Nursing homes and assisted living in Maryland

Maryland has hundreds of care options, and many of them are small homes with just a few residents. This hogaresparamayores.com guide explains how to find your way.

What care settings are called here

The agency that licenses these places is the Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ), part of the Maryland Department of Health (MDH). These are the names you'll hear:

• Long Term Care Facility: a nursing home, with 24-hour nursing care.
• Assisted Living Program: this is assisted living. In Maryland, it ranges from large communities to small homes with just a few residents, similar to a board and care home. Each program has a license with a level of care (Level 1, 2, or 3). Level 3 can meet the highest needs. Some have special areas for dementia.
• Adult Medical Day Care Center: adult day centers with health services.
• Residential Service Agency and Home Health Agency: home care agencies.

How Medicaid helps in Maryland

Maryland Medicaid is run by the Maryland Department of Health. Besides paying for nursing home care for people who qualify, it has the Community Options Waiver (also called the Home and Community-Based Options Waiver).

• It is for people 18 or older who need a nursing home level of care but can live safely in the community.
• Its services include assisted living services, medical adult day care, case management, and other supports.
• The monthly income limit is 300% of the SSI benefit. Countable assets can't be more than $2,000 or $2,500, depending on the category.
• There is a waiting list. To sign up on the registry, call Maryland Access Point (MAP) at 1-844-627-5465. You'll get an invitation to apply when it's your turn.
• If your loved one is already in a nursing home and Medicaid has paid for at least 30 days, they can apply for the waiver without waiting. Talk with the nursing home's social worker.

For questions, you can reach the Office of Long Term Services and Supports at 410-767-1739.

How much care costs in Maryland

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

• Assisted living (private one-bedroom unit): $7,173 a month, above the national median of $6,200.
• Nursing home, semi-private room: $425 a day (about $12,927 a month).
• Nursing home, private room: $475 a day (about $14,448 a month).
• Non-medical home caregiver: $35 an hour, the same as the national median.
• Adult day care: $117 a day.

These are medians. Small homes and large communities can have very different prices. Ask for the rates in writing.

Who to call

• Maryland Access Point (MAP): 1-844-627-5465. It is the front door for planning long-term care. It also has county offices, such as Montgomery (240-777-3000) and Prince George's (301-265-8450).
• Long-Term Care Ombudsman: works county by county. For example, Montgomery: 240-777-3369; Prince George's: 301-265-8483. See the others on the Maryland Department of Aging website.
• Eldercare Locator (national line): 1-800-677-1116.

Tips for your family

• Check the license and level of care in the OHCQ directories. That way you'll know whether the place can care for your loved one if their needs increase.
• Don't rule out small homes: many assisted living programs in Maryland are homes with just a few residents and very personal attention.
• Sign up early on the waiver registry, even if you don't need it yet. The wait can be long.
• Compare nursing homes on Medicare Care Compare. Star ratings and inspections are normal tools to help you choose calmly.
• Ask about Spanish-speaking staff, especially for talking about medications and the care plan.

This is general information, not medical or legal advice. Confirm the details with the right agency.