Nursing homes and assisted living in Kansas

Kansas has several types of residences for older adults, and some of the names are not used in other states. This guide explains what each one means, how Medicaid can help, and who to call for free guidance.

What care settings are called here

In Kansas, all of these places are grouped together as adult care homes and are licensed by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS). The official names are:

• Assisted Living Facility: assisted living, with apartments for people who need help dressing or bathing, but not intensive medical care.
• Residential Health Care Facility: a residence with personal care and supervision, similar to assisted living.
• Home Plus: a small house with a small group of residents and a family feel. It is the closest thing to living in a real home. Since July 2026, the law allows up to 16 residents.
• Boarding Care Home: a small board and care home where rooms are sometimes shared and staff often live in the house.
• Adult Day Care: an adult day center for adults who still live at home.
• Nursing Facility: a nursing home that provides nursing care.

A single place can have more than one license, for example assisted living and residential health care.

How Medicaid helps in Kansas

Kansas Medicaid is called KanCare. Besides paying for nursing home care for people who qualify, it offers the Frail Elderly (FE) Waiver, a Medicaid waiver for people 65 or older who need a nursing home level of care and qualify financially for Medicaid.

• The FE Waiver helps with services at home, such as personal care, adult day care, and home modifications.
• It can also pay for part of the services in assisted living, a Residential Health Care Facility, a Home Plus, or a Boarding Care Home. The person pays for room and board.
• Important: since July 6, 2026, KDADS has had a waitlist for new FE Waiver applicants because of a lack of funds. There is an exception for urgent cases, so explain your situation clearly when you call.

To get started, call the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC): 1-855-200-2372. They do the needs assessment and explain the next steps.

How much care costs in Kansas

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

• Assisted living (private one-bedroom apartment): $5,975 a month.
• Nursing home, semi-private room: $285 a day (about $8,669 a month).
• Nursing home, private room: $298 a day (about $9,064 a month).
• In-home caregiver (non-medical): $34 an hour.
• Adult day center: $200 a day.

These are medians: each place has its own prices, depending on the city and the level of care.

Who to call

• Kansas ADRC: 1-855-200-2372. Information about services, Medicaid, and care options.
• Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman: 1-877-662-8362 (toll-free within Kansas, Monday through Friday). The ombudsman is a free advocate for residents of nursing homes, assisted living, Home Plus, adult day centers, and other residences.
• Eldercare Locator (national): 1-800-677-1116.

Tips for your family

• Check the license in the official KDADS directory. You can search by type of place and see its license. It's a normal tool to help you choose with confidence.
• Consider a Home Plus if your loved one prefers a small, quiet place with only a few people.
• Ask if the place works with KanCare and what part of the cost the family would have to pay.
• Ask the ADRC how the FE Waiver waitlist works right now and whether your case could count as urgent.
• Always confirm with KDADS or the ADRC, because programs change. This page is for general information and does not replace advice from a professional.

On hogaresparamayores.com, you can see the care places in Kansas below and compare options near you.