Assisted Living in New York

Paying for Assisted Living in New York

Assisted living care is often paid for privately by the resident, or by his or her family. However, costs can also be covered by a long-term care insurance plan or in some cases by Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Medicaid and Medicare will not cover assisted living costs in New York, but may be used to pay for other/additional medical services.

Overview of New York Assisted Living

The “Empire State” boasts a population estimated at 19,467,789, making it the third most populous state in the U.S., following California and Texas. However, New York City, with a population of around 8.1 million people, is the most populous city in the United States.

In a state where there is always something to do, whether visiting popular tourist destinations or enjoying a more easy-going afternoon outside of the big city, assisted living in New York is ideal for those with a sense of adventure.

Assisted Living in New York Defined

Assisted living residences in New York are required to provide housing, 24-hour monitoring, daily meals and personal care services to five or more adult residents. However, depending on the needs of the residents and the level of service offered, the State classifies assisted living residences in these three ways:

• Basic Assisted Living Residence (ALR) – ALRs are for seniors who are medically stable and relatively independent, but need some assistance with the activities of daily living such as bathing, toileting, dressing or eating.
• Enhanced Assisted Living Residence (EALR) – Enhanced residences were designed for seniors with more limiting physical conditions, such as severe arthritis, who require more intensive assistance with the activities of daily living such as walking or transferring in and out of bed.
• Special Needs Assisted Living Residence (SNALR) – Special needs residences are certified to care for adults with conditions such as Alzheimer’s or dementia. SNALRs develop individualized plans of care tailored to the unique needs of each resident.

You can find Special Needs Assisted Living Residences in our Memory Care category.

Regulation of Assisted Living in New York

Assisted Living in New York is regulated by the New York State Department of Health. The Department is responsible for issuing licenses to communities providing assisted living. Facilities are inspected every 12-18 months and are required to renew their license every two years.

The New York Department of Health enforces strict regulations regarding assisted living homes, and all facilities must be satisfactory in several categories, including the structural and environmental aspects of the facility itself, meeting fire safety standards, and undergoing a thorough background check of all employees.

Legislation of New York Assisted Living Facilities

During the 2011-2012 legislative session, several bills (AB 8861, AB 8862 and AB 8870) were put forward that addressed the education of direct care staff in adult care facilities, penalties for violations and requiring a registered nurse be on staff at facilities certified for enhanced assisted living or special needs assisted living. The New York chapter of Assisted Living Federation of America worked to kill the bills, citing that their passage would have negatively affected the assisting living providers and their residents.