States establish and enforce licensing and certification requirements for assisted living communities. While some federal rules and regulations may apply to assisted living communities, state-level regulation of assisted living services and operations ensures a coordinated, comprehensive licensure system. States have been successful in taking into account their full range of housing and service programs available to seniors and people with intellectual or developmental disabilities in their geographic area and communities.
Furthermore, different state philosophies regarding the role of assisted living in the long term care spectrum enable providers to innovate and create new models of housing plus services that are responsive to local consumer demands.