Assisted living for disabled adults
Assisted living can help adults with disabilities manage activities of daily living, but the right setting depends on each person’s needs.
Other options include board and care homes, skilled nursing communities, group homes, supportive housing, and independent living.
Costs and financial assistance vary, so review current local information and eligibility requirements before choosing care.
If you’re helping an adult with a disability explore housing and care options, assisted living may be one possibility. Although assisted living often serves older adults, people of different ages may need this level of support at some point in their lives. Assisted living for adults with disabilities can support people with mobility challenges, cognitive impairment, or other conditions that make it difficult to manage daily tasks or live independently in a traditional home.
Assisted living communities provide help with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). Medical professionals use ADLs to help determine whether someone can live independently.
They consider questions such as: Can this person keep themselves and their home clean and orderly? Do they have difficulty shopping for groceries or preparing meals? Can they move safely around their home and community to care for themselves? Understanding whether an older adult or a person with a disability can perform ADLs independently, or with reasonable assistance, helps care professionals determine the level of support that person needs.
Many people with disabilities can manage these activities and live independently with support from delivery services, assistive technology, family members, caregivers, or other resources. Others may need more help with daily life. Assisted living for adults with disabilities can provide that support, although it’s only one of several available housing and care options.
Types of disabilities
Disability is a broad term that covers many conditions, and two people with the same type of disability may have very different needs and require different kinds of support. Broadly speaking, disabilities can typically fall into these categories:
Sensory disabilities, such as visual or hearing impairment, blindness, or deafness
Physical disabilities that affect mobility or dexterity, such as paralysis or cerebral palsy
Mental illnesses or psychiatric disabilities that can affect thinking, emotions, and behavior
Intellectual or learning disabilities that can make it difficult to process or retain information
It’s important to remember that a person may experience more than one type of disability at the same time. Some conditions may also progress over time. Even if someone has lived independently or with support from family members or caregivers for many years, changes in their physical or mental health may eventually make additional care necessary. At that point, finding the right care setting can become especially important.
Housing and care options for people with disabilities
Many people with disabilities live independently, while others need help with dressing, bathing, mobility, eating, and other daily activities. Several housing and care options are available for adults with disabilities. Many of these options also serve older adults and provide different levels of personal or medical support.
Assisted living for people with disabilities
In general, assisted living communities are designed to support people with physical or sensory disabilities, which are also commonly experienced by older adults. Assisted living staff can support daily personal care by providing three meals a day, housekeeping, and help with bathing, dressing, toileting, and mobility. Many communities can also help with age-related forgetfulness by providing medication management so residents take medications as prescribed.
However, they may not be able to provide psychiatric care or meet the specialized needs of people with severe intellectual disabilities. Assisted living communities should follow applicable accessibility requirements because they’re designed to provide a safe, accessible home for people with mobility challenges.
Board and care homes for adults with disabilities
Board and care homes typically provide the same type of care as assisted living communities, but in smaller, more personal settings. They often resemble single-family homes and provide room, board, and help with ADLs for a small number of residents. Their smaller setting, more personalized attention, and smaller staff-to-resident ratio can make board and care homes an appealing option for older adults, older adults with disabilities, and younger adults with disabilities.
Skilled nursing communities for adults with disabilities
Skilled nursing communities were developed to help people recover from illness, injury, or surgery outside a hospital. They can provide daily medical care, including wound care, injections, or physical therapy. People with disabilities who have complex medical conditions and need around-the-clock health care may find the medical support they need, along with private or shared rooms, in skilled nursing communities, often called SNFs or nursing homes.
Group homes and supportive housing for people with disabilities
Some people with disabilities, particularly developmental disabilities, may choose to live in group homes. These homes may provide light support or structure through counselors or other staff. Residents otherwise live largely independently and have opportunities to socialize with peers who have similar experiences or support needs.
Independent living for people with disabilities
Independent living can simply mean living in a private home. In senior living, however, it can also refer to communities where older adults live among peers and pursue active lifestyles. These communities are often limited to adults age 55 and older. Although they likely follow accessibility requirements, they don’t provide help with ADLs or medical care. They usually resemble gated communities or apartment complexes and generally don’t include personal care services. Older adults with some disabilities may be able to live in this type of community, but these settings are unlikely to accommodate younger adults with disabilities. Residents may be able to bring in third-party health care workers when they need additional help, but that may cost more than choosing an assisted living community that already provides support with ADLs.
How to find housing for people with disabilities
The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, and national origin. It applies to private housing, housing that receives federal financial assistance, and state and local government housing. Assisted living communities, board and care homes, and skilled nursing communities are designed to support older adults and people with disabilities, but it’s still helpful to understand the housing protections available to you under the law.
If you’re having trouble finding housing for yourself or a loved one with a disability, explore government resources that may help you find affordable housing, pay for changes that make a private home accessible, or learn skills for living independently. Support services and housing assistance may be available at the federal, state, and local levels.
How much does assisted living for people with disabilities cost?
The cost of assisted living can vary depending on the community, where it’s located, what services and amenities you require, and the type of room you choose.
According to our latest Cost of Care survey data from 2025, the national median monthly cost of an assisted living community is $6,200. However, the actual cost varies widely from state to state and even city to city.
Financial assistance for housing and care
HUD
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) may help with rental assistance, housing programs, or subsidized housing. Because demand is high, application wait times can be long, sometimes up to two years. Consider speaking with a HUD-approved housing counselor to learn whether you’re eligible for financial assistance or housing programs in your area.
Medicare
Medicare can help pay for home care if you’re eligible for these benefits, but it won’t pay for long-term care such as assisted living. A doctor must certify that you’re homebound and require skilled nursing care or certain types of speech, physical, or occupational therapy to receive financial assistance for this care.
Medicaid
Medicaid may help people with low incomes based on their income and family size. Benefits vary by state, but most states help cover some assisted living costs for eligible people. Some states also offer Medicaid waivers, which can help provide services that aren’t usually covered by Medicaid at the federal level.
More resources
Many older adults experience some type of disability as they age, such as hearing loss, vision impairment, or the need to use a cane or walker for stability. Your needs, or those of your loved one, will help determine which type of community may be a good fit, and that choice may change over time as care needs change. Some adults with disabilities may thrive in their own homes for many years and need assisted living only later. Others may live comfortably in assisted living for years before eventually needing skilled nursing care. Finding a home where you or your loved one feels safe, comfortable, and welcome can take time, but support and resources are available. You can begin your search with your local department of human services or organizations such as:
Search for care providers
Finding the right care starts with understanding your options. Use our Care Finder to search for providers, including those in the CareScout Quality Network.
Written by
Brian Dowd
Brian is writer based in New England. He is a passionate storyteller with a knack for finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. He joined CareScout as a Senior Content Writer in 2024. Before that, he worked as a content writer in the senior living industry and worked for several years as an assi...
Social Security
In addition to Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security may provide financial help with assisted living costs on a state-by-state basis for eligible older adults and people with disabilities. These benefits are called Optional State Supplements (OSS) or State Supplementary Payments and are paid directly to the assisted living community. The amount may range from a few dollars to $1,000 per month, depending on your state’s policies and your income.