In Vermont, the license families see for assisted living is "Assisted Living Residence (ALR)", issued by the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, Division of Licensing and Protection. The residence must evaluate a prospective resident's functional, cognitive, mental and physical health before move-in, and complete a state assessment form within 14 days after admission, by a registered nurse if the resident needs nursing overview, medication administration or nursing care. The residence must give written notice at least 30 days before an involuntary discharge, except in an emergency, and the resident may appeal.
Key facts
- The median monthly cost of assisted living in Vermont was $8,597 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $103,167 a year, $2,397 above the national median of $6,200 a month. (CareScout, 2026)
- Vermont Medicaid can pay for care services, but not room and board, in a participating licensed assisted living residence through Choices for Care (Enhanced Residential Care) or Assistive Community Care Services. (Vermont DAIL, 2024)
- Vermont's rules for residential care homes and assisted living residences do not list a tuberculosis test for new residents. (Vermont Residential Care Home and Assisted Living Residence Licensing Rules sec. 9.1.f, 2025)
- Unlicensed staff may give medications only when a registered nurse has delegated this for each specific resident and medication. (Vermont Residential Care Home and Assisted Living Residence Licensing Rules sec. 5.10, 2025)
- A residence may not say it runs a special care unit, the rules' term for units such as memory care, without state approval and a unit license. (Vermont Residential Care Home and Assisted Living Residence Licensing Rules sec. 5.6, 2025)
Vermont licenses assisted living residences and residential care homes under one set of rules from the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL), Division of Licensing and Protection. Residential care homes are licensed at Level III (with nursing overview) or Level IV, while an assisted living residence is a separate license where every unit has a private bedroom, private bath, living space, kitchen capacity and a lockable door. The facts below are for the assisted living residence license.
Rules change and communities can set stricter policies. Before you sign, confirm the details with the community and the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, Division of Licensing and Protection. This page is general information, not legal advice.
The rules at a glance
| Medical assessment before move-in | The residence must evaluate a prospective resident's functional, cognitive, mental and physical health before move-in, and complete a state assessment form within 14 days after admission, by a registered nurse if the resident needs nursing overview, medication administration or nursing care. The residential care home rule requiring a licensed provider's admission statement does not apply to assisted living residences. [3][4] More on this |
|---|---|
| TB test | Vermont's rules for residential care homes and assisted living residences do not list a tuberculosis test for new residents. They do require every home to run an infection prevention and control program that follows national and state standards. [5] More on this |
| Notice before a move-out | The residence must give written notice at least 30 days before an involuntary discharge, except in an emergency, and the resident may appeal. Allowed reasons are a serious threat to self or others that care planning cannot resolve, a court order, unpaid charges, refusing the admission agreement terms, or care needs the residence can no longer meet. [6][7] More on this |
| Who may give medications | Unlicensed staff may give medications only when a registered nurse has delegated this for each specific resident and medication. They may give insulin and other injectable diabetes medicines only if the nurse finds the resident's condition stable and has judged the staff member competent after extra injection training. [8] More on this |
| Memory care and dementia | A residence may not say it runs a special care unit, the rules' term for units such as memory care, without state approval and a unit license. Staff who regularly interact with residents in a dementia unit need at least 8 hours of specialized training before working independently and 2 hours of dementia training each year. [9] |
| Long-term care ombudsman | The Vermont Long-Term Care Ombudsman Project, run by Vermont Legal Aid, helps residents of assisted living facilities and residential care homes for free and can be reached at 1-800-889-2047, ext. 3. [10][11] Official page More on this |
| Medicaid help | Vermont Medicaid can pay for care services, but not room and board, in a participating licensed assisted living residence through Choices for Care (Enhanced Residential Care) or Assistive Community Care Services. Enhanced Residential Care is for people who need nursing home level of care, and the High Needs group can have a wait list when state funds run out. [12][13][14] Official page More on this |
What assisted living costs in Vermont
The median monthly cost of assisted living in Vermont was $8,597 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $103,167 a year, $2,397 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 Vermont
The Division of Licensing and Protection's county pages list each assisted living residence and residential care home with a link to its survey (inspection) statements. Complaints about a facility can be made to the division's healthcare organization complaint line at (888) 700-5330. Search Vermont's records. [2]
The licensing agency: Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, Division of Licensing and Protection. [1] Our guide on how to read an inspection report explains what to look for.
Put Vermont'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 Vermont?
The median monthly cost of assisted living in Vermont was $8,597 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $103,167 a year, $2,397 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 Vermont require before moving into assisted living?
The residence must evaluate a prospective resident's functional, cognitive, mental and physical health before move-in, and complete a state assessment form within 14 days after admission, by a registered nurse if the resident needs nursing overview, medication administration or nursing care. The residential care home rule requiring a licensed provider's admission statement does not apply to assisted living residences.
Does Vermont require a TB test for assisted living?
Vermont's rules for residential care homes and assisted living residences do not list a tuberculosis test for new residents. They do require every home to run an infection prevention and control program that follows national and state standards.
How much notice must an assisted living community in Vermont give before a move-out?
The residence must give written notice at least 30 days before an involuntary discharge, except in an emergency, and the resident may appeal. Allowed reasons are a serious threat to self or others that care planning cannot resolve, a court order, unpaid charges, refusing the admission agreement terms, or care needs the residence can no longer meet.
Who can give medications in assisted living in Vermont?
Unlicensed staff may give medications only when a registered nurse has delegated this for each specific resident and medication. They may give insulin and other injectable diabetes medicines only if the nurse finds the resident's condition stable and has judged the staff member competent after extra injection training.
Who can help with a complaint about assisted living in Vermont?
The Vermont Long-Term Care Ombudsman Project, run by Vermont Legal Aid, helps residents of assisted living facilities and residential care homes for free and can be reached at 1-800-889-2047, ext. 3.
Does Medicaid pay for assisted living in Vermont?
Vermont Medicaid can pay for care services, but not room and board, in a participating licensed assisted living residence through Choices for Care (Enhanced Residential Care) or Assistive Community Care Services. Enhanced Residential Care is for people who need nursing home level of care, and the High Needs group can have a wait list when state funds run out.
Sources
- Vermont Residential Care Home and Assisted Living Residence Licensing Rules sec. 1.2, Statutory Authority, and sec. 13.1, General Provisions (DAIL, effective April 1, 2025), 2025 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Vermont DAIL, Division of Licensing and Protection: Facilities by County (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Vermont Residential Care Home and Assisted Living Residence Licensing Rules sec. 5.7, Assessment (DAIL, effective April 1, 2025), 2025 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Vermont Residential Care Home and Assisted Living Residence Licensing Rules sec. 13.2, Exceptions for assisted living residences (DAIL, effective April 1, 2025), 2025 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Vermont Residential Care Home and Assisted Living Residence Licensing Rules sec. 9.1.f, Environment (DAIL, effective April 1, 2025), 2025 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Vermont Residential Care Home and Assisted Living Residence Licensing Rules sec. 13.4.e, Involuntary Discharge of Residents (DAIL, effective April 1, 2025), 2025 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Vermont Residential Care Home and Assisted Living Residence Licensing Rules sec. 5.3, Discharge and Transfer Requirements (DAIL, effective April 1, 2025), 2025 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Vermont Residential Care Home and Assisted Living Residence Licensing Rules sec. 5.10, Medication Management (DAIL, effective April 1, 2025), 2025 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Vermont Residential Care Home and Assisted Living Residence Licensing Rules sec. 5.6, Special Care Units (DAIL, effective April 1, 2025), 2025 (checked October 22, 2026)
- VTLawHelp.org (Vermont Legal Aid and partners): Vermont Long-Term Care Ombudsman Project (updated February 22, 2026), 2026 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Vermont Legal Aid: Vermont Long-Term Care Ombudsman Project (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Vermont DAIL, Adult Services Division: Residential Care and Assisted Living Frequently Asked Questions (Choices for Care, ACCS, Enhanced Residential Care) (2024) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Vermont Health Care Administrative Rules 7.102, Choices for Care, sec. 7.102.6, Wait Lists (via DAIL; effective April 15, 2020), 2020 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Vermont DAIL, Division of Licensing and Protection: Assisted Living Residences by County, with ACCS and ERC participation columns (2025) (checked October 22, 2026)
- CareScout: Cost of Care Survey 2025, Ranked Median Costs by State (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)