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Assisted Living in Tennessee

18th

OVERALL STATE RANK

Overview of assisted living in Tennessee

Tennessee offers exceptional assisted living options with highly rated amenities, quality care, and homelike environments, all for an average cost of about $4,400 per month.[01] Senior residents can engage in on-site activities like birthday parties and barbecues, or join an off-site excursion to explore all that the area has to offer. Known for mountains and music, the state offers an ideal blend of reasonable living costs and enriching activities from border to border. Tennessee exudes Southern comfort, from soulful country and blues music to fried catfish and cornbread, making the state a wonderful place to call home.
A PLACE FOR MOM

Assisted living state rankings report

State scorecard

How we determine rankings

Our 2023 state ranking for assisted living uses A Place for Mom’s proprietary data collected from our community partners. First, we sorted through our metrics and grouped them into three pillars that are key in a quality assisted living experience. We weighted these pillars differently based on insights from our senior living experts. Then, we used these categories and their weighting to determine how each state ranks.

Read our full methodology

Top ranked Tennessee cities for assisted living overall

Key findings

80%
of communities are pet friendly
78%
of communities host off-site activities
70%
of communities have restaurant-style dining
77%
offer memory care services
82%
have medication management services
82%
offer respite care

State highlights

According to A Place for Mom’s internal data, 98% of our partner communities in Tennessee offer on-site activities, nearly 83% provide full medication management, and over 60% are pet-friendly.[01]

Top ranked Tennessee cities - Services & Amenities

Key findings

61%
of communities cost less than the national monthly median

Tennessee vs. the national monthly median cost of assisted living

Top ranked Tennessee cities - Affordability

Key findings

92%
of communities are rated 4 out of 5 for cleanliness
69%
of communities are rated 4 out of 5 for meals
83%
of communities are rated 4 out of 5 for care services
76%
of communities are rated 4 out of 5 for value for cost

Top ranked Tennessee cities - Ratings

Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Tennessee

5
5 Photos available
3
3 Floor plans available

Sycamore Trace

1098 Bradford Way, Kingston, TN 37763
10
Review Score
85 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

My mom lives at Sycamore Trace. The staff is very attentive to her and she loves to go on all the outings they have for the residents. We are very blessed to have a place like Sycamore Trace to care for mom.

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10
10 Photos available

Great Southern Senior Living

1869 Pisgah Rd, Cordova, TN 38016
10
Review Score
14 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Mark M - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Thank you to [name removed] and your staff! You guys have taken such great care of my mother and couldn’t be happier with the level of service you have provided. Definitely would recommend you to friends and...

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18
18 Photos available

Fieldstone Place

51 Patel Way, Clarksville, TN 37043
9.9
Review Score
23 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Doug and Pat Owens - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

We are very pleased with Fieldstone Place. The staff are friendly and helpful. We really like the Activities staff, they are wonderful and caring to all.

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Nashville

See top facilities
14
14 Photos available
6
6 Floor plans available

Belmont Village Green Hills

4206 Stammer Place, Nashville, TN 37215
9.8
Review Score
63 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Mark M - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Belmont Village Green Hills is a very friendly place! The staff are very interesting in making everything pleasant for all of the residents. The food is great! A broader variety on the menu would be...

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18
18 Photos available
6
6 Floor plans available

Brookdale Belle Meade

6767 Brookmont Terrace, Nashville, TN 37205
9.7
Review Score
58 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

They have more long-term stability in management than is typical for many competitors. My loved one wouldn't have participated in anything per his nature. But seeing the lobby taken over for bingo instead...

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16
16 Photos available
5
5 Floor plans available

Traditions of Mill Creek

7110 Southpoint Pkwy, Brentwood, TN 37027
9.4
Review Score
33 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Kristen B - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

This community is beautiful and provides the highest quality of care in the area! My parents have been safe, comfortable, happy and are thriving at Traditions of Mill Creek. Thank you to the team for being...

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Franklin

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19
19 Photos available
26
26 Floor plans available

Somerby Franklin

870 Oak Meadow Drive, Franklin, TN 37064
9.6
Review Score
30 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I live or lived in this community

The food at Somerby Franklin is very good. The dining wait staff usually in their first entry-level work experience and some more training to provide consistency would be helpful.

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10
10 Photos available
4
4 Floor plans available

Vitality Living Franklin

1035 Fulton Greer Ln, Franklin, TN 37064
9.6
Review Score
57 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Chris - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

I have visited several times in search for a loved one. Everytime I have visited, I have met very nice residents and staff. The facility seems very clean and it feels very home like. One of the residents...

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19
19 Photos available

Charter Senior Living of Franklin

105 Sunrise Cir, Franklin, TN 37067
9.4
Review Score
19 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

All I have is great things to say about Charter. No joke literally everything is a 5. I was extremely impressed. I was there almost everyday and was very impressed. The fact that it is small makes it easy...

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Memphis

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10
10 Photos available

Great Southern Senior Living

1869 Pisgah Rd, Cordova, TN 38016
10
Review Score
14 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Mark M - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Thank you to [name removed] and your staff! You guys have taken such great care of my mother and couldn’t be happier with the level of service you have provided. Definitely would recommend you to friends and...

Get Pricing
4
4 Photos available

HarborChase of Germantown

6300 Briarcrest Ave, Germantown, TN 38120
9.6
Review Score
19 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Bruce B - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Facility is 1st class; clean and safe. Food is very good, serve too much on each plate(a lot wasted). Management staff(office, nursing) is responsive to issues. [name removed] (activities director) is...

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4
4 Photos available

HarborChase of Cordova

1600 Appling Rd, Cordova, TN 38016
9.5
Review Score
50 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Tanya H - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

StoryPoint has been the answer to my family's prayers. The facility is beautiful and the apartments are very nice. There is a posted daily calendar of activities and also a weekly calendar for each...

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Knoxville

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11
11 Photos available

StoryPoint Knoxville West

8501 S Northshore Dr, Knoxville, TN 37922
9.9
Review Score
77 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Ann W - I'm a current/former resident or client

The staff is friendly, facility is clean and well cared for. [name removed] at the front desk, always is there with a warm welcome.

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20
20 Photos available

The Pointe at Lifespring

4371 Lifespring Lane, Knoxville, TN 37918
9.7
Review Score
38 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Lisa P - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

We love The Pointe! Every staff member is kind and so helpful. They truly love the residents. It starts at the top with [name removed]who is always out and about demonstrating her kind heart. Nursing staff...

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12
12 Photos available

Trinity Hills of Knoxville

4611 Asheville Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37914
9.7
Review Score
57 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Everyone was so nice and caring to is. And they were so very good to Mom [name removed], especially right at the end of life. I highly recommend.

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Cost of assisted living in Tennessee

In Tennessee, the average cost of assisted living is about $4,400 per month. That’s about $500 less than the national average. Because of factors like location, apartment size, care level, and quality of amenities, assisted living costs can vary quite a bit. Tennessee’s assisted living communities range between about $2,800 at the low end and $6,300 at the highest end.[01]

Typically, you can expect the cost of assisted living to increase as the cost of living in a particular city increases, apartment floor plan size gets larger, care levels become more advanced, and amenities become more luxurious.

The figures above reflect actual prices paid by families who were referred to an A Place for Mom partner assisted living community in Tennessee. They account for all fees paid, including amenities, services, and care. Seniors and their families can use a combination of public and private payment methods to cover these costs. Read more about the payment options for assisted living in Tennessee below.

Compare costs of Tennessee vs. the national average

Average monthly costs

Tennessee

$4,133/mo

US National average

$4,562/mo

Compare costs of assisted living vs. nearby states

Average monthly costs

Tennessee

$4,133/mo

Kentucky

$4,123/mo

Alabama

$3,840/mo

Georgia

$3,584/mo

Mississippi

$3,591/mo

Compare costs of assisted living in Tennessee vs. nearby cities

Average monthly costs

Tennessee

$4,133/mo

Knoxville, TN

$3,872/mo

Nashville, TN

$4,470/mo

Compare costs of assisted living vs. other senior care types in Tennessee

Average monthly costs

Let our care assessment guide you

Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.

Paying for assisted living in Tennessee

There are a variety of methods to pay for assisted living in Tennessee. Families can either use private pay, public pay options, or a combination of the two. Read about the payment options below, or view our guide to paying for long-term care for a more high-level overview.

While most families use a combination of different payment methods to pay for assisted living in Tennessee, there are a range of private pay options to utilize. Click on the cards below to learn more about private pay options.

Selling a house will generate funds to help pay for assisted living in Tennessee.

Reverse mortgage loans take a portion of your home equity and convert it into cash, which can then be used to pay for assisted living in Tennessee.

Health savings accounts (HSAs) can help cover long-term care insurance premiums and other health care costs in Tennessee.

Life insurance policies can be sold or surrendered to pay for assisted living in Tennessee.

Long-term care insurance, depending on the policy, can cover some assisted living services in Tennessee.

Social Security benefits can be used to help pay for assisted living in Tennessee.

There are about 423,042 veterans living in Tennessee.[02] The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides generous veterans benefits to eligible veterans and their spouses. These benefits can be quite generous and are worth looking into. You may be eligible for more than you expect.

If you or a loved one acquired a disability during wartime service, additional benefits may also apply. Be sure to view the VA’s list of service-connected ailments to learn more about qualification requirements.

VA eligibility requirements and application processes can feel difficult and convoluted. If you find you could use some guidance, consider reaching out to one of Tennessee’s local resources, such as VA centers and veterans service organizations (VSOs). These provide benefits counselors who can help determine which benefits you qualify for, walk you through applications, and more.

Tennessee’s local VSOs include the following:

Medicaid is a state and federally funded health insurance program for individuals with a low or limited income. It’s administered at the state level, meaning specific programs and services vary from state to state. While Medicaid can help families cover some assisted living costs, it won’t cover the cost of room and board in an assisted living community.

TennCare is Tennessee’s Medicaid program. The benefits you receive will depend on the TennCare package you have – TennCare Medicaid or TennCare Standard. The TennCare package you obtain is dependent on factors like age, whether you’re a Medicare recipient, and whether you’re getting long-term care. Depending on the package, TennCare coverage could include the following:[03]

  • Behavioral health services
  • Mental health services
  • Nursing home care
  • Home health services
  • Dental and vision care
  • Ambulance services
  • Inpatient and outpatient hospital care
  • Medical supplies and equipment
  • Lab work and x-rays
  • Occupational therapy
  • Prescription medications

TennCare offers a few waivers and programs that help even more people access health care in Tennessee. These include the following:

  • CHOICES offers home and community based services (HCBS) to older adults and adults with disabilities who are eligible for nursing facility level long-term care services and supports.
  • Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is a Medicaid and Medicare program providing comprehensive medical and social services to eligible individuals who need a nursing facility level of care.

For free assistance navigating Medicaid benefits and application processes, reach out to a local long-term care ombudsman. You can contact a Tennessee long-term care ombudsman at 615-253-5412.

Medicare is a federal health insurance program designed for adults aged 65 or older and people with disabilities. While Medicare can help cover some costs of assisted living, it will not cover the cost of room and board or nonmedical personal care. If you’d like to learn if a specific procedure, diagnostic test, or medical device is covered, you can search it using the Medicare coverage search tool.

Tennessee offers Medicare Savings Programs. These are federally funded programs that can help people with low or limited income pay their Medicare premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Other Medicare programs in Tennessee include the following:

  • TN SHIP, which stands for Tennessee State Health Insurance Assistance Program, provides benefits counseling and assistance to Tennessee’s Medicare-eligible individuals.
  • The Tennessee Plan is the state’s supplemental medical insurance plan for retired state, local education, and local government employees with Medicare.
  • Ryan White Part B Program provides eligible Tennesseans living with HIV/AIDS with primary medical care, support services, and medications.
  • Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is a Medicaid and Medicare program that provides medical and social services to eligible people who need nursing facility-level care.

If you need further assistance navigating Medicare benefits, reach out to one of Tennessee’s local resources:

Assisted living requirements and regulations in Tennessee

The official licensure terms for assisted living in Tennessee are “Assisted-Care Living Facilities” and “Residential Homes for the Aged.” Assisted-Care Living Facilities typically provide a higher level of care, such as medical services, than Residential Homes for the Aged. Both settings are licensed by the Tennessee Department of Health’s Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities.[04]

The state of Tennessee defines an Assisted-Care Living Facility as an establishment that accepts mainly older adults for home or community based care and services. If necessary, these facilities may provide medical services, such as medication administration and nursing care. They must also do the following:[04]

  • Provide personal services, such as protective care, room and board, and nonmedical care
  • Meet each resident’s medical and safety needs safely and effectively through the provision of appropriate assisted living services
  • Provide services in the least restrictive and most homelike environment
  • Help residents safely age in place while encouraging their individuality, respect, and privacy

A Residential Home for the Aged is a home that accepts mainly older adults for relatively permanent care. These homes must provide room and board and personal care to at least four nonrelated residents. Residential Homes for the Aged must not provide medical care. However, if the home employs a licensed nurse, that nurse may administer medications for residents.[04]

Let our care assessment guide you

Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.

Ease of access to assisted living records in Tennessee

We developed a system to rate each state on how easy – or difficult – it is to find important assisted living records and reports, and compiled tips to help you in your search.

States with the most transparent records allow you to look up important information about each assisted living facility online, including inspections, complaints, survey results, violations, capacity, and whether the facility accepts Medicaid.

Access to Tennessee assisted living records: Moderate

Public access to assisted living records and reports for the state of Tennessee is moderate. Key findings that informed this rating include:

  • Information about provider licensing is available online, but inspection reports are unavailable.
  • Mandatory inspections are performed at least every 15 months.

How to look up Tennessee assisted living licenses and records

Use the following steps to look up assisted living records in Tennessee:

  • To confirm a community is licensed, use the Current Search or History Search form on the Department of Health website.
  • Visit Tennessee’s senior community Disciplinary Action page for information about the backgrounds of providers.

How we arrived at our Tennessee rating

We developed a standard methodology for state data collection and evaluation, and based our rating primarily on the objective, state-specific accessibility criteria outlined in these questions:

  1. Are licensed assisted living communities listed online in any form? Yes
  2. If Yes to #1, is the information updated frequently? Yes
  3. If Yes to #1, is the list of licensed communities searchable? Yes
  4. Does the state post inspections, complaints, survey results, or violations online? Yes
  5. If Yes to #4, is the information updated frequently (within 90 days)? Yes
  6. If Yes to #2 and #4, is the enforcement information included in the same place as licensed communities? No or N/A
  7. If Yes to #4 and No to #6, are violations and inspections searchable at all? No
  8. Is information about special licensing for care shown? Yes
  9. Is capacity shown? Yes
  10. Are payment types shown (e.g., Medicaid, private pay)? No
  11. Is the administrator/contact name shown? Yes
  12. Can the state fine a facility? Yes
  13. What is the frequency of inspections? Every 15 months
  14. Does the website include pricing of facilities? No

References

  1. A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.

  2. United States Census Bureau. QuickFacts North Carolina.

  3. Division of TennCare. Covered Services.

Top cities in Tennessee for assisted living

8.9
Franklin, TN
19 facilities
8.8
Nashville, TN
36 facilities
8.6
Knoxville, TN
33 facilities
8.6
Memphis, TN
40 facilities
8.5
Murfreesboro, TN
14 facilities
7.4
Chattanooga, TN
29 facilities

Find assisted living in other states

Find Assisted Living in Tennessee cities

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.