Assisted living statistics
Data trends and projections
According to the data:
- More than 810,000 people reside in assisted living facilities.
- Assisted living costs an average of $4,300 per month.
- The population of adults older than 85 will double by 2036 and triple by 2049.
- 7 out of 10 people require assisted living care in their lifetime.
- The U.S. will need nearly 1 million new senior living units by 2040.
Nearly 30,000 assisted living facilities operate in the United States. On average, each assisted living facility accommodates 27 to 33 residents.
National senior living statistics
About 2% of seniors in the U.S. live in assisted living facilities. The average cost of assisted living in the U.S. is $4,300 per month. For context, the estimated median monthly cost for a 44-hour-a-week home health aide is $4,576.
An additional 4% of seniors live in nursing homes. The median cost of nursing homes nears $9,000 per month for a private room, making assisted living an affordable and popular choice for seniors who need more than just care during the day. As of 2019, California has 1,246,079 nursing facilities, the most of any state in the country.
Assisted living is more affordable than other senior care options, but it’s still a major expense. However, not everyone appropriately budgets for elder care plans.
Common conditions of assisted living residents
- High blood pressure
- Arthritis
- Heart disease
- Alzheimer’s or dementia
Common features across assisted living facilities
- Pharmacy access
- Nutritional guidance
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Nursing care
- Hospice care
Assisted living demographics
Assisted living facilities provide housing to aging residents with varying levels of independence. For some, this can mean taking care of their own hygiene needs while nurses manage their medications. Other residents may need assistance with everyday tasks and more intensive medical treatment. In addition to Alzheimer’s and dementia, some of the most common conditions of assisted living residents are high blood pressure, arthritis and heart disease.
- About 71% of residents have memory impairments. About 42% of residents have moderate to severe memory loss, and an additional 29% of residents have mild impairments. Memory care is more expensive than traditional assisted living — usually 20% to 30% more than the average.
- The average length of a stay in an assisted living facility is 22 months. As care needs become more intense, most assisted living residents move to nursing homes or other types of senior care.
- The majority of residents are women. About 71% of assisted living residents are women. This discrepancy is because many women outlive their spouses, leaving them without in-home support and in greater need of the care assisted living facilities provide.
- The majority of residents are in their 80s. The average age of assisted living residents is 84. Though most facilities allow patients as young as 65, 52% of residents are over 85 and 30% are between 75 and 84.
Assisted living data trends and predictions
The assisted living industry is expected to accommodate many more residents in the next 10 to 20 years. Here’s a breakdown of the state of assisted living and what we can expect over the next two decades:
- The number of people over 65 will grow by 42%.
- The number of people over 85 will grow by 111%.
- About 986,000 new assisted living units will be necessary.
The reason for this growth: Baby boomers are currently 57 to 75 years old and represent 21.19% of the population. This is a sharp increase for this demographic — 20 years ago, the silent generation made up only about 15.4% of the population when it was aged 56 to 73.
This change in the U.S. aging population will likely create an increased demand for assisted living care. According to research from the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC), the U.S. will need almost 881,000 new facilities by 2030 and 986,000 by 2040.
- 1. Assisted living facility costs will continue to increase
- As the assisted living industry is expected to grow, so are its costs. By 2030, Genworth estimates the national median cost of monthly care will be $5,779, and it may reach $7,776 by 2040.
Research from the peer-reviewed journal HealthAffairs suggests that these rising costs paired with other generational factors could make assisted living care out of reach for a growing number of middle-income people.
“Future seniors have lower overall savings and are less likely to have pensions, as defined-contribution retirement plans have grown,” the study states. “This trend may increase pressure on the already decreasing number of familial caregivers per senior.”
- 2. Assisted living chains and franchises will increase
- 56% of assisted living facilities are chain-owned, including big companies like Brookdale Senior Living, Life Care Services and Genesis Healthcare. These are often larger communities that serve more than 100 patients per location. There are also many local assisted living providers of varying sizes across the country.
- 3. Possible staffing shortages are ahead
- The assisted living industry will likely face challenges in meeting the projected growth, specifically regarding staffing needs. Experts from the Senior Living Innovation Forum suggest that better pay, benefits and opportunities for advancement can improve employee retention to ensure there’s enough staff to meet the growing need for these facilities.
- 4. More specialized memory care options will be available
- Facilities dedicated to memory services are becoming an increasing component of long-term care. Fourteen percent of communities have entire floors and wings dedicated to serving patients with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and similar conditions. Nearly 9% of residences exclusively serve these patients.
Memory care-specific communities are increasingly popular because their caregivers have been trained to care for patients with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive loss. Additionally, many facilities offer specialized care and activities for people with dementia to stimulate cognition.
According to data from the National Center for Health Statistics, 71% of facilities with memory care units were considered large (26 to 100 beds) or extra-large (more than 100 beds). Fifty-six percent of communities without dedicated memory care service were deemed small (10 beds or fewer).
Assisted living facility statistics by state
The financial burden of assisted living varies by state. It ranges from a median monthly price of $3,000 in Missouri to $6,690 in Delaware. Below, compare the total number of facilities and the average cost of assisted living by state.
Currently, Medicare covers up to 20 days of assisted living care. Most state Medicaid programs cover some assisted living costs, but the amount and days covered vary by state. Most residents need other financing methods beyond just insurance.
| Number of assisted living communities | Maximum licensed capacity | Average monthly costs | Average yearly cost | |
| Alabama | 300 | 9,700 | $3,150 | $37,800 |
| Alaska | 100 | 1,800 | $6,650 | $79,590 |
| Arizona | 1,400 | 24,900 | $3,900 | $48,000 |
| Arkansas | 100 | 5,800 | $3,500 | $42,000 |
| California | 5,900 | 127,000 | $5,000 | $60,000 |
| Colorado | 400 | 14,600 | $4,575 | $54,900 |
| Connecticut | 60 | 1,700 | $6,633 | $75,600 |
| Delaware | 30 | 2,100 | $6,690 | $80,820 |
| Florida | 2,400 | 75,100 | $3,700 | $44,400 |
| Georgia | 900 | 25,200 | $3,900 | $48,000 |
| Hawaii | 300 | 5,200 | $5,00 | $60,000 |
| Idaho | 200 | 8,300 | $3,675 | $44,100 |
| Illinois | 400 | 31,000 | $4,575 | $54,900 |
| Indiana | 200 | 20,300 | $4,382 | $52,584 |
| Iowa | 50 | 1,700 | $4,073 | $49,149 |
| Kansas | 400 | 12,100 | $5,090 | $61,080 |
| Kentucky | 200 | 12,500 | $3,699 | $44,385 |
| Louisiana | 100 | 5,300 | $3,675 | $43,665 |
| Maine | 240 | 6,500 | $5,942 | $71,298 |
| Maryland | 900 | 17,500 | $5,000 | $60,000 |
| Massachusetts | 300 | 13,600 | $6,300 | $73,020 |
| Michigan | 1,700 | 36,500 | $4,200 | $50,400 |
| Minnesota | 800 | 30,600 | $4,283 | $52,390 |
| Mississippi | 100 | 6,400 | $3,713 | $44,550 |
| Missouri | 400 | 19,900 | $3,000 | $36,000 |
| Montana | 200 | 5,900 | $4,213 | $50,550 |
| Nebraska | 200 | 11,300 | $4,188 | $50,250 |
| Nevada | 200 | 4,200 | $3,595 | $43,140 |
| New Hampshire | 100 | 4,800 | $6,650 | $79,800 |
| New Jersey | 200 | 21,300 | $6,650 | $79,800 |
| New Mexico | 100 | 4,200 | $4,050 | $48,600 |
| New York | 500 | 35,500 | $4,800 | $57,600 |
| North Carolina | 900 | 39,900 | $3,800 | $45,600 |
| North Dakota | 100 | 5,300 | $4,096 | $29,149 |
| Ohio | 600 | 42,800 | $4,350 | $52,200 |
| Oklahoma | 200 | 10,500 | $3,750 | $45,000 |
| Oregon | 1,500 | 31,500 | $4,659 | $55,905 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,000 | 62,900 | $3,955 | $47,457 |
| Rhode Island | 50 | 3,900 | $4,950 | $59,400 |
| South Carolina | 300 | 12,300 | $3,988 | $47,850 |
| South Dakota | 100 | 4,600 | $3,638 | $43,650 |
| Tennessee | 300 | 17,400 | $4,039 | $48,465 |
| Texas | 1,300 | 48,700 | $3,998 | $47,970 |
| Utah | 200 | 7,100 | $3,400 | $40,800 |
| Vermont | 90 | 2,400 | $5,310 | $63,720 |
| Virginia | 400 | 26,400 | $4,850 | $58,200 |
| Washington | 2,000 | 41,500 | $5,750 | $69,000 |
| West Virginia | 50 | 3,600 | $4,000 | $48,000 |
| Wisconsin | 1,000 | 36,100 | $4,400 | $52,800 |
| Wyoming | 20 | 800 | $4,174 | $50,100 |
| Number of assisted living communities | 300 | 100 | 1,400 | 100 | 5,900 | 400 | 60 | 30 | 2,400 | 900 | 300 | 200 | 400 | 200 | 50 | 400 | 200 | 100 | 240 | 900 | 300 | 1,700 | 800 | 100 | 400 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 100 | 200 | 100 | 500 | 900 | 100 | 600 | 200 | 1,500 | 1,000 | 50 | 300 | 100 | 300 | 1,300 | 200 | 90 | 400 | 2,000 | 50 | 1,500 | 20 |
| Maximum licensed capacity | 9,700 | 1,800 | 24,900 | 5,800 | 127,000 | 14,600 | 1,700 | 2,100 | 75,100 | 25,200 | 5,200 | 8,300 | 31,000 | 20,300 | 1,700 | 12,100 | 12,500 | 5,300 | 6,500 | 17,500 | 13,600 | 36,500 | 30,600 | 6,400 | 19,900 | 5,900 | 11,300 | 4,200 | 4,800 | 21,300 | 4,200 | 35,500 | 39,900 | 5,300 | 42,800 | 10,500 | 31,500 | 62,900 | 3,900 | 12,300 | 4,600 | 17,400 | 48,700 | 7,100 | 2,400 | 26,400 | 41,500 | 3,600 | 36,100 | 800 |
| Average monthly costs | $3,150 | $6,650 | $3,900 | $3,500 | $5,000 | $4,575 | $6,633 | $6,690 | $3,700 | $3,900 | $5,000 | $3,675 | $4,575 | $4,382 | $4,073 | $5,090 | $3,699 | $3,675 | $5,942 | $5,000 | $6,300 | $4,200 | $4,283 | $3,713 | $3,000 | $4,213 | $4,188 | $3,595 | $6,650 | $6,650 | $4,050 | $4,800 | $3,800 | $4,096 | $4,350 | $3,750 | $4,659 | $3,955 | $4,950 | $3,988 | $3,638 | $4,039 | $3,998 | $3,400 | $5,310 | $4,850 | $5,750 | $4,000 | $4,400 | $4,174 |
| Average yearly cost | $37,800 | $79,590 | $48,000 | 42,000 | $60,000 | $54,900 | $75,600 | $80,820 | $44,400 | $48,000 | $60,000 | $44,100 | $54,900 | $52,584 | $49,149 | $61,080 | $44,385 | $43,665 | $71,298 | $60,000 | $73,020 | $50,400 | $52,390 | $44,550 | $36,000 | $50,550 | $50,250 | $43,140 | $79,800 | $79,800 | $48,600 | $57,600 | $45,600 | $29,149 | $52,200 | $45,000 | $55,905 | $47,457 | $59,400 | $47,850 | $43,650 | $48,465 | $47,970 | $40,800 | $63,720 | $58,200 | $69,000 | $48,000 | $52,800 | $50,100 |
Bottom line
As the senior population continues to grow, the need for more assisted living facilities is likely to increase drastically. Though assisted living is a more affordable alternative to nursing home care for many older adults, the cost of these facilities is also expected to rise as the industry expands.
No matter the size of the facility, you should always confirm the residence is licensed. The level of care needed is also an important factor in choosing a facility — smaller units may have relationships with doctors and local hospitals rather than on-call medical professionals.
- Article sources
- ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. To learn more about the content on our site, visit our FAQ page.
- American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living (AHCANCAL), “Facts & Figures.” Accessed April 28, 2021.
- AARP, “Assisted Living Facilities: Weighing the Options.” Accessed April 28, 2021.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Dementia Special Care Units in Residential Care Communities: United States, 2010.” Accessed April 28, 2021.
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “Residential Care Facilities: A Key Sector in the Spectrum of Long-term Care Providers in the United States.” Accessed April 28, 2021.
- HealthAffairs, “Dementia Prevalence And Care In Assisted Living.” Accessed April 28, 2021.
- Medicare, “Skilled nursing facility (SNF) care.” Accessed April 28, 2021.
- HealthAffairs, “The Forgotten Middle: Many Middle-Income Seniors Will Have Insufficient Resources For Housing And Health Care.” Accessed April 28, 2021.
- Genworth, “Cost of Care Survey.” Accessed April 28, 2021.
- Genworth, “Cost of Care Survey: Ranked State Data Tables” Accessed April 28, 2021.
- Senior Housing News, “Nearly 1 Million New Senior Living Units Needed by 2040.” Accessed April 28, 2021.
- U.S. Census Bureau, “An Aging Nation: The Older Population in the United States.” Accessed April 28, 2021.
- National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), “Assisted Living: A Growing Aspect of Long Term Care.” Accessed April 28, 2021.
- Howmuch, “The Rising Cost of Senior Care in America.” Accessed April 28, 2021.
- McNight’s Senior Living, “Argentum list of largest senior living providers adds 10 for 2020.” Accessed April 28, 2021.
- Assisted Living, “What Is Memory Care And How Much Should It Cost?” Accessed April 28, 2021.
You’re signed up
We’ll start sending you the news you need delivered straight to you. We value your privacy. Unsubscribe easily.