The North Dakota Medicaid answer, verified
Limited - North Dakota Medicaid has no assisted-living-specific benefit. The ND Medicaid Waiver for Home and Community Based Services (waiver 0273.R06.00) covers 'adult residential care', waiver personal care, homemaker, respite, emergency response and related supports for people age 65+ and adults 18-64 with disabilities who meet a nursing facility level of care; these supports can be delivered in a residential setting. Whether room and board is excluded could NOT be verified from a North Dakota source this session - see notes. Here is what that means in practice for Ashley families - eligibility, what waivers cover, and what stays out of pocket.
Assisted living near Ashley compares against a national median of $6,200 a month - and North Dakota's own median of $4,729, ranked #47 of 50 states.
A semi-private nursing home room runs $9,581 a month at the 2025 national median - the number Ashley families weighing skilled care start from.
In-home care averages $35 an hour nationally - about $80,080 a year at 44 hours a week for Ashley households.
Limited - North Dakota Medicaid has no assisted-living-specific benefit. The ND Medicaid Waiver for Home and Community Based Services (waiver 0273.R06.00) covers 'adult residential care', waiver personal care, homemaker, respite, emergency response and related supports for people age 65+ and adults 18-64 with disabilities who meet a nursing facility level of care; these supports can be delivered in a residential setting. Whether room and board is excluded could NOT be verified from a North Dakota source this session - see notes. Whatever your state covers, one rule is nearly universal: waivers pay for care services, and the family still handles living costs - so a Medicaid path still needs a budget.
Medicaid is the payer of last resort for long-term care, and whether it helps with assisted living depends entirely on your state. Limited - North Dakota Medicaid has no assisted-living-specific benefit. The ND Medicaid Waiver for Home and Community Based Services (waiver 0273.R06.00) covers 'adult residential care', waiver personal care, homemaker, respite, emergency response and related supports for people age 65+ and adults 18-64 with disabilities who meet a nursing facility level of care; these supports can be delivered in a residential setting. Whether room and board is excluded could NOT be verified from a North Dakota source this session - see notes. Nursing home care is covered in every state for those who qualify financially - assisted living is the state-by-state question.
The 2026 numbers
| Care type | 2025 national median | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| In-home care | $35/hour | Non-medical help at home - meals, bathing, companionship |
| Adult day care | $95/day | Daytime supervision and activities, evenings at home |
| Assisted living | $6,200/month | Housing plus daily-living help; care-level fees extra |
| Memory care | typically 20-40% above assisted living | Secured dementia care with higher staffing |
| Nursing home (semi-private) | $9,581/month | 24/7 skilled medical care |
| Nursing home (private room) | $355/day | Same care, private room |
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Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you connect with a provider through a link here, the platform may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes your price - and it never changes what the inspection records say.
North Dakota: Medicaid, prices and the inspection file
| Question | North Dakota answer |
|---|---|
| Medicaid & assisted living | Limited - North Dakota Medicaid has no assisted-living-specific benefit. The ND Medicaid Waiver for Home and Community Based Services (waiver 0273.R06.00) covers 'adult residential care', waiver personal care, homemaker, respite, emergency response and related supports for people age 65+ and adults 18-64 with disabilities who meet a nursing facility level of care; these supports can be delivered in a residential setting. Whether room and board is excluded could NOT be verified from a North Dakota source this session - see notes. |
| State median, assisted living | $4,729/month (#47 of 50 states) |
| Licensing & inspection records | State licensing details pending verification - ask any community for its current license and inspection history |
North Dakota licenses two separate residential categories rather than one 'assisted living' license - an assisted living facility (a building of at least five living units providing individualized support services, where residents pay for individual services rather than a package and meals are not required) and a basic care facility (which does provide room, board and a package of personal care services). See notes on source vintage.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published costs and state rules. It is not a care provider, placement agency, law firm or financial advisor - care and Medicaid decisions deserve professional advice for your family's situation.
What this means for Ashley families
Home care keeps your parent in familiar surroundings and costs less at low hours; communities win on 24/7 coverage, social contact and predictable pricing. The wrong choice is usually the one made in a crisis - which is why running these numbers early matters more than getting them perfect.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published costs and state rules. It is not a care provider, placement agency, law firm or financial advisor - care and Medicaid decisions deserve professional advice for your family's situation.
Common questions
What is the difference between assisted living and a nursing home?
Assisted living provides housing plus help with daily activities - meals, medication, bathing - at a median $6,200 a month. Nursing homes provide 24/7 skilled medical care at a median $9,581 a month for a semi-private room. The dividing line is medical need: wound care, feeding tubes and ventilators are nursing-home territory.
What is memory care and why does it cost more?
Memory care is assisted living specialized for dementia - secured areas, higher staffing, trained caregivers - and typically prices 20-40% above standard assisted living in the same market. If dementia is in the picture, ask specifically about memory-care rates and staff training, not the general rate.
What questions expose a bad facility fastest?
Three: What is the caregiver-to-resident ratio on nights and weekends? How long has the current administrator been here? What happens when private funds run out? Communities that answer all three plainly and in writing are the shortlist.
What fees do communities add on top of rent?
Care-level fees (assessed need tiers that can add $500-1,500+ monthly), medication management, and one-time community or move-in fees are the big three. Always compare communities on the all-in monthly number at your parent's assessed level - base rent alone is a marketing figure.
Can a facility evict my parent?
Yes - discharge policies allow it for reasons like funds running out, care needs exceeding what the license covers, or behavior issues. Read the discharge clause before signing and get the funds-run-out answer in writing; involuntary moves are the outcome families regret most.
Find senior care options near Ashley
These platforms show communities and home-care agencies near you with pricing guidance. Advisors are free to families - providers pay them, as they do this site.
Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you connect with a provider through a link here, the platform may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes your price - and it never changes what the inspection records say.