The New Hampshire Medicaid answer, verified
Yes - New Hampshire Medicaid's Choices for Independence (CFI) Waiver, run by the DHHS Bureau of Adult and Aging Services, covers 'Residential Care Facility Services' for adults who meet nursing-facility level of care and live in a licensed residential care facility (assisted living residence), but room and board is excluded: the approved waiver application states 'Participants who live in residential settings are responsible for paying room and board from the CFI participants income. This is paid directly to the residential care provider. The waiver payment is designated for Waiver services only.' Here is what that means in practice for Manchester families - eligibility, what waivers cover, and what stays out of pocket.
Assisted living near Manchester compares against a national median of $6,200 a month - and New Hampshire's own median of $8,025, ranked #8 of 50 states.
A semi-private nursing home room runs $9,581 a month at the 2025 national median - the number Manchester 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 Manchester households.
Yes - New Hampshire Medicaid's Choices for Independence (CFI) Waiver, run by the DHHS Bureau of Adult and Aging Services, covers 'Residential Care Facility Services' for adults who meet nursing-facility level of care and live in a licensed residential care facility (assisted living residence), but room and board is excluded: the approved waiver application states 'Participants who live in residential settings are responsible for paying room and board from the CFI participants income. This is paid directly to the residential care provider. The waiver payment is designated for Waiver services only.' 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. Yes - New Hampshire Medicaid's Choices for Independence (CFI) Waiver, run by the DHHS Bureau of Adult and Aging Services, covers 'Residential Care Facility Services' for adults who meet nursing-facility level of care and live in a licensed residential care facility (assisted living residence), but room and board is excluded: the approved waiver application states 'Participants who live in residential settings are responsible for paying room and board from the CFI participants income. This is paid directly to the residential care provider. The waiver payment is designated for Waiver services only.' 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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New Hampshire: Medicaid, prices and the inspection file
| Question | New Hampshire answer |
|---|---|
| Medicaid & assisted living | Yes - New Hampshire Medicaid's Choices for Independence (CFI) Waiver, run by the DHHS Bureau of Adult and Aging Services, covers 'Residential Care Facility Services' for adults who meet nursing-facility level of care and live in a licensed residential care facility (assisted living residence), but room and board is excluded: the approved waiver application states 'Participants who live in residential settings are responsible for paying room and board from the CFI participants income. This is paid directly to the residential care provider. The waiver payment is designated for Waiver services only.' |
| State median, assisted living | $8,025/month (#8 of 50 states) |
| Licensing & inspection records | New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Health Facilities Administration (Health Facility Licensing Unit) |
New Hampshire does not have a single 'assisted living' licence - it licenses two tiers of Assisted Living Residence: 'Assisted living residence - residential care facilities' (the lower level, commonly just called a residential care facility or RCF) and 'Assisted living residence - supported residential care facilities' (which can keep residents needing a higher level of care), so the licence tier tells a family whether a parent can stay as needs increase.
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 Manchester 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.
Should my parent stay home with help or move to assisted living?
Run the hours math first: in-home care at about $35 an hour serves people who need help, not round-the-clock supervision. Below about 30-40 hours a week, home usually costs less; past that - or when safety needs someone always present - assisted living's $6,200 median often buys more coverage. The right answer follows the care needs, not the buildings.
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.
When should we start looking?
Before the crisis. Good communities near you have waitlists, and emergency placements take whatever bed is open at premium rates. Touring while your parent is stable costs nothing, builds the shortlist, and turns a future emergency into a phone call.
Does Medicaid pay for assisted living?
It depends entirely on your state: 36 states cover some assisted living services through waivers, 9 cover them in limited settings, and 6 have no assisted living pathway at all. Even where covered, waivers typically pay for care services while the family handles room and board. This guide's Medicaid page gives your state's verified answer.
Find senior care options near Manchester
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.