quarterly. The unit needs one attendant awake and on duty at all times, and all unit staff need annual Alzheimer's training. [6] |
| Long-term care ombudsman | Tennessee's Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman advocates for residents of assisted care living facilities and can be reached toll free at 877-236-0013, which routes callers to the local District Ombudsman. [10] Official page More on this |
| Medicaid help | TennCare's CHOICES program pays for assisted care living facility services for members in Groups 2 and 3, but the member must pay for room and board. Group 2 has an enrollment target, so a waiting list can apply when it is full. [11][12] Official page More on this |
What assisted living costs in Tennessee
The median monthly cost of assisted living in Tennessee was $5,845 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $70,140 a year, $355 below the national median of $6,200 a month. [13]
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 Tennessee
The Health Facilities Commission posts facility information on its Find Health Care Facilities page and publishes monthly Facility Action and Abuse Reports listing disciplinary actions against facilities. Complaints can be filed through the Commission's online portal or by phone at 1-877-287-0010. Search Tennessee's records. [3][4]
The licensing agency: Tennessee Health Facilities Commission. [1][2] Our guide on how to read an inspection report explains what to look for.
Put Tennessee'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 Tennessee?
The median monthly cost of assisted living in Tennessee was $5,845 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $70,140 a year, $355 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 Tennessee require before moving into assisted living?
Tennessee's ACLF rules do not require a physician's exam or a state form for every new resident, but a direct care staff member must complete a written assessment within 72 hours after admission. A person who meets nursing facility level of care may be admitted only if the treating physician certifies in writing that the facility can meet their needs.
Does Tennessee require a TB test for assisted living?
Tennessee's ACLF rules do not require a tuberculosis test for new residents. They do bar admitting or keeping a person with an active, infectious, reportable disease in a communicable state that requires contact isolation.
How much notice must an assisted living community in Tennessee give before a move-out?
A facility must give a resident 30 days' written notice before a transfer or discharge, unless a physician orders the transfer because the resident needs a higher level of care. The rules bar a continued stay for residents who need continuous nursing care, show aggression that is an imminent physical threat, or have needs the facility cannot safely meet.
Who can give medications in assisted living in Tennessee?
Medicines must be self-administered under the resident's plan of care or given by a licensed or certified health care professional, which includes a certified medication aide working under a nurse's delegation. A medication aide may never give medicines by injection, so aides cannot give insulin shots.
Who can help with a complaint about assisted living in Tennessee?
Tennessee's Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman advocates for residents of assisted care living facilities and can be reached toll free at 877-236-0013, which routes callers to the local District Ombudsman.
Does Medicaid pay for assisted living in Tennessee?
TennCare's CHOICES program pays for assisted care living facility services for members in Groups 2 and 3, but the member must pay for room and board. Group 2 has an enrollment target, so a waiting list can apply when it is full.
Sources
- Tennessee Health Facilities Commission: Department page (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Rules of the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission, Chapter 0720-26, Standards for Assisted-Care Living Facilities (Tennessee Secretary of State official copy), 2022 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Tennessee Health Facilities Commission: Facility Action and Abuse Reports (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Tennessee Health Facilities Commission: File A Complaint (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0720-26-.12, Resident Records (via Cornell LII), 2022 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0720-26-.08, Admissions, Discharges, and Transfers (via Cornell LII), 2022 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0720-26-.14, Resident Rights (via Cornell LII), 2022 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0720-26-.07, Services Provided (via Cornell LII), 2022 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-05-.11, Medication Aides, Standards of Practice (via Cornell LII), 2017 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability: Long-Term Care Ombudsman (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- TennCare: CHOICES Benefit Table, Appendix A (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-13-01-.05, TennCare CHOICES program (via Cornell LII), 2023 (checked October 22, 2026)
- CareScout: Cost of Care Survey 2025, Ranked Median Costs by State (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)