18th
OVERALL STATE RANK
State scorecard
How we determine rankings
Our 2023 state ranking for assisted living uses A Place for Mom’s proprietary data collected from our community partners. First, we sorted through our metrics and grouped them into three pillars that are key in a quality assisted living experience. We weighted these pillars differently based on insights from our senior living experts. Then, we used these categories and their weighting to determine how each state ranks.
Top ranked Tennessee cities for assisted living overall
Key findings
State highlights
According to A Place for Mom’s internal data, 98% of our partner communities in Tennessee offer on-site activities, nearly 83% provide full medication management, and over 60% are pet-friendly.[01]
Top ranked Tennessee cities - Services & Amenities
Key findings
Tennessee vs. the national monthly median cost of assisted living
Top ranked Tennessee cities - Affordability
Key findings
Top ranked Tennessee cities - Ratings
The sales director was very informative and the tour of the facility was very nice. Every staff member was friendly, attentive, and responsive. The sales director checks with me to see how everything is...
We are totally pleased with GSSL. The staff is great and she is very happy there. The facility is smaller and staff have a more personal relationship with the residents unlike some of the larger facilities....
This place is the only place I would trust my family members. The nurses are amazing and always willing to help with no issues. The caregivers are so sweet and welcoming and always have a smile on their...
The staff and facility have been really good. [Name removed], who was the director when we got there, has left and he was great. I haven't had much interaction with the new director. The facility is always...
My loved one is currently a resident at Belmont Village Green Hills and is doing well, so far. She moved here from a different facility and Belmont has been a better fit for her as they have more hands on...
Meals and dining we have a 4 but my understanding is it's better than most. My goals for my father were for him to maintain as much autonomy and dignity as possible as he navigated his illness. I've never...
Somerby Franklin is very nice and is packed with activities. The staff is very nice and knows the residents (and their pets) by name. The housekeeping is generally good, although there is some turnover in...
We are very happy with the experience so far at Charter Senior Living. I think for the most part I would have to say the reason it has been a good experience is because of the staff members. We would...
We have found Vitality memory care to be the best place for my 96 yr old dad after his hip fracture that made his dementia worse. We have toured 3 other places in Franklin and he has stayed in 2 more, one...
We are totally pleased with GSSL. The staff is great and she is very happy there. The facility is smaller and staff have a more personal relationship with the residents unlike some of the larger facilities....
Everyone there was very nice! Especially [name removed] and [name removed]. I don't know what we would've done without them. She said the best meal she had was the first day she was there. I think they...
Very nice community of staff and residents. My father is very happy and is thriving.It was the right fit for my father's needs. I would recommend to others.
This place is the only place I would trust my family members. The nurses are amazing and always willing to help with no issues. The caregivers are so sweet and welcoming and always have a smile on their...
The Pointe has been a wonderful place for my parents! The staff don't turn over often and are very kind and loving with the residents. They truly care and keep us informed of anything going on. [name...
My mother is currently a resident at Trinity Hills of Knoxville and she loves being there. The facility is very family like. The staff is excellent. The place is spotless and it is very friendly. I would...
In Tennessee, the average cost of assisted living is about $4,400 per month. That’s about $500 less than the national average. Because of factors like location, apartment size, care level, and quality of amenities, assisted living costs can vary quite a bit. Tennessee’s assisted living communities range between about $2,800 at the low end and $6,300 at the highest end.[01]
Typically, you can expect the cost of assisted living to increase as the cost of living in a particular city increases, apartment floor plan size gets larger, care levels become more advanced, and amenities become more luxurious.
The figures above reflect actual prices paid by families who were referred to an A Place for Mom partner assisted living community in Tennessee. They account for all fees paid, including amenities, services, and care. Seniors and their families can use a combination of public and private payment methods to cover these costs. Read more about the payment options for assisted living in Tennessee below.
Average monthly costs
Tennessee
US National average
Average monthly costs
Average monthly costs
Average monthly costs
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
There are a variety of methods to pay for assisted living in Tennessee. Families can either use private pay, public pay options, or a combination of the two. Read about the payment options below, or view our guide to paying for long-term care for a more high-level overview.
While most families use a combination of different payment methods to pay for assisted living in Tennessee, there are a range of private pay options to utilize. Click on the cards below to learn more about private pay options.
Selling a house will generate funds to help pay for assisted living in Tennessee.
Reverse mortgage loans take a portion of your home equity and convert it into cash, which can then be used to pay for assisted living in Tennessee.
Health savings accounts (HSAs) can help cover long-term care insurance premiums and other health care costs in Tennessee.
Life insurance policies can be sold or surrendered to pay for assisted living in Tennessee.
Long-term care insurance, depending on the policy, can cover some assisted living services in Tennessee.
Social Security benefits can be used to help pay for assisted living in Tennessee.
There are about 423,042 veterans living in Tennessee.[02] The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides generous veterans benefits to eligible veterans and their spouses. These benefits can be quite generous and are worth looking into. You may be eligible for more than you expect.
If you or a loved one acquired a disability during wartime service, additional benefits may also apply. Be sure to view the VA’s list of service-connected ailments to learn more about qualification requirements.
VA eligibility requirements and application processes can feel difficult and convoluted. If you find you could use some guidance, consider reaching out to one of Tennessee’s local resources, such as VA centers and veterans service organizations (VSOs). These provide benefits counselors who can help determine which benefits you qualify for, walk you through applications, and more.
Tennessee’s local VSOs include the following:
Medicaid is a state and federally funded health insurance program for individuals with a low or limited income. It’s administered at the state level, meaning specific programs and services vary from state to state. While Medicaid can help families cover some assisted living costs, it won’t cover the cost of room and board in an assisted living community.
TennCare is Tennessee’s Medicaid program. The benefits you receive will depend on the TennCare package you have – TennCare Medicaid or TennCare Standard. The TennCare package you obtain is dependent on factors like age, whether you’re a Medicare recipient, and whether you’re getting long-term care. Depending on the package, TennCare coverage could include the following:[03]
TennCare offers a few waivers and programs that help even more people access health care in Tennessee. These include the following:
For free assistance navigating Medicaid benefits and application processes, reach out to a local long-term care ombudsman. You can contact a Tennessee long-term care ombudsman at 615-253-5412.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program designed for adults aged 65 or older and people with disabilities. While Medicare can help cover some costs of assisted living, it will not cover the cost of room and board or nonmedical personal care. If you’d like to learn if a specific procedure, diagnostic test, or medical device is covered, you can search it using the Medicare coverage search tool.
Tennessee offers Medicare Savings Programs. These are federally funded programs that can help people with low or limited income pay their Medicare premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Other Medicare programs in Tennessee include the following:
If you need further assistance navigating Medicare benefits, reach out to one of Tennessee’s local resources:
The official licensure terms for assisted living in Tennessee are “Assisted-Care Living Facilities” and “Residential Homes for the Aged.” Assisted-Care Living Facilities typically provide a higher level of care, such as medical services, than Residential Homes for the Aged. Both settings are licensed by the Tennessee Department of Health’s Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities.[04]
The state of Tennessee defines an Assisted-Care Living Facility as an establishment that accepts mainly older adults for home or community based care and services. If necessary, these facilities may provide medical services, such as medication administration and nursing care. They must also do the following:[04]
A Residential Home for the Aged is a home that accepts mainly older adults for relatively permanent care. These homes must provide room and board and personal care to at least four nonrelated residents. Residential Homes for the Aged must not provide medical care. However, if the home employs a licensed nurse, that nurse may administer medications for residents.[04]
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
We developed a system to rate each state on how easy – or difficult – it is to find important assisted living records and reports, and compiled tips to help you in your search.
States with the most transparent records allow you to look up important information about each assisted living facility online, including inspections, complaints, survey results, violations, capacity, and whether the facility accepts Medicaid.
Public access to assisted living records and reports for the state of Tennessee is moderate. Key findings that informed this rating include:
Use the following steps to look up assisted living records in Tennessee:
We developed a standard methodology for state data collection and evaluation, and based our rating primarily on the objective, state-specific accessibility criteria outlined in these questions:
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. QuickFacts North Carolina.
Division of TennCare. Covered Services.
Tennessee Department of Health. Office of Health Care Facilities.
Overview of assisted living in TN
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
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