Nursing homes and assisted living in Louisiana

In Louisiana, assisted living and small residences share one official name, Adult Residential Care Provider, which is divided into four levels. Knowing them helps you understand what to expect from each place.

What care settings are called here

The Health Standards Section of the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) licenses these places.

• Adult Residential Care Provider (ARCP). The levels are:
• Level 1: 2 to 8 residents, in a house similar to a family home. These used to be called personal care homes.
• Level 2: 9 to 16 residents, in a shared setting. These used to be called shelter care homes.
• Level 3: 17 or more residents, in apartments with a kitchenette. This is what used to be called assisted living.
• Level 4: the same as Level 3, but with occasional nursing care and a registered nurse (RN) as director of nursing.
• Nursing Facility: a traditional nursing home.

Before you choose, ask each residence to show you its license and its level. That way you will know what services it can offer.

How Medicaid helps in Louisiana

Louisiana Medicaid pays for nursing home care for people who qualify. LDH's Office of Aging and Adult Services (OAAS) also runs programs that help people get care outside a nursing home:

• Community Choices Waiver (CCW): services at home and in the community for people 65 or older, or 21 to 64 with a physical disability. The person must need a nursing home level of care. Slots are offered from a registry of requests (the Request for Services Registry), based on priority and date.
• Adult Day Health Care Waiver: covers services at adult day centers.
• Long-Term Personal Care Services (LT-PCS): personal care at home.
• PACE: all-inclusive care for older adults.

Within the CCW, assisted living is listed as a place for short respite stays, so caregivers can get a break.

How to apply: on the Louisiana Medicaid portal or by phone with Medicaid Customer Service, 1-888-342-6207.

How much care costs in Louisiana

These are the statewide medians from CareScout's Cost of Care Survey 2025 (data from July to November 2025):

• Assisted living (private one-bedroom unit): $5,163 a month
• Nursing home, semi-private room: $250 a day (about $7,604 a month)
• Nursing home, private room: $266 a day
• In-home caregiver (non-medical): $26 an hour
• Adult day center (adult day health care): $88 a day

Who to call

• Louisiana Ombudsman Program (a free advocate for residents): toll-free line (866) 632-0922 or (225) 342-9723.
• Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs (GOEA), the state office on aging: (225) 342-7100. Its website has directories of the Area Agencies on Aging and the resource centers (ADRC) in each region.
• Eldercare Locator (national helpline): 1-800-677-1116.

Tips for your family

• Ask about the license level. If your loved one may need occasional nursing care, look for a Level 4 ARCP.
• Sign up early on the CCW registry. Slots are given out by priority and by the date of the request.
• Reach out to the Council on Aging in your parish. Together with local agencies, it offers services such as respite care, adult day care, and support for caregivers.
• If you visit several places, bring a list of questions about the staff, activities, and costs. That way you can compare them calmly.

This is general information and does not replace medical or legal advice.