Assisted living
CDC study: about half of assisted living communities had residents with all four tracked chronic conditions
New federal data show assisted living residents are arriving with more complex health needs than before. That matters when you're comparing communities — staffing and medical support need to match the residents actually living there.
Key facts
- A CDC study found that in 2025 almost half of residential care communities had residents with all four tracked conditions: dementia, diabetes, depression and heart disease.
- Only about 15% reported no residents with any of the four.
- The Northeast had a higher share (64%) than the South or West.
What happened
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study based on the National Post-acute and Long-term Care Study found that in 2025, almost half of residential care communities (assisted living and similar settings) reported residents diagnosed with all four conditions the survey tracks: Alzheimer's disease or other dementias, diabetes, depression and heart disease.
Only about 15% of communities reported no residents with any of the four. Communities with 26 to 50 beds were the most likely to report all four (65%). In the Northeast the share was 64%, higher than the South (45%) and West (41%). Senior Housing News reported the findings on October 21.
What it means for families
Assisted living today often serves people with several ongoing health conditions at once. When you compare communities, the question is not only the apartment and the activities but how the staff handle residents whose needs change over time.
Quick answers
What did the CDC find about chronic conditions in assisted living?
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study based on the National Post-acute and Long-term Care Study found that in 2025, almost half of residential care communities (assisted living and similar settings) reported residents diagnosed with all four conditions the survey tracks: Alzheimer's disease or other dementias, diabetes, depression and heart disease.
What to do this week
- Write down a parent's current diagnoses and medications on one page before any tour.
- Ask each community what happens if care needs grow: what extra help is offered and when a move would be required.
- Ask how medications are managed and who to call with a concern on nights and weekends.
Sources
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