Facts & Figures

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​There are many different sources with data on assisted living communities. These sources include information on communities such as types of services offered, financial trends, residents, and the workforce. NCAL gathers much of this information into one place to offer providers, policymakers and consumers an opportunity to learn more about the profession through facts and figures.​


Communities

​COMMUNITIES

Number and Size of Communities

​T​here are approximately 30,600 assisted living communities with nearly 1.2 million licensed beds in the United States today. 

The average size of an assisted living community is 39 licensed beds.

(See state es​timates for sizes of AL communities.)

Communities Makeup

Regional Distribution

  • 8.6% Northeast
  • 22.6% Midwest
  • 28.0% South
  • 40.8% West

Ownership​

  • 56% are chain-affiliated (an organization with two or more communities)
  • 42% are independently-owned

Operations

​Typical Services:

  • 24-hour supervision and assistance
  • Exercise, health and wellness programs
  • Housekeeping and maintenance
  • Meals and dining services
  • Medication management or assistance
  • Personal care services such as Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
  • Arranging for transportation

Tailored Communities

​Some assisted living communities specialize in serving individuals with specific needs. These may include, but are not limited to, Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia (such as memory care units), intellectual and developmental disabilities, and particular medical conditions (e.g., Parkinson's disease) or other needs.

Percentage of assis​ted living co​mmunities that provide Alzheimer's disease or other dementias-specific programs:
  • 18% have a dementia care unit, wing or floor designated
  • 11% only serve adults with dementia 

Health Care Services

​​​Assisted living does not directly provide certain health care services, but consistently works with other providers to offer these services: 

  • Therapy (physical, occupational or speech)
  • Pharmacy/pharmacist
  • Hospice
  • Podiatry
  • Dental
  • Skilled nursing
  • Mental health screening or counseling

State Fast Facts

​​​​​​​​​Download our one page state fact sheets, summarizing key data on assisted living residents and communities in each state, as well as the profession's economic impact. The data comes from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics and AHCA/NCAL analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.