Assisted living in Alabama: how it is licensed.
Who licenses assisted living in Alabama, and what to check before you choose.
What Alabama calls it
In Alabama, assisted living is licensed under the term “Assisted Living Facility (and Specialty Care Assisted Living Facility)”. Other states use different names, so it helps to know the exact term when you search.
Who licenses and inspects
Alabama Department of Public Health, Bureau of Health Provider Standards is the agency that licenses these communities. It is the official place to check a community’s license and inspection history. The state also lists an official facility search tool.
Memory care
Alabama licenses Specialty Care Assisted Living Facilities for residents with a degree of cognitive impairment.
Paying for care
Medicare generally does not cover long term custodial care.
Alabama's Department of Senior Services lists an Elderly and Disabled (E&D) Waiver for older adults and people with disabilities at risk for nursing facility placement, with services such as personal care, homemaker, respite, adult day health, companion services and home-delivered meals. The page does not state that the waiver pays for assisted living; Medicaid eligibility rules apply.
Checking a community
The Alabama Department of Public Health's Health Care Facilities Directory lists facilities licensed by the State Board of Health and can be searched by facility type, county and city, showing address, phone and administrator; the page does not describe inspection reports.
Help and complaints
Alabama Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (Alabama Department of Senior Services) supports residents of long term care and their families.
Also worth knowing in Alabama
Alabama licenses Specialty Care Assisted Living Facilities, which the Department of Public Health describes as specially licensed and staffed to care for residents with a degree of cognitive impairment.
Sources we checked (October 2026)
Licensing rules change. We checked the pages below. Confirm with the state agency.
Questions
Who regulates assisted living in Alabama?
Alabama Department of Public Health, Bureau of Health Provider Standards.