Assisted Living in Tennessee

    Assisted living communities provide personalized care and support while helping seniors maintain their independence. Services include help with daily activities, medication management, meals, and personal care.

    856 communitiesAvg $4,883/mo

    Paying for assisted living in Tennessee

    Most families in Tennessee pay for assisted living out of pocket, at least at first. Common sources include personal savings, Social Security and retirement income, the proceeds from selling a home, long-term care insurance, and help from family. Costs vary widely by region and by the level of care a resident needs, so it helps to compare several communities. You can see current local pricing in the tables below.

    A few programs can offset the cost of care for those who qualify, but none of them cover the room-and-board portion of an assisted living bill. Below is how Medicaid and Medicare fit in.

    Does TennCare cover assisted living in Tennessee?

    Tennessee's Medicaid program is called TennCare, and its long-term care benefit is TennCare CHOICES in Long-Term Services and Supports. CHOICES does not pay your monthly rent or "room and board," but for eligible members it can help cover personal-care services delivered in an assisted care living facility — help with bathing, dressing, meals, and supervision.

    • Who qualifies: CHOICES is for adults 65+ and adults 21+ with a physical disability who meet both a financial test (strict income and asset limits) and a functional/medical need for a nursing-home level of care.
    • How to apply: Apply through TennCare Connect online or by phone, or ask your local Area Agency on Aging and Disability (AAAD) for free help with the application.

    Because eligibility and available settings change, confirm details with TennCare or your AAAD before counting on this benefit.

    Does Medicare cover assisted living in Tennessee?

    No. Medicare does not pay for assisted living room and board or for ongoing custodial (personal) care, in Tennessee or any other state.

    Medicare may still cover related medical needs, such as:

    • A medically necessary short-term stay in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying hospital stay
    • Doctor visits, hospital care, and medical equipment
    • Eligible home health or hospice services

    For free, unbiased help understanding what your Medicare plan covers, contact the Tennessee State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 1-877-801-0044.

    Other ways to pay for assisted living in Tennessee

    OptionHow it works
    VA Aid & AttendanceA pension supplement for wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities. It adds a monthly amount on top of a VA pension that can be applied toward assisted living.
    Long-term care insuranceIf a policy is already in place, it may cover much of the monthly cost. Check the daily benefit, elimination period, and any assisted living restrictions before relying on it.
    Reverse mortgage (HECM)Homeowners 62+ can borrow against home equity, with no monthly payments due until the home is sold. Most useful when one spouse stays in the home.
    Life insurance conversionSome whole-life policies can be sold or converted into a long-term care benefit while the policyholder is still living.
    Home sale or bridge loanProceeds from selling a home — or a short-term bridge loan while it's on the market — can fund care during a transition.

    Free and low-cost resources for Tennessee seniors

    Compare & evaluate communities

    Tennessee Health Facilities Commission – Licensure & Regulation

    State agency that licenses Assisted Care Living Facilities; links to the official tool for finding licensed health care facilities.

    Tennessee Department of Health – Health Care Facilities Search

    Look up a community's license type and status and find licensed facilities by name, city, or county.

    Pay for care

    TennCare CHOICES (Long-Term Services & Supports)

    Tennessee Medicaid's long-term care program; can help eligible members pay for care (not room and board) in an assisted care living facility.

    Tennessee State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)

    Free, unbiased counseling on Medicare coverage, plans, and costs for Tennessee beneficiaries and caregivers.

    (877) 801-0044

    Tennessee Department of Veterans Services

    Helps veterans and surviving spouses access state and federal benefits that can help pay for care; connects you with a local service officer.

    (615) 741-2345

    Know your rights & get help

    Tennessee Long-Term Care Ombudsman

    Advocates for residents of assisted care living facilities and nursing homes and helps resolve complaints about care and resident rights.

    (877) 236-0013

    Health Facilities Commission – File a Complaint

    Report concerns about a licensed facility to the state's complaint intake unit for investigation.

    (877) 287-0010

    Free Senior Legal Helpline (Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services)

    Free, confidential legal advice for Tennesseans age 60 and older, regardless of income.

    (844) 435-7486

    Support for families & caregivers

    Tennessee Area Agencies on Aging and Disability (AAAD)

    Call from anywhere in the state to reach your local AAAD for help with care options, benefits, and applications.

    (866) 836-6678

    National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP)

    State program offering respite, counseling, support groups, and training for those caring for an older adult or someone with dementia.

    (866) 836-6678

    Laws & regulations

    Rule Chapter 0720-26 — Standards for Assisted-Care Living Facilities

    The full Tennessee rules governing how assisted-care living facilities are licensed, staffed, and operated, published by the Secretary of State as part of the Health Facilities Commission's rules and kept current as they are amended.

    National resources

    Eldercare Locator

    Federal service that connects you to vetted local aging resources — care options, transportation, and in-home support — by ZIP code.

    (800) 677-1116

    Planning & paying for long-term care (LongTermCare.gov)

    Federal guide to the full range of ways families plan and pay for long-term care.

    Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline

    Round-the-clock information, crisis help, and emotional support for families facing dementia.

    (800) 272-3900

    Assisted living laws and regulations in Tennessee

    In Tennessee, assisted living communities are licensed as Assisted Care Living Facilities (ACLFs) by the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission, an independent state agency that oversees the licensure and inspection of health care facilities. (This function previously sat within the Department of Health.)

    State rules set standards for staffing, staff training, resident admission and discharge, medication assistance, physical-plant safety, and residents' rights. The Commission conducts licensing surveys and investigates complaints to confirm that communities meet these requirements. When a facility falls short, the Commission can require a plan of correction and take enforcement action.

    Inspection results and complaint findings are public records. Before you choose a community, verify that it holds a current ACLF license and review its inspection and complaint history through the state's official facility search. If anything is unclear, the Health Facilities Commission and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman can help you interpret what you find.

    You can read the full rules in Rule Chapter 0720-26 — Standards for Assisted-Care Living Facilities.

    Check a community's license before you commit

    The Tennessee Health Facilities Commission licenses these communities as Assisted Care Living Facility (ACLF)s and publishes their inspection and complaint history.

    Search the state's licensed facility database

    Last reviewed June 2026.

    Frequently asked questions about assisted living in Tennessee

    TennCare's CHOICES long-term care program can help eligible members pay for personal-care services in an assisted care living facility, but it never covers the room-and-board (rent) portion of the bill. To qualify, you must meet TennCare's income and asset limits and need a nursing-home level of care. Apply through TennCare Connect or ask your local Area Agency on Aging and Disability for help.

    Costs vary widely depending on the community, the region of the state, and how much care a resident needs. Urban areas often run higher than rural ones. The pricing tables below show current local figures so you can compare communities side by side rather than relying on a statewide average.

    An Assisted Care Living Facility (ACLF) provides housing, meals, and help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medications for people who are largely independent. A nursing home provides 24-hour skilled nursing and medical care for people with more intensive health needs. Many people start in assisted living and move to a nursing home only if their care needs increase.

    CHOICES is generally for Tennesseans age 65 and older and adults 21 and older with a physical disability who meet strict financial limits on income and assets and have a functional need at a nursing-home level of care. Eligibility is determined by TennCare; your local AAAD can help you apply and confirm whether you qualify.

    Use the Tennessee Department of Health's Health Care Facilities search to confirm a community holds a current Assisted Care Living Facility license, and review its inspection and complaint history. The Health Facilities Commission's licensure page links to these tools. Inspection and complaint findings are public records.

    No. Medicare does not pay for assisted living room and board or for ongoing custodial care. It may cover related medical needs such as a short skilled-nursing stay after a qualifying hospital admission, doctor visits, or eligible home health and hospice services. For free help understanding your coverage, call the Tennessee SHIP at 1-877-801-0044.

    Top-rated communities in Tennessee

    Top cities for assisted living in Tennessee

    1. Germantown assisted living

      34 facilities$4,811/mo

    2. Berry Hill assisted living

      31 facilities$4,894/mo

    3. Cordova assisted living

      31 facilities$4,931/mo

    4. Knoxville assisted living

      30 facilities$4,356/mo

    5. Belle Meade assisted living

      29 facilities$5,267/mo

    6. East Ridge assisted living

      28 facilities$4,662/mo

    7. Nashville assisted living

      28 facilities$5,427/mo

    8. Oak Hill assisted living

      27 facilities$5,083/mo

    9. Forest Hills assisted living

      27 facilities$5,351/mo

    10. Karns assisted living

      26 facilities$4,511/mo

    11. Chattanooga assisted living

      25 facilities$5,223/mo

    12. Old Hickory assisted living

      25 facilities$4,828/mo

    Cost of assisted living in Tennessee

    The average cost of assisted living in Tennessee is $4,883/month, compared to $4,896/month nationally.

    Room typeTennesseeNational avg
    Studio$5,154$4,736
    1 Bedroom$5,061$5,203
    2 Bedrooms$4,036$5,173
    Semi-Private$4,327$4,369

    * Average monthly costs across communities in Tennessee.

    Cost by care type in Tennessee

    Care typeAvg. monthly costCommunities
    Independent Living$4,852312
    Assisted Living$4,883856
    Memory Care$5,107467

    Assisted Living cost in Tennessee vs. nearby states

    StateAvg. monthly cost
    Georgia$3,783
    Missouri$3,892
    Alabama$3,972
    Kentucky$4,064
    Mississippi$4,555
    North Carolina$4,586
    Arkansas$4,619
    Tennessee$4,883
    Virginia$5,823
    National average$4,896

    * assisted living averages across communities in each state.

    Explore all cities in Tennessee

    A

    1. Adams
    2. Adamsville
    3. Alamo
    4. Alcoa
    5. Alexandria
    6. Algood
    7. Allardt
    8. Altamont
    9. Andersonville
    10. Apison
    11. Ardmore
    12. Arlington
    13. Ashland City
    14. Athens
    15. Atoka
    16. Atwood
    17. Auburntown

    B

    1. Baileyton
    2. Baneberry
    3. Banner Hill
    4. Bartlett
    5. Baxter
    6. Bean Station
    7. Beech Bluff
    8. Beersheba Springs
    9. Bell Buckle
    10. Belle Meade
    11. Bells
    12. Belvidere
    13. Benton
    14. Berry Hill
    15. Bethel Springs
    16. Bethpage
    17. Big Rock
    18. Big Sandy
    19. Biltmore
    20. Blaine
    21. Blanche
    22. Bloomingdale
    23. Blountville
    24. Bluff City
    25. Bogota
    26. Bolivar
    27. Bon Air
    28. Bon Aqua Junction
    29. Bowman
    30. Braden
    31. Bradford
    32. Bransford
    33. Brentwood
    34. Briceville
    35. Brighton
    36. Bristol
    37. Brownsville
    38. Bruceton
    39. Buchanan
    40. Bulls Gap
    41. Burlison
    42. Burns
    43. Butler
    44. Byrdstown

    C

    1. Calhoun
    2. Camden
    3. Carthage
    4. Caryville
    5. Castalian Springs
    6. Cedar Hill
    7. Celina
    8. Centertown
    9. Centerville
    10. Central
    11. Chapel Hill
    12. Charleston
    13. Charlotte
    14. Chattanooga
    15. Chesterfield
    16. Chewalla
    17. Childers Hill
    18. Christiana
    19. Church Hill
    20. Clarkrange
    21. Clarksburg
    22. Clarksville
    23. Cleveland
    24. Clifton
    25. Clinton
    26. Coalfield
    27. Coalmont
    28. Coker Creek
    29. Collegedale
    30. Collierville
    31. Collinwood
    32. Colonial Heights
    33. Columbia
    34. Conasauga
    35. Cookeville
    36. Coopertown
    37. Copperhill
    38. Cornersville
    39. Cosby
    40. Cottage Grove
    41. Cottontown
    42. Counce
    43. Covington
    44. Cowan
    45. Crab Orchard
    46. Cross Plains
    47. Crossville
    48. Crump
    49. Cumberland City
    50. Cumberland Gap

    D

    1. Dancyville
    2. Dandridge
    3. Darden
    4. Dayton
    5. Decatur
    6. Decaturville
    7. Decherd
    8. Delano
    9. Dellrose
    10. Dickson
    11. Dodson Branch
    12. Dover
    13. Dowelltown
    14. Doyle
    15. Dresden
    16. Ducktown
    17. Dukedom
    18. Dunlap
    19. Dyer
    20. Dyersburg

    E

    1. Eagleton Village
    2. Eagleville
    3. East Cleveland
    4. East Ridge
    5. Eastview
    6. Elgin
    7. Elizabethton
    8. Elkton
    9. Embreeville
    10. Englewood
    11. Enville
    12. Erin
    13. Erwin
    14. Essary Springs
    15. Estill Springs
    16. Ethridge
    17. Etowah
    18. Eva

    F

    1. Fairfield
    2. Fairfield Glade
    3. Fairgarden
    4. Fairmount
    5. Fairview
    6. Fall Branch
    7. Falling Water
    8. Farner
    9. Farragut
    10. Fayetteville
    11. Fincastle
    12. Finger
    13. Finley
    14. Flat Top Mountain
    15. Flintville
    16. Forest Hills
    17. Fowlkes
    18. Frankewing
    19. Franklin
    20. Friendship
    21. Friendsville

    G

    1. Gadsden
    2. Gainesboro
    3. Gallatin
    4. Gallaway
    5. Garland
    6. Gates
    7. Gatlinburg
    8. Germantown
    9. Gibson
    10. Gilt Edge
    11. Gladeville
    12. Gleason
    13. Goodlettsville
    14. Gordonsville
    15. Graball
    16. Grand Junction
    17. Gray
    18. Graysville
    19. Green Hill
    20. Greenback
    21. Greenbrier
    22. Greeneville
    23. Greenfield
    24. Greenvale
    25. Griffith Creek
    26. Grimsley
    27. Gruetli-Laager
    28. Guys

    H

    1. Halls
    2. Hampton
    3. Harriman
    4. Harrison
    5. Harrogate
    6. Hartsville
    7. Helenwood
    8. Henderson
    9. Hendersonville
    10. Henning
    11. Henry
    12. Hickman
    13. Hickory Valley
    14. Hilham
    15. Hillsboro
    16. Hixson
    17. Hohenwald
    18. Holladay
    19. Hollow Rock
    20. Hopewell
    21. Hornbeak
    22. Hornsby
    23. Humboldt
    24. Hunter
    25. Huntingdon
    26. Huntland
    27. Huntsville
    28. Huron

    I

    1. Iron City

    J

    1. Jacksboro
    2. Jackson
    3. Jamestown
    4. Jasper
    5. Jefferson City
    6. Jellico
    7. John Sevier
    8. Johnson City
    9. Jonesborough

    K

    1. Kahite
    2. Karns
    3. Kenton
    4. Kimball
    5. Kingsport
    6. Kingston
    7. Kingston Springs
    8. Knoxville

    L

    1. La Follette
    2. La Grange
    3. La Vergne
    4. Lafayette
    5. Lake Tansi
    6. Lakeland
    7. Lakesite
    8. Lakewood Park
    9. Lavinia
    10. Lawrenceburg
    11. Lebanon
    12. Lenoir City
    13. Lenox
    14. Leoma
    15. Lewisburg
    16. Lexington
    17. Liberty
    18. Linden
    19. Livingston
    20. Lobelville
    21. Lone Oak
    22. Lookout Mountain
    23. Loretto
    24. Loudon
    25. Louisville
    26. Luray
    27. Luttrell
    28. Lyles
    29. Lynchburg
    30. Lynnville

    M

    1. Madisonville
    2. Manchester
    3. Martin
    4. Maryville
    5. Mascot
    6. Mason
    7. Maury City
    8. Mayland
    9. Maynardville
    10. McDonald
    11. McEwen
    12. McKenzie
    13. McLemoresville
    14. McMinnville
    15. Medina
    16. Medon
    17. Memphis
    18. Mercer
    19. Michie
    20. Middle Valley
    21. Middleton
    22. Midtown
    23. Milan
    24. Milledgeville
    25. Millersville
    26. Millington
    27. Minor Hill
    28. Miston
    29. Mitchellville
    30. Monteagle
    31. Monterey
    32. Mooresburg
    33. Morris Chapel
    34. Morrison
    35. Morristown
    36. Moscow
    37. Mosheim
    38. Mount Carmel
    39. Mount Juliet
    40. Mount Pleasant
    41. Mountain City
    42. Mowbray Mountain
    43. Munford
    44. Murfreesboro

    N

    1. Nashville
    2. New Deal
    3. New Hope
    4. New Johnsonville
    5. New Market
    6. New Tazewell
    7. New Union
    8. Newbern
    9. Newport
    10. Niota
    11. Nixon
    12. Nolensville
    13. Norene
    14. Normandy
    15. Norris

    O

    1. Oak Grove
    2. Oak Hill
    3. Oak Ridge
    4. Oakdale
    5. Oakland
    6. Obion
    7. Ocoee
    8. Oliver Springs
    9. Olivet
    10. Oneida
    11. Ooltewah
    12. Orebank
    13. Orlinda
    14. Orme

    P

    1. Palmer
    2. Palmersville
    3. Paris
    4. Park City
    5. Parker's Crossroads
    6. Parrottsville
    7. Parsons
    8. Pegram
    9. Pelham
    10. Petersburg
    11. Petros
    12. Philadelphia
    13. Pigeon Forge
    14. Pikeville
    15. Pine Crest
    16. Pinson
    17. Piperton
    18. Pittman Center
    19. Plainview
    20. Pleasant Hill
    21. Pleasant View
    22. Pocahontas
    23. Portland
    24. Powell
    25. Powells Crossroads
    26. Prospect
    27. Pulaski
    28. Puryear

    R

    1. Ramer
    2. Randolph
    3. Red Bank
    4. Red Boiling Springs
    5. Riceville
    6. Ridgely
    7. Ridgeside
    8. Ridgetop
    9. Ripley
    10. Rives
    11. Roan Mountain
    12. Robbins
    13. Rockford
    14. Rockvale
    15. Rockwood
    16. Rocky Top
    17. Rogersville
    18. Rossville
    19. Rural Hill
    20. Russellville
    21. Rutherford
    22. Rutledge

    S

    1. Sale Creek
    2. Saltillo
    3. Samburg
    4. Sardis
    5. Saulsbury
    6. Savannah
    7. Scotts Hill
    8. Selmer
    9. Sequatchie
    10. Sevierville
    11. Sewanee
    12. Seymour
    13. Shackle Island
    14. Sharon
    15. Shelbyville
    16. Sherwood
    17. Shiloh
    18. Signal Mountain
    19. Silerton
    20. Slayden
    21. Smithville
    22. Smyrna
    23. Sneedville
    24. Soddy-Daisy
    25. Somerville
    26. South Carthage
    27. South Cleveland
    28. South Fulton
    29. South Pittsburg
    30. Sparta
    31. Spencer
    32. Spring City
    33. Spring Hill
    34. Springfield
    35. Spurgeon
    36. St. Joseph
    37. Stanton
    38. Stantonville
    39. Statesville
    40. Strawberry Plains
    41. Sullivan Gardens
    42. Summertown
    43. Sunbright
    44. Surgoinsville
    45. Sweetwater

    T

    1. Taft
    2. Tazewell
    3. Telford
    4. Tellico Plains
    5. Tellico Village
    6. Tennessee Ridge
    7. Thompson's Station
    8. Three Way
    9. Tiptonville
    10. Toone
    11. Townsend
    12. Tracy City
    13. Trenton
    14. Trezevant
    15. Trimble
    16. Troy
    17. Tuckers Crossroads
    18. Tullahoma
    19. Tusculum

    U

    1. Unicoi
    2. Union City
    3. Unionville

    V

    1. Valley Forge
    2. Vanleer
    3. Viola
    4. Vonore

    W

    1. Walden
    2. Walland
    3. Walnut Grove
    4. Walnut Hill
    5. Walterhill
    6. Wartburg
    7. Wartrace
    8. Watauga
    9. Watertown
    10. Waverly
    11. Waynesboro
    12. Westmoreland
    13. Westpoint
    14. White Bluff
    15. White House
    16. White Pine
    17. Whiteside
    18. Whiteville
    19. Whitlock
    20. Whitwell
    21. Wildersville
    22. Wildwood
    23. Wildwood Lake
    24. Williston
    25. Winchester
    26. Winfield
    27. Woodbury
    28. Woodland Mills
    29. Wrigley
    30. Wynnburg

    Y

    1. Yorkville
    2. Yuma

    Other types of senior living in Tennessee

    Assisted Living in other states

    1. Alabama
    2. Alaska
    3. American Samoa
    4. Arizona
    5. Arkansas
    6. California
    7. Colorado
    8. Connecticut
    9. Delaware
    10. District of Columbia
    11. Federated States of Micronesia
    12. Florida
    13. Georgia
    14. Guam
    15. Hawaii
    16. Idaho
    17. Illinois
    18. Indiana
    19. Iowa
    20. Kansas
    21. Kentucky
    22. Louisiana
    23. Maine
    24. Marshall Islands
    25. Maryland
    26. Massachusetts
    27. Michigan
    28. Minnesota
    29. Mississippi
    30. Missouri
    31. Montana
    32. Nebraska
    33. Nevada
    34. New Hampshire
    35. New Jersey
    36. New Mexico
    37. New York
    38. North Carolina
    39. North Dakota
    40. Northern Mariana Islands
    41. Ohio
    42. Oklahoma
    43. Oregon
    44. Palau
    45. Pennsylvania
    46. Puerto Rico
    47. Rhode Island
    48. South Carolina
    49. South Dakota
    50. Tennessee
    51. Texas
    52. Utah
    53. Vermont
    54. Virgin Islands
    55. Virginia
    56. Washington
    57. West Virginia
    58. Wisconsin
    59. Wyoming
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