Idaho's senior-living options are concentrated where most Idahoans live: the Treasure Valley around Boise, Meridian and Nampa; the Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls area in the north; the Magic Valley around Twin Falls; and the eastern Snake River Plain from Pocatello to Idaho Falls and Rexburg. Local Senior Advisor lists 312 published communities across 37 of the state's 44 counties.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated Idaho's population at 2,029,733 in 2025, with about 379,157 residents age 65 and older, close to one in five. The counties with the most published listings are Ada (84), Canyon (31), Kootenai (30), Twin Falls (25), and Bannock (21).
How Care Is Licensed in Idaho
Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Licensing and Certification, licenses and inspects residential assisted living facilities under IDAPA 16.03.22. These range from small homes to large buildings, and they provide help with daily activities, medications, meals and supervision. Nursing facilities are licensed by the state and certified by CMS. Independent living, which provides housing and services without personal care, is not licensed by the state.
Of the published listings, 227 are residential assisted living facilities, 69 are skilled nursing facilities, 10 are campuses that hold both an assisted living license and a nursing facility certification, and 6 are directory-listed independent living communities. Licensed capacity runs from 6 to 188 beds.
Care Levels Across the State
Assisted Living: 237 communities in Idaho offer assisted living, the most common level of care in Idaho. Most are licensed by the state as residential assisted living facilities, which provide help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing and medications, along with meals and supervision.
Memory Care: 130 listings show memory care, based on secured beds in state license data or a memory-care listing for that community. Families should ask each building how its memory-care area is staffed and secured.
Skilled Nursing: 79 communities provide skilled nursing under a CMS-certified nursing facility license, which covers 24-hour nursing care and, in many buildings, short-term rehabilitation after a hospital stay.
Independent Living: 27 communities list independent living. Idaho does not license housing that comes without personal care, so these listings come from senior-living directories rather than a state license.
What Senior Care Costs in Idaho
The 2024 CareScout Cost of Care Survey (formerly Genworth) put Idaho's median for assisted living at $4,600 a month, below the national median of $5,900. Nursing home care was higher than the national median, at $10,068 a month for a semi-private room and $10,707 for a private room. In-home help was $6,387 a month for a home health aide, and adult day health care was $3,358 a month. These are statewide medians; rates at a given community depend on the room, the level of care and the location.
254 of the published listings appear as Idaho Medicaid providers in state or federal data. Idaho Medicaid can help pay for assisted living or nursing facility care for people who meet its financial and medical rules, though not every room or building participates.
Choosing a Community
Start with the level of care needed now and what is likely in the next year or two, then narrow by location, budget and the feel of the building. Visit at a mealtime, ask how care plans are updated when needs change, ask about night and weekend staffing, and get the monthly rate and what it includes in writing. Idaho's survey results for a facility can be requested from the community or the Department of Health and Welfare.
Local Senior Advisor is a free service to families. A local advisor can help a family compare Idaho communities, explain license types and costs, and set up tours.