The Tennessee Medicaid answer, verified
Yes - TennCare CHOICES (Groups 2 and 3) covers Assisted Care Living Facility (ACLF) services as a Community-Based Residential Alternative to nursing facility care, but the rule states 'Coverage shall not include the costs of Room and Board,' so the resident pays their own rent and meals. Here is what that means in practice for Pigeon Forge families - eligibility, what waivers cover, and what stays out of pocket.
Assisted living near Pigeon Forge compares against a national median of $6,200 a month - and Tennessee's own median of $5,845, ranked #32 of 50 states.
A semi-private nursing home room runs $9,581 a month at the 2025 national median - the number Pigeon Forge 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 Pigeon Forge households.
Yes - TennCare CHOICES (Groups 2 and 3) covers Assisted Care Living Facility (ACLF) services as a Community-Based Residential Alternative to nursing facility care, but the rule states 'Coverage shall not include the costs of Room and Board,' so the resident pays their own rent and meals. 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 - TennCare CHOICES (Groups 2 and 3) covers Assisted Care Living Facility (ACLF) services as a Community-Based Residential Alternative to nursing facility care, but the rule states 'Coverage shall not include the costs of Room and Board,' so the resident pays their own rent and meals. 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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Tennessee: Medicaid, prices and the inspection file
| Question | Tennessee answer |
|---|---|
| Medicaid & assisted living | Yes - TennCare CHOICES (Groups 2 and 3) covers Assisted Care Living Facility (ACLF) services as a Community-Based Residential Alternative to nursing facility care, but the rule states 'Coverage shall not include the costs of Room and Board,' so the resident pays their own rent and meals. |
| State median, assisted living | $5,845/month (#32 of 50 states) |
| Licensing & inspection records | Tennessee Health Facilities Commission, Division of Licensure and Regulation |
Tennessee does not use the term 'assisted living' on the license - the license type is 'Assisted-Care Living Facility' (ACLF), and a separate, lower-care 'Home for the Aged' (Residential Home for the Aged) license also exists.
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 Pigeon Forge families
The home-versus-community math is mostly hours: in-home care at $35 an hour serves people who need help, not supervision. Past roughly 40 hours a week - or any point where safety needs someone present around the clock - assisted living at $6,200 a month usually costs less than equivalent home coverage.
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 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.
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.
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.
How much does in-home care cost?
About $35 an hour at the 2025 national median - roughly $80,000 a year at 44 hours a week. Since the 2025 survey, non-medical caregivers are tracked as a single category, so quotes for 'homemaker' versus 'home health aide' services should no longer differ much for non-medical help.
Find senior care options near Pigeon Forge
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.
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