Nursing Homes and Senior Care in Alabama

Nursing Homes by City in Alabama

The Alabama cities with the most CMS-certified nursing homes. All 130 cities are listed below the table. Homes in Alabama average 3.9 hours of nursing care per resident per day; the national median is 3.7 hours.

5-Star Nursing Homes in Alabama

Homes with CMS's top overall rating, ordered by inspection rating. See all highest-rated nursing homes in Alabama.

Assisted Living in Alabama

Alabama Department of Public Health, Bureau of Health Provider Standards licenses assisted living in Alabama. License types: Assisted Living Facility, Congregate Assisted Living Facility, Group Assisted Living Facility, Family Assisted Living Facility and Specialty Care Assisted Living Facility. Use the state's search to check a community's license and inspection history.

• Alabama assisted living facility search
• Alabama assisted living rules
• Alabama assisted living licensing (Alabama Department of Public Health, Bureau of Health Provider Standards)

Memory Care Rules in Alabama

Alabama's term is "Specialty Care Assisted Living Facility", a separate license or certification.

• A facility that meets the definition of Assisted Living Facility but which is specially licensed and staffed to permit it to care for residents with a degree of cognitive impairment that would ordinarily make them ineligible for admission or continued stay in an assisted living facility (ADPH facility descriptions).
• Each specialty care assisted living facility shall be separately licensed, regardless of whether it is owned or managed by the same entity as another assisted living facility (Rule 420-5-20-.02).
• Prior to providing any resident care, all staff shall complete The Dementia Education and Training Act (DETA) Care Series Training developed by the Alabama Department of Mental Health or equivalent training approved by the State Health Officer (Rule 420-5-20-.04).
• All licensed staff shall complete DETA Brain Series Training, The Pharmacological Management of Dementia, and the Dementia Assessment Series, or equivalent approved training, prior to resident contact (Rule 420-5-20-.04).
• All staff who have resident contact shall be able to demonstrate diversional methods and redirection, an understanding of caring for residents with agnosia, amnesia, aphasia, and apraxia, and the facility's policies for preventing and responding to elopements (Rule 420-5-20-.04).
• Minimum staffing per Table A: 2 staff on duty for 1 to 16 residents on every shift; 3 staff for 17 to 24 residents (7 AM to 3 PM), 17 to 36 residents (3 PM to 11 PM), and 17 to 48 residents (11 PM to 7 AM). Wings separated by a lockable door need dedicated staff (Rule 420-5-20-.04).
• A facility R.N. performs a comprehensive assessment of each resident and monthly assessments (Rule 420-5-20-.06).
• Every day the facility shall provide activities appropriate to residents with dementia. Residents who have wandering behaviors shall have a documented activity program to manage this behavior (Rule 420-5-20-.06).
• Each facility shall have a secure boundary or perimeter; walls or fences forming it shall be at least six feet high, with gates readily unlockable from either side by staff or by automatic means (Rule 420-5-20-.12).
• Exit doors may use electrical locks or electrical delayed-egress locking systems that comply with NFPA 'Special Locking Arrangements' and release automatically on fire alarm and loss of power (Rule 420-5-20-.12).

• Alabama memory care rules

Medicaid Long-Term Care in Alabama

Alabama's Medicaid program is Alabama Medicaid. For nursing home Medicaid (2026), the state lists an income limit of $2,982 per month and an asset limit of $2,000 as of the first day of the month.

• Elderly and Disabled (E&D) Waiver: in-home care, respite and adult day. For elderly and/or disabled individuals who would otherwise require care in a nursing facility. Income limit $2,982 per month and resource limit $2,000 (2026). Must meet nursing facility level of care. Services: case management, homemaker services, personal care, respite care (skilled and unskilled), adult day health, adult companion services, home delivered meals, medical supplies, skilled nursing, pest control, personal emergency response system and home modifications. Operated by the Alabama Department of Senior Services; apply at 1-800-243-5463.
• Alabama Community Transition (ACT) Waiver: in-home care, respite and adult day. For people with long-term care illnesses who currently reside in an institution and want to move to a home or community setting. Income limit $2,982 per month, resource limit $2,000 (2026), nursing facility level of care. Services include transitional assistance, personal care, homemaker, adult day health, home delivered meals, skilled/unskilled respite, skilled nursing and home modifications.

• Alabama Medicaid nursing facility coverage
• Alabama Medicaid long-term care limits

Nursing Home Inspections and Complaints in Alabama

Alabama Department of Public Health, Bureau of Health Provider Standards inspects nursing homes in Alabama for CMS. To file a complaint, call 1-800-356-9596 or use the state's complaint page.

• Alabama nursing home inspection lookup
• File a nursing home complaint in Alabama

Alabama Long-Term Care Ombudsman

The Alabama Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is a free, confidential advocate for residents of nursing homes and assisted living. Ombudsmen help with complaints, residents' rights and problems with care. Call 334-242-5753.

• Contact the Alabama Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

Aging Services and Caregiver Support in Alabama

Alabama Department of Senior Services runs Alabama's aging services, delivered through local Area Agencies on Aging. Family caregivers can get help through Alabama CARES.

• Alabama aging services: Alabama Department of Senior Services
• Area Agencies on Aging in Alabama
• Caregiver support in Alabama: Alabama CARES
• Alabama adult day services

Guides for Your Next Step

See how to choose a nursing home, what memory care is, how Medicaid pays for nursing home care and what Medicare covers. For local help, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.

Frequently Asked Questions