Nursing homes and assisted living in Idaho

In Idaho, many families combine care at home with small residences or assisted living. This guide explains the official names, how Medicaid can help and who to call for free guidance.

What care settings are called here

These places are overseen by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW). These are the names you'll hear:

• Residential Assisted Living Facility (RALF): what most people call assisted living. It provides housing, meals, supervision and personal care to three or more adults, and it must have a licensed nurse available for anyone who needs one. The DHW's RALF team does the licensing inspections, which are usually done once a year.
• Certified Family Home (CFH): a family home certified by the DHW, where the caregiver takes in one to four adults in their own home. It's what many people call an adult family home, with a family feel.
• Nursing facility: a nursing home, for people who need nursing care 24 hours a day.

How Medicaid helps in Idaho

Idaho has a Medicaid program for older adults and adults with disabilities (Medicaid for the Aged, Blind and Disabled). Besides the nursing home, there is the Aged and Disabled Waiver (A&D Waiver): a Medicaid waiver that offers an alternative to a nursing home for people who need that level of care. According to the DHW, it can pay for services at home, in assisted living and in adult care homes.

Some helpful points:

• Residents of a Certified Family Home may qualify for Medicaid to pay for their care. Room and board are paid separately each month, according to the admission agreement.
• If the person lives in a nursing home and wants to return to the community, the Idaho Home Choice program can help with the move.
• To apply for Medicaid, call the Benefits Customer Service Center: 1-877-456-1233, or apply online at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.

How much care costs in Idaho

According to the CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025 (tables published March 2, 2026), the median costs in Idaho are:

• Assisted living (private one-bedroom apartment): $5,175 a month.
• Nursing home, semi-private room: $345 a day (about $10,494 a month).
• Nursing home, private room: $400 a day (about $12,167 a month).
• In-home caregiver (non-medical): $39 an hour.

CareScout did not publish a median for adult day centers in Idaho in 2025. Assisted living in Idaho comes in below the national median ($6,200 a month), but each place sets its own prices.

Who to call

• Idaho Commission on Aging: 208-334-3833 or toll-free 1-877-471-2777. It's home to the state office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, a free advocate for residents of nursing homes and assisted living.
• Area Agencies on Aging (regional offices), toll-free: North Idaho 1-800-786-5536; North Central 1-800-877-3206; Southwest 1-844-850-2883; South Central 1-800-574-8656; Southeast 1-800-526-8129; East 1-800-632-4813.
• 211 CareLine: dial 211 or 1-800-926-2588.
• Eldercare Locator (national): 1-800-677-1116.

Tips for your family

• Check an assisted living facility's license with the official FLARES search tool. There you'll also find inspection reports. Inspections are routine reviews, and the reports help you compare with peace of mind.
• Consider a Certified Family Home if your loved one feels better in a small, quiet home. The DHW publishes a vacancy report by region.
• Ask whether the place accepts Medicaid before you decide, and what part your family would have to pay.
• Ask about language. If your loved one speaks only Spanish, ask whether anyone on staff speaks it too.
• Always check with the DHW or your Area Agency on Aging, because rules change. This page is for information only and does not replace advice from a professional.

Below, you can see care facilities in Idaho on hogaresparamayores.com and compare options near you.