The short answer
- Assisted living is regulated by each state, not by the federal nursing home rules. The names differ too: assisted living facility, residential care, personal care home, adult care home.
- Nearly every state requires an assessment before or shortly after move-in, a written service plan, and reassessment when a resident's condition changes.
- 16 of the 51 jurisdictions below have rule text that specifically names the resident's preferences, routines, social or life history. Washington's WAC 388-78A-2090 is among the most detailed: it requires a record of each resident's "personal identity and lifestyle" and "sources of pleasure and comfort" within 14 days of move-in.
- Each state page quotes the official text and links to it.
Pick your state below. The table lists the license type, the governing rules, the assessment deadline stated in the rule, and whether the rule names preferences or life history. The last column is a one-line summary; the state page carries the quotes and sources.
| State | License type | Rules | Assessment deadline | Preferences / life history | In one line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Assisted living facility (group and congregate); specialty care assisted living facility for dementia | Ala. Admin. Code ch. 420-5-4 (assisted living); ch. 420-5-20 (specialty care assisted living) | initial assessment no more than 30 days before admission; written plan of care prior to or at admission | Partly | Assessment within 30 days before admission, care plan by move-in, monthly reassessment; records religious preference but no life history. |
| Alaska | Assisted living home | AS 47.33 (Assisted Living Homes); 7 AAC 75 | assisted living plan developed and approved within 30 days after admission | Names preferences or life history | Assisted living plan within 30 days must name preferences in food, recreation, religion and relationships; reviewed every 3 or 12 months. |
| Arizona | Assisted living facility (assisted living home, 10 or fewer residents; assisted living center, 11 or more) | Ariz. Admin. Code Title 9, Ch. 10, Article 8 (R9-10-801 to R9-10-820); A.R.S. 36-401 | written service plan within 14 calendar days after acceptance; health documentation dated within 90 days before acceptance | Partly | Service plan within 14 days; daily activities planned to residents' preferences; directed (memory) care plans add cognitive stimulation. |
| Arkansas | Assisted living facility, Level I and Level II (Alzheimer's special care units within them) | DHS Office of Long Term Care, Rules for Assisted Living Facilities Level I and Level II (R. 01/01/2024) | initial needs assessment at admission (no day count stated); Alzheimer's special care unit support plan within 30 days after admission | Partly | Annual needs assessment and activities matched to interests; Alzheimer's units need a family and social history and a plan within 30 days. |
| California | Residential care facility for the elderly (RCFE) | Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, div. 6, ch. 8 (§ 87100 et seq.) | pre-admission appraisal before admission; care and preferences meeting prior to or within two weeks of admission | Names preferences or life history | Pre-admission appraisal must cover likes, dislikes, interests and background; preferences meeting within 2 weeks; reappraise yearly. |
| Colorado | Assisted living residence (ALR) | 6 CCR 1011-1, Chapter 7 (Assisted Living Residences) | comprehensive pre-admission assessment before move-in; comprehensive assessment at the time the resident moves in | Names preferences or life history | Move-in assessment must cover routines, interests, personal background, cultural and spiritual needs; care plan matches engagement to choices. |
| Connecticut | Assisted living services agency (ALSA) operating in a managed residential community (MRC) | Conn. Agencies Regs. § 19-13-D105; Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-562 (dementia special care units) | client service program within 7 days of admission to the agency | Partly | RN writes a service program within 7 days reflecting client and family preferences; reassess at least every 120 days. No life history named. |
| Delaware | Assisted living facility | 16 Del. Admin. Code 3225 (Assisted Living Facilities) | UAI assessment by an RN before admission (no more than 30 days prior); RN review within 30 days after admission; interests/preferences instrument within 30 days of admission | Names preferences or life history | State UAI before move-in, plus an instrument on interests, strengths, talents, skills and preferences within 30 days for activity planning. |
| District of Columbia | Assisted living residence (ALR) | D.C. Official Code §§ 44-101.01 et seq. (Assisted Living Residence Regulatory Act of 2000) and 22-B DCMR Chapter 101 | Medical/psychosocial and functional assessments within 30 days prior to admission; post move-in assessment within 72 hours of admission | Partly | Pre-admission functional assessment covers family, spiritual needs and activity involvement; the ISP must accommodate resident preferences. |
| Florida | Assisted living facility (standard license, with extended congregate care, limited nursing and limited mental health specialty licenses) | Fla. Admin. Code Chapter 59A-36; Part I of Chapter 429, Florida Statutes | Medical examination within 60 days before or 30 days after admission (AHCA Form 1823 or practitioner's form); admission determination based on an assessment of strengths, needs and preferences | Partly | Admission rests on an assessment of strengths, needs and preferences; activities must fit each resident's interests, 12 hours a week. |
| Georgia | Personal care home (PCH) and assisted living community (ALC); memory care center certification for either | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Ch. 111-8-63 (Assisted Living Communities) and Ch. 111-8-62 (Personal Care Homes) | Physical exam dated within 30 days before admission; needs assessment at admission; written care plan within 14 days of admission (all ALCs; PCHs with proxy caregivers or memory care) | Names preferences or life history | 14-day care plan must record preferences on care, activities and interests; memory care adds family and personal history. |
| Hawaii | Assisted living facility (adult residential care homes are licensed separately under HAR ch. 11-100.1) | Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 11, Chapter 90 (Assisted Living Facility), effective August 23, 1999 | Comprehensive needs assessment (no deadline stated); initial service plan before move-in, revised if needed within 30 days | Partly | Service plan before move-in must fit physical, psychological and social needs and recognize preferences; daily social activities. |
| Idaho | Residential assisted living facility | IDAPA 16.03.22 (Residential Assisted Living Facilities) and Idaho Code Title 39, Chapter 33 (Idaho Residential Care or Assisted Living Act) | Before admission (may be done up to 30 days prior); negotiated service agreement in the resident's file no later than 2 weeks from admission, with an interim plan meanwhile | Partly | Pre-admission assessment and a negotiated service agreement within 2 weeks, based partly on the resident's desires; no life-history rule. |
| Illinois | Assisted living establishment (also shared housing establishment) | 210 ILCS 9 (Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act); 77 Ill. Adm. Code 295 | before admission (the rule says the physician's comprehensive assessment is done no more than 120 days before admission) | Names preferences or life history | Service plan must be based on the assessment plus the resident's interests, preferences, dislikes and known triggers; dementia programs add familiar activities. |
| Indiana | Residential care facility | 410 IAC 16.2-5 | initiated prior to admission | Partly | Evaluation starts before admission and repeats every six months; services must fit the resident's preference and activities their interests. No life history. |
| Iowa | Certified assisted living program (residents are called tenants); dementia-specific assisted living program | Iowa Code ch. 231C; Iowa Admin. Code 481—Chapters 67 and 69 | before occupancy, then a second evaluation within 30 days of occupancy | Partly | Evaluate before move-in and again within 30 days; service plan lists needs and preferences; activities must reflect lifestyle, values, experiences. |
| Kansas | Assisted living facility; residential health care facility (both adult care homes) | K.S.A. 39-923 et seq.; K.A.R. 26-41-101 to 26-41-207 | on or before admission (functional capacity screening); initial negotiated service agreement at admission | Partly | Functional capacity screen by admission; negotiated service agreement based on needs and preferences; activities listed as a service. No life history. |
| Kentucky | Assisted living community (ALC); assisted living community with dementia care (ALC-DC); ALC-BH (basic health services) | KRS 194A.700 to 194A.729; 902 KAR 20:480 | upon move-in (functional needs assessment on Form OIG 20:480-A) | Partly | Functional needs assessment at move-in and yearly; daily social activities fit residents' general preferences. Dementia care: past and current interests. |
| Louisiana | Adult residential care provider (ARCP), Levels 1-4; Level 3 is the former assisted living facility, Level 4 adds intermittent nursing | La. R.S. 40:2166.1-2166.8; LAC 48:I, Chapter 68 | pre-residency screening before the residency agreement is signed; assessment initiated at entry and completed within 7 calendar days of move-in; PCSP within 30 calendar days | Partly | Assessment of service needs and preferences within 7 days of move-in, PCSP in 30, reviewed every 90 days. Recreational program required; no life history. |
| Maine | Assisted housing programs: assisted living facilities (Part A) and residential care facilities (Part B) | 10-144 C.M.R. Ch. 113, Assisted Housing Programs Licensing Rule (Parts A and B, effective September 18, 2025) | within 30 calendar days of admission | Partly | 30-day residential care assessment covers social and leisure activities, likes and dislikes, family ties; memory care adds lifestyle preferences. |
| Maryland | Assisted living program | COMAR 10.07.14, Assisted Living Programs (amended effective April 28, 2025) | Resident Assessment Tool, including the functional assessment, within 30 days before admission; service plan within 30 calendar days of admission | Partly | Pre-admission Resident Assessment Tool covers family, relationships, spiritual needs and activity involvement; activities must reflect preferences. |
| Massachusetts | Assisted living residence (certified, not licensed); Special Care Residence for residents with cognitive or other impairments | 651 CMR 12.00, Certification Procedures and Standards for Assisted Living Residences (as amended effective March 29, 2024) | nurse screening and written service plan before the resident moves in; initial service plan reviewed within 30 days of the start of residency | Partly | Pre-move-in nurse screening covers needs and preferences; plan addresses social needs and is reviewed at 30 days and every 6 months. No life-history rule. |
| Michigan | No 'assisted living' license: home for the aged (residents 55+) or adult foster care home (small group up to 12, large group 13-20) | Mich. Admin. Code R 325.1901 to R 325.1981, Homes for the Aged (amended effective March 19, 2026); AFC large group homes R 400.15101 et seq. | at the time of admission (needs documented and used to build the service plan; AFC written assessment plan at admission) | Partly | Needs documented at admission; service plan must set activities for physical, social and behavioral needs, taking the resident's preferences into account. |
| Minnesota | Assisted living facility; assisted living facility with dementia care | Minn. Stat. chapter 144G; Minn. R. chapter 4659 | RN nursing assessment before the contract is signed or move-in, whichever is earlier; reassessment within 14 days after services start; service plan finalized within 14 days (initial review within 30 days for residents receiving only supportive services) | Names preferences or life history | Uniform assessment tool must cover lifestyle preferences: sleep schedule, social needs, leisure, customary routines, spiritual and cultural preferences. |
| Mississippi | Personal care home - assisted living (separate from personal care home - residential living); optional Alzheimer's Disease/Dementia Care Unit (A/D Unit) designation | Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 16, Subpart 1, Chapter 47 (Personal Care Homes - Assisted Living); Chapter 50 (Alzheimer's Disease/Dementia Care Unit) | medical examination within 30 days prior to admission; A/D Unit: medical, cognitive, functional and social assessment prior to admission | Partly | Base rules need a pre-admission medical exam and activities fit to each resident's interests, but no written service plan; A/D Units add social assessment. |
| Missouri | Assisted living facility (ALF); residential care facility (RCF) is a separate, lower-acuity license | 19 CSR 30-86 (ALF resident care requirements at 19 CSR 30-86.047; dining at 19 CSR 30-86.052) | premove-in screening before admission; community based assessment within 5 calendar days of admission | Names preferences or life history | Assessment within 5 days; the ISP must outline needs and preferences; activities must fit each resident's preferences, background and culture. |
| Montana | Assisted living facility, endorsed as category A, B, C (severe cognitive impairment) or D | ARM 37.106, Subchapter 28 (Minimum Standards for Assisted Living Facilities) | initial needs assessment before admission; category A service plan within 24 hours, reviewed within 60 days; category B/C health care assessment and plan within 21 days | Partly | Needs assessment before admission; service plan must reflect needs and preferences; activities built on interests. No life-history item. |
| Nebraska | Assisted-living facility | 175 NAC 4 (Title 175, Chapter 4, Assisted Living Facilities; care standards at 175 NAC 4-006) | Not set in rule | Partly | Evaluate each resident and negotiate a service agreement; activities must meet residents' interests. No deadline, no life-history item. |
| Nevada | Residential facility for groups (with optional endorsements for assisted living services and for care of persons with Alzheimer's disease) | NAC 449.156 to 449.27706 (residential facilities for groups); NRS 449.0302(7) for assisted living services | evaluation of activities of daily living upon admission | Partly | ADL evaluation at admission and yearly; 10 hours a week of activities suited to interests. No service plan or life-history rule in NAC. |
| New Hampshire | Assisted living residence–residential care (ALR-RC, He-P 804) and supported residential health care facility (SRHCF, He-P 805) | N.H. Code Admin. R. He-P 804 (ALR-RC) and He-P 805 (SRHCF) | CARES Tool no more than 30 days before or within 24 hours after admission (ALR-RC); no more than 30 days before admission (SRHCF); care plan within 24 hours when the CARES Tool or nursing assessment calls for one | Partly | State CARES Tool at move-in and every 6 months; care plan if needed. Activities for well-being; rules do not name preferences or life history. |
| New Jersey | Assisted living residence, comprehensive personal care home, and assisted living program | N.J.A.C. 8:36 (Standards for Licensure of Assisted Living Residences, Comprehensive Personal Care Homes, and Assisted Living Programs); assessments and plans at 8:36-7 | RN initial assessment upon admission; general service plan and RN health care assessment within 14 days of admission when needs exist | Partly | RN assessment at admission; plans within 14 days. Health assessment covers psychosocial well-being and activity pursuit patterns; plan lists preferences. |
| New Mexico | Assisted living facility for adults (with optional memory care unit) | 8.370.14 NMAC, Assisted Living Facilities for Adults (effective July 1, 2024; replaced 7.8.2 NMAC) | resident evaluation within 15 days prior to admission; ISP within 10 calendar days of admission | Names preferences or life history | Evaluation incl. psychosocial well-being and activity interests before move-in; record must hold a social history; activities must fit it. |
| New York | Assisted living residence (ALR), with enhanced (EALR) and special needs (SNALR) certifications; each ALR is also certified as an adult home or enriched housing program | 10 NYCRR Part 1001 (Assisted Living Residences); 18 NYCRR Parts 487 (adult homes) and 488 (enriched housing) | pre-admission evaluation within 30 days before admission; individualized service plan developed upon admission and implemented within 30 days | Partly | Case managers must evaluate needs, interests and strengths; activities must reflect interests and social background. Dementia units add historical interests. |
| North Carolina | Adult care home (assisted living); family care homes of 2-6 residents are licensed under a parallel subchapter | 10A NCAC 13F (adult care homes of seven or more beds); 10A NCAC 13G (family care homes) | within 30 days following admission | Names preferences or life history | Assessment within 30 days must include a social history: family, work, education, habits, hobbies, faith and culture. Care plan must include preferences. |
| North Dakota | Assisted living facility (tenancy-based, thin rules) and basic care facility (licensed care setting with assessment, care plan and activity rules) | NDCC 50-32 and NDAC 75-03-34 (assisted living facilities); NDCC 23-09.3 and NDAC 33-03-24.1 (basic care facilities) | basic care: within 14 days of admission (care plan within 21 days); assisted living: initial evaluation against tenancy criteria before renting a unit | Partly | Assisted living rules only require a tenancy evaluation. Basic care requires an assessment within 14 days that includes social and activity interests. |
| Ohio | Residential care facility (Ohio's licensed assisted living setting) | Ohio Adm. Code Chapter 3701-16 (Residential care facilities), effective July 12, 2024; Ohio Rev. Code Chapter 3721 | initial health assessment within 48 hours of admission (skilled-care items within 14 days) | Names preferences or life history | Initial assessment within 48 hours must document preferences: hobbies, usual activities, bathing, sleep, socialization and religion. No separate care-plan rule. |
| Oklahoma | Assisted living center (also continuum of care facility) | Okla. Admin. Code 310:663 (Continuum of Care and Assisted Living) | admission assessment within 30 days before or at admission; comprehensive assessment within 14 days after admission | Partly | Comprehensive assessment within 14 days must cover customary routine and psychosocial status, with a personal interview. Care plan built with the resident. |
| Oregon | Assisted living facility (ALF) and residential care facility (RCF); memory care community endorsement | OAR 411-054 (Residential Care and Assisted Living Facilities); OAR 411-057 (Memory Care Communities) | resident evaluation and initial service plan before move-in, updated as needed within the first 30 days | Names preferences or life history | Evaluation before move-in must cover customary routines, interests, hobbies, spiritual and cultural traditions. Memory care adds past interests and life story. |
| Pennsylvania | Personal care home (55 Pa. Code ch. 2600) and assisted living residence (55 Pa. Code ch. 2800); secured dementia care units and special care units within each | 55 Pa. Code Chapter 2600 (personal care homes) and Chapter 2800 (assisted living residences) | Personal care home: within 15 days of admission. Assisted living residence: within 30 days before admission (15 days after for hospital, abuse or no-alternative admissions). | Partly | Assessments center on ADLs, mobility and medical needs; ALR activities must be based on residents' interests. No life-history requirement by name. |
| Rhode Island | Assisted living residence (with dementia care level / Alzheimer Dementia Special Care Unit/Program) | 216-RICR-40-10-2, Licensing Assisted Living Residences (under R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 23-17.4) | before admission or signing the residency agreement (within 5 working days for listed emergency admissions) | Names preferences or life history | RN assessment before admission of social, activity and cognitive needs and preferences; service plan within 7 days lists requested social activities. |
| South Carolina | Community residential care facility (CRCF), commonly called assisted living | S.C. Code Regs. 61-84, Standards for Licensing Community Residential Care Facilities | no later than 72 hours after admission | Partly | Assessment within 72 hours covers social, spiritual and recreational needs; care plan in 7 days lists activities important to the resident. |
| South Dakota | Assisted living center (with memory care units) | ARSD article 44:70, Assisted Living Centers | at the time of admission, again thirty days after admission | Partly | Care needs evaluated at admission, 30 days and yearly; activities must meet each resident's needs and interests. No life-history rule by name. |
| Tennessee | Assisted-care living facility (ACLF), including secured units | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 0720-26, Standards for Assisted-Care Living Facilities | no later than 72 hours after admission | Partly | Written assessment within 72 hours; plan of care within 5 days must list recreational and social activities important to the resident. No life-history rule. |
| Texas | Assisted living facility (Type A or Type B), with Alzheimer's certification available for Type B facilities or units | 26 Tex. Admin. Code Chapter 553, Licensing Standards for Assisted Living Facilities | within 14 days of admission | Names preferences or life history | 14-day comprehensive assessment must cover ADL patterns, involvement patterns and preferred activity pursuits; Alzheimer's units review social history. |
| Utah | assisted living facility (Type I and Type II; Type II may operate approved secure units) | Utah Admin. Code R432-270 (authorized by Utah Code 26B-2-202) | before admission; service plan within 7 calendar days of admission | Partly | Assessment before admission and every 6 months must document leisure patterns and interests; service plan within 7 days. No life-history rule. |
| Vermont | assisted living residence (ALR); residential care homes (Level III and IV) are licensed under the same combined rules | Residential Care Home and Assisted Living Residence Licensing Rules (effective April 1, 2025), ALR provisions in Section XIII; 33 V.S.A. chapter 71 | pre-admission evaluation before occupancy; assessment on the state instrument within 14 days after admission; RN plan of care within 14 days for residents needing nursing overview | Partly | Assessment on the state form within 14 days; ALR care plan must describe the resident's assessed needs and choices. No life-history rule. |
| Virginia | assisted living facility (licensed for residential living care only, or for both residential and assisted living care); dementia units are 'safe, secure environments' / special care units | 22VAC40-73, Standards for Licensed Assisted Living Facilities (UAI under 22VAC30-110) | UAI face to face before admission (within 90 days prior); personal and social information prior to or at admission; preliminary plan of care on or within 7 days before admission; comprehensive ISP within 30 days after admission | Names preferences or life history | At admission, record lifetime vocation, interests and hobbies, military service, place of worship; UAI yearly; service plan within 30 days. |
| Washington | assisted living facility (with separate certification for memory care facilities and memory care units) | WAC chapter 388-78A (under RCW chapter 18.20) | full assessment within 14 days of move-in (unless extended by the department for good cause); negotiated service agreement within 30 days of move-in | Names preferences or life history | Full assessment in 14 days must cover routines, habits, preferences, personal identity, hobbies, spiritual life and sources of comfort. |
| West Virginia | assisted living residence; Alzheimer's/dementia special care units and programs have their own rule | 71 CSR 21, Assisted Living Residences (effective May 1, 2026; formerly 64 CSR 14); 71 CSR 19, Alzheimer's/Dementia Special Care Units and Programs (effective May 28, 2025; formerly 64 CSR 85) | health assessment within 60 days before or 5 working days after admission; functional needs assessment within 5 days; service plan within 7 days. Dementia special care units: preliminary care plan in 3 days, interdisciplinary assessment with social history in 7 days, care plan in 21 days | Partly | Needs assessment in 5 days covers psychosocial and activity needs; dementia units add a full social history (childhood, career, daily routines). |
| Wisconsin | community-based residential facility (CBRF); residential care apartment complexes (RCAC) and adult family homes are separate assisted living categories | Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 83 (CBRFs); ch. DHS 89 (RCACs) | CBRF: before admission (within 5 days for emergency admissions); comprehensive individual service plan within 30 days. RCAC: comprehensive assessment before admission | Partly | CBRF assessment before admission covers social participation, leisure, family contacts and interests; service plan in 30 days. No life-history rule. |
| Wyoming | assisted living facility (Level 1; Level 2 for facilities with a secure dementia unit) | Wyoming Department of Health Rules, Chapter 12, Program Administration of Assisted Living Facilities (048.0003.12, effective August 24, 2020); licensure in Chapter 4 | RN assessment no earlier than one week before admission; ALF 102 screening valid only if completed within 45 days before admission | Partly | RN assessment covers mental and psychosocial status and activities potential; assistance plan must reflect resident decisions. No life-history rule. |
Why the preferences part matters
Health and safety sections of an assessment are routine to fill in. The personal part is harder: what a resident did for work, what their mornings looked like, what they love to talk about, what upsets them. It takes conversation, often with family, and it goes stale if nobody revisits it. Where a state names it in the rule, surveyors can ask to see it. Where a state does not, it is still what staff need to know a resident as a person.
Frequently asked questions
Do assisted living rules require a resident's life history?
Some do. Of the 51 jurisdictions covered here, 16 have rule text that specifically names preferences, routines, social or life history, or similar personal information in the assessment or service plan. Most others require an assessment and service plan plus an activities program without naming life history directly. Each state page quotes the actual text.
Do the federal nursing home rules apply to assisted living?
No. The CMS requirements in 42 CFR Part 483, including the F-tags surveyors use in nursing homes, apply to Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing facilities. Assisted living is licensed and regulated by each state. Communities serving Medicaid waiver residents must also meet the federal home and community-based settings rules, which call for a person-centered service plan.
How quickly must an assisted living community assess a new resident?
It depends on the state. Some require an assessment before move-in, others within a set number of days after, such as 14 or 30 days. The table on this page lists the deadline stated in each state's rule, and each state page quotes it.
Is this page legal advice?
No. It summarizes state rules for general information, with links to the official text as checked on September 28, 2026. Rules change, so confirm the current text with your state licensing agency.
Gather the life-story part in the resident's own words
Porchlight reads a life question aloud on a tablet, records the answer, and turns it into a Know Your Resident briefing for staff and a private page for family.
Start free Explore a live demoThis page summarizes state rules for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change; confirm the current text with your state licensing agency before relying on it. Porchlight is a conversation and life-story tool, not a medical device or a clinical treatment.