Tennessee Residential Alzheimer’s Care (Memory Care): Laws, Costs & Financial Help

Legal Definition of Assisted Living / Memory Care in Tennessee

In Tennessee, there are two kinds of memory care homes for people with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. There are “assisted care living facilities” and “residential homes for the aged.” Both types of residences provide room and board for people who need help with the Activities of Daily Living (mobility, bathing, dressing, eating, toileting). Assisted care living facilities are allowed to provide medical care for residents and part-time nursing care as well as various therapies. Residential homes for the aged cannot provide nursing or medical care.

Both types of residents can house people with dementia in secured wings. A difference is that someone in the late stages of dementia may live in assisted care living facilities, while regulations say that residential homes for the aged may only house someone with dementia during the early stages of the disease. A person with Alzheimer’s or dementia who lives in a residential home for the aged must be assessed quarterly to be sure individual needs can continue to be met by the facility.

Assisted living in Tennessee is overseen by the Department of Health’s Division of Health Care Facilities, as of 2024. There are approximately 160 memory care residences in Tennessee, ranging in size from large apartment-complex style communities to smaller more home-like settings caring for 12 or fewer people.

How Much Does Memory Care Cost in Tennessee?

There can be significant differences in the cost of assisted living and memory care depending on what part of Tennessee you are in. The table below lists the median monthly cost of both assisted care living facilities and residential homes for the aged in different regions of the state that are licensed to care for those with dementia (designated as memory care) and those that do not (designated as assisted living). Some individuals who are in the early to mid stages of dementia may be best suited for standard assisted care living facilities or residential homes, which are less expensive than memory care, while those with more severe symptoms or who are in the late stages of dementia will likely need to live in assisted care living facilities licensed for dementia (aka memory care).

For context, the median cost of assisted living across the country in 2025 was $6,200/month, while it was $5,845/month in Tennessee in 2025.

Tennessee Assisted Living Laws & Regulations

Admissions Process & Requirements

Assisted care living facilities must complete an assessment of every resident before they enter, and no later than 72 hours prior to admission, making sure the fit is appropriate and care needs can be fulfilled there. For memory care in residential homes for the aged (which may only admit someone in the early stages of dementia) a medical team must determine that the home can adequately manage the disease, and the person must be reassessed quarterly. Assessments are also a way for these communities to record specific details about your loved one’s abilities, needs, personalities, and much more. These details are used to create an individualized care plan that helps staff manage a person’s daily needs. For example, an assessment would help determine the best way to engage with your loved one for more open communication, and would list exactly which activities of daily living they cannot do themselves.

Assessments are conducted by medical professionals who work for these residences. The cost of assessing may be included in the base rate, or residences sometimes charge a one-time community fee. This is meant to cover move-in costs like the assessment, deep cleaning and painting a new resident’s room. Community fees usually run between $1,500 and $2,500.

Assisted care living facilities may not admit a patient with:

– Stage III or IV decubitus ulcer or exfoliative dermatitis
– Requires continuous nursing care
– Has an active sickness that requires isolation
– Poses a behavioral threat to self or others
– Requires physical or chemical restraints
– Has needs that cannot be safely met by the assisted care living facility

Residential homes for the aged may not admit a person with the following medical issues:

– Cannot self-administer medications
– Requires full-time nursing care
– Poses a danger to self or others
– Cannot safely evacuate within 13 minutes
– Requires physical or chemical restraints

In Tennessee, it is not required that a person be diagnosed with dementia before moving into memory care. Alzheimer’s and related dementias require expensive tests like PET scans for a doctor’s diagnosis, as symptoms can change and vary over time. The important factor in finding the right home is that staff there can support your loved one’s unique needs and provide a safe and comfortable environment.

While it is possible to find memory care on short notice in Tennessee, it’s not a good idea. The process of finding the right home includes inspecting multiple residences and asking questions of staff and people who live there. Once you’ve narrowed your choices, make repeated visits to participate in meals and activities before signing a contract. Ideally, you should begin looking for memory care before the move is necessary. Your loved one will be able to provide more input the sooner you begin looking.

Residence / Facility

Living units must provide at least 80 square feet per resident, and there must be at least 15 square feet per resident in the dining area. No bedroom may have more than two beds. There must be one toilet, sink, and bath or shower for every six residents. Sprinkler systems and smoke alarms must be state-approved, and fire drills are conducted at least four times per year.

One important consideration for memory care homes is that the buildings are designed with dementia-friendly features. Tennessee does not require easily navigated layouts, circular hallways (so wandering residents don’t encounter dead ends), bright lighting and paint colors, and secured outdoor areas to give residents a safe space for spending time outdoors. These are the types of physical details you should look for when investigating options for your loved one; keep an eye on whether a person with dementia will feel comfortable within the spaces.

Staff & Training

There is no staff-to-patient ratio in Tennessee memory care; regulations say staffing must be adequate to serve the needs of every resident. In either type of memory care home, an attendant who is at least 18 years old must be on-duty (and awake) at all times. Administrators must complete 24 hours of continuing education every two years, covering healthcare, nutrition, and financial management. Assisted care living facilities must have a qualified dietician on staff.

Evictions & Discharges

Residential homes for the aged may only admit someone with dementia in the early stages, and a new assessment must be made by medical staff about every three months to make sure their needs can be met there. This is important to consider when looking for memory care because dementias are progressive, meaning they get worse over time, and that means transfer to an assisted care living facility with memory care for middle and later stages will eventually be necessary. Regulations say that someone being discharged because their needs cannot be met should be transferred to a more appropriate community.

In Tennessee, if you are signing a contract for your loved one to receive memory care in a residential home for the aged, make sure to get the details (in writing) about how transfers work when their dementia advances into later stages. A good memory care home will have steps in place.

A resident in an assisted care living facility can be evicted for the following reasons:

– Stage III or IV decubitus ulcers

– Continuous nursing care becomes necessary (though exceptions are possible if arrangements are made between the residence, resident, and outside healthcare professionals)

– Verbal or physical aggression becomes dangerous

– Physical or chemical restraints are required

– Resident cannot evacuate within 13 minutes

Generally, someone in assisted living cannot remain in the community if their needs cannot be met there. Residences may also have their own rules about evictions and discharges. It’s important to have those rules in writing before agreeing to a move-in contract, because unfair evictions are a nation-wide problem. If you have received an eviction notice in assisted living and need to know next steps, click here.

Financial Assistance for Residential Alzheimer’s Memory Care

TennCare CHOICES

Tennessee Medicaid (TennCare) CHOICES in Long-Term Services and Supports Program offers additional care benefits to qualified participants. Intending to prevent the need to move into a nursing home, enrollees receive additional support enabling them to live independently. While participants are categorized into 3 groups depending on the level of medical care that is needed, all people who are enrolled receive assistance with the Activities of Daily Living (mobility, bathing, dressing, eating, toileting), adult day care, meal delivery, laundry, and help with light housework. The CHOICES program has the added benefit that it is part of a managed care organization (MCO) that streamlines healthcare benefits enabling participants to easily access medical and behavioral healthcare. CHOICES also offers participants the ability to self-direct their care, giving the option for your loved one to hire the caregiver of their choice which can include a qualified friend, adult child, or family member. CHOICES participants can live in assisted living or memory care, as well as their own homes, the home of a family member or an adult foster care home. However, CHOICES will not pay for room and board in assisted living or memory care, it will only cover long-term care services and supports.

To qualify for CHOICES, applicants must meet two financial requirements – an asset limit ($2,000 in 2026) and an income limit ($2,982/month in 2026) – as well as the medical requirement of needing a Nursing Facility Level of Care NFLOC). It’s important to note that a dementia diagnosis does not guarantee a NFLOC designation.

OPTIONS for Community Living

OPTIONS is a non-Medicaid program for Tennesseans older than 18 who need help with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living to live independently. OPTIONS has the medical requirement of enrollees needing help with 3 or more activities of daily living. Anyone with cognitive disabilities, including Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, can apply through their local Area Agency on Aging. Benefits are determined by an individual’s need and can include case management, light help in one’s house, assistance with activities of daily living, and meal delivery. There are no income requirements, but there may be a shared cost of benefits depending on one’s monthly income. Click here for more information that also has details on how to apply to the OPTIONS program.

Veterans Affairs (VA)

Qualified Tennessee veterans (or their surviving spouses) with dementia can also receive financial assistance through a Veterans Affairs (VA) Pension that they could use to pay for assisted living or memory care.

There are three levels of VA Pensions – Basic, Aid & Attendance (A&A) and Housebound. To qualify for any of them, veterans or their surviving spouses need to meet a net worth limit of $163,699 (effective Dec. 1, 2025 – Nov. 30, 2026), which is calculated by adding the total of their assets to their annual income. Some assets are exempt, like a primary home, primary vehicle and household furniture and appliances. VA Pension applicants also have to meet an income limit to be eligible – their income must be less than the VA Pension they are applying for in order for them to qualify. And veterans must meet a military service requirement, which includes not having received a dishonorable discharge.

To qualify for A&A, veterans or their surviving spouses must also meet a medical requirement, which is one of the following must be true:

• They need help to perform the Activities of Daily Living (mobility, bathing, dressing/grooming, eating, toileting) OR
• They have to stay in bed for at least a large portion of the day due to illness OR
• They are in a nursing home due to loss of mental or physical abilities OR
• Their eyesight is extremely limited (5/200 or less in both eyes even with glasses or contacts; or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or fewer)

To qualify for Housebound, veterans must spend most of their time in their home due to a permanent disability.

There is no medical requirement for VA Basic Pensions.

Qualified veterans or their surviving spouses are entitled to their Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) minus their annual income. The following MAPRs are effective from Dec. 1, 2025 to Nov. 30, 2026:

VA Basic Pension MAPRs

• Veterans without spouses or children: $17,441
• Veterans with dependent spouses or children: $22,839
• Surviving spouses without dependent children: $11,699
• Surviving spouses with dependent children: $15,311
• Two veterans married to each other: $22,839

VA Aid & Attendance MAPRs

• Veterans without spouses or children: $29,093
• Veterans with dependent spouses or children: $34,488
• Surviving spouses without dependent children a maximum of $18,697
• Surviving spouses with dependent children: $22,304
• Two veterans married to each other and one qualifies for A&A: $33,548
• Two veterans married to each other and one qualifies for A&A and one for Housebound: $38,350
• Two veterans married to each other and both qualify for A&A: $46,143

VA Housebound MAPRs

• Veterans without spouses or children: $21,313
• Veterans with dependent spouses or children: $26,710
• Surviving spouses without dependent children: $14,298
• Surviving spouses with dependent children: $17,902
• Two veterans married to each other and one qualifies for Housebound: $26,710
• Two veterans married to each other and both qualify for Housebound: $30,580
• Two veterans married to each other and one qualifies Housebound and the other for A&A: $38,350

Veterans Homes

There are also four veterans’ homes in Tennessee, which are residential care facilities that provide long-term care for veterans. They are located in Humboldt (northwest Tennessee), Murfreesboro (Upper Cumberland), Knoxville (eastern), and Clarksville (Mid Cumberland). In addition to nursing home care and assisted living, memory care is provided in all four residences. Neighboring states have more veterans’ homes, so a loved one might consider looking there for more options as there are no requirements that one must live in the state. For example, Missouri has seven homes and both Alabama and Kentucky have four homes statewide.  More info.

Supplemental Security Income

Dementia patients age 65 and over with limited income and assets may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). These funds can be used to pay for the cost of assisted living or memory care. As of 2026, the maximum SSI benefit for an individual is $994/month and for a married couple it’s $1,491/month.

To qualify for SSI, applicants must be age 65 and over or have a significant disability, and they must meet an income limit and an asset limit. As of 2026, individuals may meet the SSI income limit if they earn less than $2,073/month OR they get less than $1,014/month from non-work sources, like Social Security benefits or pension payments. They may meet the SSI asset limit if they have $2,000 or less in countable assets. For couples, the income limit is $3,067/month in work income or $1,511/month in non-work income, and the asset limit is $3,000.

Other Options

1)Elder care loans exist for families to cover the costs of moving into memory care while waiting for other financial resources to become available. For example, if one is waiting for a VA pension to be approved or waiting to sell a home. More on bridge loans for memory care.

2) Some tax credits and deductions can provide financial relief for seniors with dementia and their families. Seniors with limited financial resources can claim the Credit for the Elderly and/or the Disabled, as long as no one can claim them as a dependent. If someone (like an adult child) can claim the senior as a dependent, they can utilize the Child and Dependent Care Credit, and they can deduct any medical or dental expenses they paid for the senior.

3) A reverse mortgage loan can be a viable option for some senior homeowners who are in need of extra income to help pay dementia care. However, reverse mortgages are not recommended for every senior homeowner who needs extra income, so it’s important to consult with a professional before taking out one of these loans.