With approximately 600,000 or 13% of the population of Alabama being seniors, Alabama is ranked 19th for the highest percentage of senior population. Alabama is ranked as the 11th least expensive place to live in the United States. With an over all cost of living index of 92 compared to a nationwide average of 100. Alabama really stands out in the country because the housing cost-of-living index is only 77 and the health care cost-of-living index is only 91. These factors combine to make Alabama one of the lowest cost areas for retirement.

Alabama Assisted Living Resources

The Assisted Living Association of Alabama (www.alaaweb.org/) is a non-profit corporation dedicated to advocacy for seniors in Alabama.

Alabama Assisted Living Facilities Government Regulation

The Alabama Department of Public Health is responsible for inspection of all assisted living facilities. Currently the Alabama standard does not require a fixed period for routine inspections. This minimizes the benefit of having any inspections. The Alabama assisted living complaint Hot line is: 866-873-0366. This number is a message machine that allows you to leave confidential complaints about a specific incident and facility. The recording asks for you to leave as much information as possible so that an Alabama official can research the complaint To check on complaints for a specific assisted living facility, call 334-206-5575. There is a fee associated with retrieving assisted living facility complaints. You may also contact your Alabama Ombudsman to get assistance with any service issues:

• Virginia Moore-Bell, State Long Term Care Ombudsman
• AL Dept. of Senior Services
• 100 N. Union Street RSA Union Bldg., Suite 770 Montgomery, AL 36130
• Alabamaageline.gov
• Phone: (334)242-5770 Fax: (334)353-8467

This directory includes 862assisted living options for Alabama. Use the "Advance Search" to find the nearest 40 senior services based on your desired location or select a city and then choose a tab to see different types of senior care including nursing homes, Alzheimer's care centers, CCRCs, independent living, in-home and hospice care.

Assisted Living Facility Selection

Assisted living facilities vary widely across the state. The larger cities like Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery and Huntsville have a wide selection of facilities while many of the smaller cities may only have one option. This can make for a challenge when selecting an ideal assisted living facility. Most seniors prefer to stay very close to friends and family while in an assisted living facility but state-of-the-art senior health care is an important factor when selecting a location for assisted living. Convenient and quick access to an emergency facility with special services for seniors can critical to seniors that have intermittent health problems. Professional emergency services can help extend the life of a senior and help minimize the damage that can happen during a fall, aneurysm or stroke. Cancer treatment, memory care, and rehabilitation specialists are common in the larger cities and much more rare in smaller rural areas. These factors, in combination with the cost and amenities, must be taken into effect to find an assisted living facility that will best support temporary or long-term housing.