Kansas Assisted Living
Kansas's overall cost of living is 16.9% lower than the national average. Housing costs, in particular, are 40.4% below average. Public pension income remains untouched, as well as Social Security income for those earning less than $75,000 per year, and there is no estate or inheritance tax. But, assisted living residents pay $80 per month more than the average American, and health care costs are slightly more expensive. Kansas' property and sales tax rates are also relatively high, but assisted living communities can help. Here, you can learn more about assisted living in Kansas, including how these communities are regulated in the state, services that are included, average costs and how they compare to other areas, and more.
The typical resident population in Kansas's assisted living communities is 73% female. Overall, 84% of residents are ages 75 and older, with 31% of residents ages 75 to 84 and 53% ages 85 and older.
The Secretary of Aging and Disability Services licenses residential settings under the term adult care homes (ACHs). These settings include assisted living facilities (ALFs) and residential health care facilities.
Small residences, known as boarding care homes and home plus, are licensed under the ACH rules. These residences house up to 10 and 12 residents, respectively. These homes do not provide the level of services available in assisted living and residential health care facilities.
An ALF is a facility that provides care for six or more residents who need personal care and supervised nursing care. ALFs must provide apartments with kitchens for residents and provide or coordinate services that must be available 24 hours a day.
A residential health care facility is a facility that cares for six or more individuals. Residential units are not required to have a kitchen.
Please note the state does not license or certify dementia care units, although facilities may serve residents with special needs.
All facilities must provide a written agreement upon or before admission. The agreement describes the responsibilities of the facility, the services provided, and their daily or monthly cost. An initial service agreement must be developed upon admission, which is based on an assessment of the resident. It describes the preferences of the resident, who will provide services to the resident, and any recommended services that the resident refuses.
No facility can admit or retain individuals with the following conditions:
Facilities must provide general services based on an assessment by a licensed nurse. The services include housekeeping; medical, dental, and social transportation; planned activities; and services necessary to support the health and safety of the residents. Health care services may include personal care, supervised nursing care, and wellness and health monitoring.
Facilities must develop and negotiate a service agreement with the resident or their legal representative. The agreement describes the services that will be provided, the service provider, and the parties responsible for payment when an outside agency provides the services.
Residents must be able to provide input into the selection of food and the timing of meals. Therapeutic meals will be provided if they are included in the service agreement and are based on instructions provided by a physician or a licensed dietitian. Any facility with 11 or more residents must have a dietetic services supervisor on staff or contracted.
Both types of facilities must have an administrator who is in charge of the facility’s daily operations. A full-time operator must be employed. This operator must be a licensed administrator if 62 or more residents are in the facility. A registered nurse must be available to supervise licensed practical nurses.
Administrators must ensure that sufficient qualified personnel is available to provide each resident with the care that has been contracted for.
ALFs must provide apartment-style units with a living area, storage area, full and accessible bathroom, lockable door, kitchen, and an operable window. The kitchen must have a sink, refrigerator, stove or microwave, and space to store utensils and supplies.
Residential health care facilities do not require apartment-style units but must have an accessible private bathroom with a bathing facility.
There are several requirements that each assisted living community must provide for its residents. The facility must offer both general observations and health supervision to assist in identifying each resident's health condition and ability to function. The facility must assist residents with all ADLs and medication services and assess the need for medication attention or nursing services.
In Kansas, ALFs must provide care and services in the resident’s care plan. This can include coordinating medical care and appointments. Communities may also deliver health services. Although no communities provide skilled nursing as of April 2022, many have health care specialists and on-site services, such as dental care, which is offered in 60% of communities. As of April 2022, no ALFs have hospice services.
Mental health issues are a growing consideration for communities, and services to address these concerns are becoming more common. In Kansas, 84% of communities conduct depression screenings and 62% offer mental health counseling. Social work programs are also found in 53% of ALFs. Social workers can provide counseling, conduct assessments, and help ensure residents can access all the resources they need.
Some assisted living residents live with various medical conditions. In Kansas, 41% have Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. In addition, 55% have high blood pressure, 35% have heart disease, 40% have depression, and 19% have diabetes.
There are around 30 community mental health centers (CMHCs) throughout the state, with a directory of addresses, websites, and contact details for each maintained by the Association of CMHCs of Kansas. Assisted living residents and their families can talk to staff in the community to determine what kind of support is available locally and whether there are on-site systems in place to assist with relevant mental health issues. The Kansas chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) also provides a map and listings of its affiliates throughout the state, as well as helpful guides and a database of local resources.
A resident may self-administer medications if their assessment demonstrates they can do so. If they cannot, the facility may administer medications. If the facility is responsible for administering some or all of a resident's medications, that must be done by a licensed nurse or a medication aide.
A licensed pharmacist must conduct a medication review for every resident on a quarterly basis and when there is a significant change in a resident’s condition.
A primary service of assisted living that benefits residents are receiving help with activities of daily living (ADLs). These are fundamental tasks that a person must do regularly to sustain life and general health, including toileting, bathing or showering, dressing, transferring (getting in and out of bed or a chair), ambulating (walking), and eating. Signs that a person may benefit from living in assisted living include increased isolation, loss of mobility, noticeable weight loss or gain, and/or neglect of household chores.
Residents in Kansas’s assisted living facilities often receive help with their ADLs. In Kansas, 23% of residents need help eating. Other commonly used services include bed transfer (33%), toileting (38%), and walking (58%). Caregivers in ALFs help 45% of residents dress, and 68% need help bathing.
The average cost of assisted living care in Kansas is $4,580. This is $80 higher than the monthly national average of $4,500. The cost of living in Kansas is less than the national average by 13.5%, with health care costs more than the national average by 0.4% and housing costs less than the national average by 27.4%.
The level of care a person requires impacts the cost of care, as does where you live. The cost of assisted living ranges from a low of $4,495 in the Topeka area to a high of $5,425 per month in the Wichita area of Kansas.
If you live close to one of Kansas’s borders, you may find assisted living in a neighboring state is an affordable option. Seniors in Missouri pay an average of $3,000 per month, Oklahoma residents pay an average of $3,855, and Nebraska residents pay $4,076 per month — all lower average monthly costs than that in Kansas, which is $4,580. You may have to search in Colorado, as their monthly average is higher than that of Kansas at $4,750 per month.
How to Pay for Assisted Living
The Kansas Long-Term Care Ombudsman Office is an effective way of handling complaints about facilities. Ombudsmen can help investigate complaints and advocate for residents and their rights. They work independently of state regulators and have no affiliation with assisted living communities. Staff at the Ombudsman Office can also answer more general questions related to long-term care, local providers, and communities in Kansas and explain the rights and responsibilities of residents.
In the statutes and regulations, assisted living in Kansas is one of the many types of senior care referred to as adult care homes. Residents and their families should understand what to expect from assisted living communities and what they can do if problems arise with staff or the living environment in general:
Older adults can find information, advice, and legal representation to deal with many issues, such as denial of benefits, bankruptcy, debt collections, the appointment of guardians and conservators, fraud, and family law. People with low income may be eligible for free services. Kansas Legal Services operates the Elder Hotline — (888) 353-5337 — which is available to all state residents aged 60 and over, although it prioritizes some of its services for low- and moderate-income individuals. People can direct requests for legal services and information to a nearby Area Agency on Aging, with 11 locations throughout Kansas.
The typical resident population in Kansas's assisted living communities is 73% female. Overall, 84% of residents are ages 75 and older, with 31% of residents ages 75 to 84 and 53% ages 85 and older.
Assisted Living Facility (ALF) Definitions
The Secretary of Aging and Disability Services licenses residential settings under the term adult care homes (ACHs). These settings include assisted living facilities (ALFs) and residential health care facilities.
Small residences, known as boarding care homes and home plus, are licensed under the ACH rules. These residences house up to 10 and 12 residents, respectively. These homes do not provide the level of services available in assisted living and residential health care facilities.
An ALF is a facility that provides care for six or more residents who need personal care and supervised nursing care. ALFs must provide apartments with kitchens for residents and provide or coordinate services that must be available 24 hours a day.
A residential health care facility is a facility that cares for six or more individuals. Residential units are not required to have a kitchen.
Please note the state does not license or certify dementia care units, although facilities may serve residents with special needs.
Resident Agreements and Disclosures
All facilities must provide a written agreement upon or before admission. The agreement describes the responsibilities of the facility, the services provided, and their daily or monthly cost. An initial service agreement must be developed upon admission, which is based on an assessment of the resident. It describes the preferences of the resident, who will provide services to the resident, and any recommended services that the resident refuses.
Assisted Living Admission and Retention
No facility can admit or retain individuals with the following conditions:
- Incontinence when the resident cannot or will not participate in its management.
- Immobility that requires total assistance when leaving the building.
- Any condition requiring the assistance of two or more individuals to assist.
- Any condition requiring 24-hour-a-day care.
- Any behavioral condition that the staff cannot manage.
- Any condition that requires the use of physical restraints.
Assisted Living Services and Service Planning
Facilities must provide general services based on an assessment by a licensed nurse. The services include housekeeping; medical, dental, and social transportation; planned activities; and services necessary to support the health and safety of the residents. Health care services may include personal care, supervised nursing care, and wellness and health monitoring.
Facilities must develop and negotiate a service agreement with the resident or their legal representative. The agreement describes the services that will be provided, the service provider, and the parties responsible for payment when an outside agency provides the services.
Assisted Living Food and Dietary Provisions
Residents must be able to provide input into the selection of food and the timing of meals. Therapeutic meals will be provided if they are included in the service agreement and are based on instructions provided by a physician or a licensed dietitian. Any facility with 11 or more residents must have a dietetic services supervisor on staff or contracted.
Assisted Living Staffing Requirements
Both types of facilities must have an administrator who is in charge of the facility’s daily operations. A full-time operator must be employed. This operator must be a licensed administrator if 62 or more residents are in the facility. A registered nurse must be available to supervise licensed practical nurses.
Administrators must ensure that sufficient qualified personnel is available to provide each resident with the care that has been contracted for.
Assisted Living Housing Requirements
ALFs must provide apartment-style units with a living area, storage area, full and accessible bathroom, lockable door, kitchen, and an operable window. The kitchen must have a sink, refrigerator, stove or microwave, and space to store utensils and supplies.
Residential health care facilities do not require apartment-style units but must have an accessible private bathroom with a bathing facility.
What Is Included With Assisted Living Care In Kansas?
There are several requirements that each assisted living community must provide for its residents. The facility must offer both general observations and health supervision to assist in identifying each resident's health condition and ability to function. The facility must assist residents with all ADLs and medication services and assess the need for medication attention or nursing services.
Health Care Services
In Kansas, ALFs must provide care and services in the resident’s care plan. This can include coordinating medical care and appointments. Communities may also deliver health services. Although no communities provide skilled nursing as of April 2022, many have health care specialists and on-site services, such as dental care, which is offered in 60% of communities. As of April 2022, no ALFs have hospice services.
Mental health issues are a growing consideration for communities, and services to address these concerns are becoming more common. In Kansas, 84% of communities conduct depression screenings and 62% offer mental health counseling. Social work programs are also found in 53% of ALFs. Social workers can provide counseling, conduct assessments, and help ensure residents can access all the resources they need.
Some assisted living residents live with various medical conditions. In Kansas, 41% have Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. In addition, 55% have high blood pressure, 35% have heart disease, 40% have depression, and 19% have diabetes.
State Mental Health Resources
There are around 30 community mental health centers (CMHCs) throughout the state, with a directory of addresses, websites, and contact details for each maintained by the Association of CMHCs of Kansas. Assisted living residents and their families can talk to staff in the community to determine what kind of support is available locally and whether there are on-site systems in place to assist with relevant mental health issues. The Kansas chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) also provides a map and listings of its affiliates throughout the state, as well as helpful guides and a database of local resources.
Medical Provisions
A resident may self-administer medications if their assessment demonstrates they can do so. If they cannot, the facility may administer medications. If the facility is responsible for administering some or all of a resident's medications, that must be done by a licensed nurse or a medication aide.
A licensed pharmacist must conduct a medication review for every resident on a quarterly basis and when there is a significant change in a resident’s condition.
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) Assistance Services
A primary service of assisted living that benefits residents are receiving help with activities of daily living (ADLs). These are fundamental tasks that a person must do regularly to sustain life and general health, including toileting, bathing or showering, dressing, transferring (getting in and out of bed or a chair), ambulating (walking), and eating. Signs that a person may benefit from living in assisted living include increased isolation, loss of mobility, noticeable weight loss or gain, and/or neglect of household chores.
Residents in Kansas’s assisted living facilities often receive help with their ADLs. In Kansas, 23% of residents need help eating. Other commonly used services include bed transfer (33%), toileting (38%), and walking (58%). Caregivers in ALFs help 45% of residents dress, and 68% need help bathing.
Cost Of Assisted Living Care In Kansas
The average cost of assisted living care in Kansas is $4,580. This is $80 higher than the monthly national average of $4,500. The cost of living in Kansas is less than the national average by 13.5%, with health care costs more than the national average by 0.4% and housing costs less than the national average by 27.4%.
The level of care a person requires impacts the cost of care, as does where you live. The cost of assisted living ranges from a low of $4,495 in the Topeka area to a high of $5,425 per month in the Wichita area of Kansas.
How Costs Compare In Nearby States
If you live close to one of Kansas’s borders, you may find assisted living in a neighboring state is an affordable option. Seniors in Missouri pay an average of $3,000 per month, Oklahoma residents pay an average of $3,855, and Nebraska residents pay $4,076 per month — all lower average monthly costs than that in Kansas, which is $4,580. You may have to search in Colorado, as their monthly average is higher than that of Kansas at $4,750 per month.
How to Pay for Assisted Living
Kansas Assisted Living Oversight
The Kansas Long-Term Care Ombudsman Office is an effective way of handling complaints about facilities. Ombudsmen can help investigate complaints and advocate for residents and their rights. They work independently of state regulators and have no affiliation with assisted living communities. Staff at the Ombudsman Office can also answer more general questions related to long-term care, local providers, and communities in Kansas and explain the rights and responsibilities of residents.
Quality and Safety of Assisted Living Facilities in Kansas
In the statutes and regulations, assisted living in Kansas is one of the many types of senior care referred to as adult care homes. Residents and their families should understand what to expect from assisted living communities and what they can do if problems arise with staff or the living environment in general:
- Assisted living communities must accommodate six or more residents.
- Kansas allows for the provision of skilled nursing in assisted living, although only on a short-term or intermittent basis.
- Each apartment/unit in a community must have a bathroom with a toilet, kitchen or kitchenette, lockable door, and areas for sleeping and storage. Regulation permits shared bathrooms.
- Residents are entitled to assistance with activities of daily living from caregivers, including mobility, toileting, personal hygiene, and eating.
- Assisted living communities and all other adult care homes in Kansas must provide a copy of the last inspection notice upon request.
Legal Resources
Older adults can find information, advice, and legal representation to deal with many issues, such as denial of benefits, bankruptcy, debt collections, the appointment of guardians and conservators, fraud, and family law. People with low income may be eligible for free services. Kansas Legal Services operates the Elder Hotline — (888) 353-5337 — which is available to all state residents aged 60 and over, although it prioritizes some of its services for low- and moderate-income individuals. People can direct requests for legal services and information to a nearby Area Agency on Aging, with 11 locations throughout Kansas.
