Alabama ranks among the states with the lowest prices in the nation for adult day care, home care and home health-care. More good news: Twenty-three percent of Alabama’s nursing homes get five stars overall by Medicare. That’s the highest percentage in the Southeast, as of this writing.

Approximate number of facilities:

• Nursing homes: 228
• Assisted living residences: 307*

Types of care available:

• Adult day care
• Home care
• Home health-care
• Continuing-care retirement communities
• Assisted living facilities (including congregate, group and specialty care)
• Residential care homes (adult foster care and family assisted living facilities)
• Nursing homes

Estimated average prices:**

• Adult day care: $39 per day
• Home care: $16 per hour
• Home health-care: $16 per hour
• Assisted living: $2,797 per month
• Nursing home, semi-private room: $173 per day
• Nursing home, private room: $183 per day

State websites for seniors:

• Alabama.gov “Senior Citizen Resources”

Where to report elder abuse:

• In domestic/community care: 1-800-458-7214
• In nursing homes: 1-800-458-7214

Government financial assistance:

• Medicaid (including the Medicaid Waiver for the Elderly and Disabled, or E&D Waiver, Program and Personal Choices, to help seniors and disabled people stay home rather than move to a nursing home)
• Alabama Cares Program (help for caregivers)
• Supplemental Security Income
• Legal Assistance

• Nutritional assistance:
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
  • Congregate and home-delivered meals
  • Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
  • Nutrition education (for caregivers too)

• Other health financial aid:
  • SenioRX/Wellness (including free prescription drugs)
  • State Health Insurance Assistance Program (answers to questions about Medicare)

Top-10 largest cities:

• Birmingham
• Montgomery
• Mobile
• Huntsville
• Tuscaloosa
• Hoover
• Dothan
• Decatur
• Auburn
• Gadsden

Top nursing homes, based on Medicare ratings:***

Altoona
Altoona Health & Rehab

Atmore
Atmore Nursing Center

Birmingham
Civic Center Health and Rehabilitation
Golden LivingCenter – Riverchase
Mountainview Healthcare Center

Brewton
West Gate Village

Bridgeport
Cumberland Health & Rehab

Columbiana
Columbiana Health and Rehabilitation

Cordova
Cordova Health and Rehabilitation

Crossville
Crossville Health and Rehabilitation

Cullman
Woodland Village Health Care Center

Daphne
Mercy Medical

Demopolis
Woodhaven Manor Nursing Home

Dothan
Extendicare Health Center
Westside Terrace Health & Rehabilitation Center

Double Springs
Hendrix Health and Rehabilitation

Evergreen
Evergreen Nursing Home

Falkville
Falkville Health Care Center

Florala
Florala Health and Rehabilitation

Florence
El Reposo Nursing Facility
Glenwood Healthcare

Georgiana
Georgiana Health and Rehabilitation

Guntersville
Marshall Manor Nursing Home

Haleyville
Haleyville Health Care Center

Hanceville
Hanceville Nursing & Rehab Center

Hayneville
Orchard Healthcare Center

Hueytown
Golden LivingCenter – Hueytown

Huntsville
Fairview at Redstone Village

Jasper
Ridgewood Health Care Center

Killen
Lauderdale Christian Nursing Home

Lineville
Lineville Health and Rehabilitation

Luverne
Luverne Health and Rehabilitation

Madison
Madison Manor Nursing Home
Valley View Health and Rehabilitation

Mobile
Allen Memorial Home
Little Sisters of the Poor Sacred Heart Residence
Springhill Manor Nursing Home
Twin Oaks Nursing Home

Monroeville
Englewood Health Care Center
Monroe Manor Nursing Home

Montgomery
John Knox Manor #2

Montrose
Montrose Bay Health and Rehabilitation Center

Moulton
NHC Healthcare

Northport
Park Manor Health and Rehabilitation

Pell City
Meadowview Nursing Center

Phenix City
Canterbury Health Care Facility

Scottsboro
Cloverdale Health Care

Selma
Lighthouse Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center
Park Place Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Tuskegee
Magnolia Haven Nursing Home

Union Springs
Southern Springs Healthcare Facility

Wetumpka
Wetumpka Health and Rehabilitation

York
Sumter Health and Rehabilitation

*Assisted-living residence numbers are from the Department of Health and Human Services’ 2007 Residential Care and Assisted Living Compendium. According to the National Center for Assisted Living, this is the industry’s only resource for such data. Depending on the state, the number may or may not include small residential-care homes, such as adult foster care.

**Senior-care price estimates are based on the 2011 MetLife Market Survey of Long-Term Care Costs, which reports average rates,and the Genworth 2011 Cost of Care Survey, which reports median rates.

***Medicare rates nursing homes in four categories using a five-star system. These are the nursing homes with five stars in the “Overall” category. The ratings were accessed on Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare site in November or December 2011 and are subject to change. The Medicare ratings system isn’t perfect, so use additional criteria to evaluate nursing homes as well.