Birmingham Independent Living

Seniors looking for assisted living facilities in the Birmingham area will find dozens of low-priced options whether you choose to live in the city or in one of the outlying areas like Hoover or Pelham. To begin your search of our Birmingham assisted living facilities, use our advanced search option on the right. But before you start, read some of the valuable information we've compiled below.

Assisted living facilities in the U.S. are regulated by each state. There is no national regulatory agency. Alabama regulations state "an assisted living facility shall employ sufficient staff and ensure sufficient staff are on duty to meet the care needs of all residents twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week." If you'd like to see health inspection reports on assisted living facilities and nursing homes, visit the Alabama Department of Public Health here.

Residents in each facility have a Bill of Rights. For example, all residents of Alabama assisted living facilities (#19) "shall have the right to 30 days prior written notice to both resident and sponsor of any increase of service fees or charges." And #20 reads "Every resident shall have the right to 30 days prior written notice of any involuntary change in the resident's room or roommate unless the change is necessary because the resident or the resident's roommate engages in a pattern of conduct that is harmful or dangerous to himself or herself or to other residents."

As you might expect, Birmingham has a low cost of living--10% below the national average. A large component of this number is housing costs. And for seniors on fixed income this cost is usually crucial. According to a recent survey by Genworth Financial, the average monthly cost for a one-bedroom unit in a Birmingham assisted living facility is $2,661. This is less than the state average of $2,899 and considerably less than the national average of $3,261. A private room in a nursing home averages $178 per day while a semi-private averages $169.

For more information on senior services in Jefferson County, click here for the Office of Senior Citizens.