Pennsylvania regulates senior care through two separate state departments — and knowing which is which helps Philadelphia families ask better questions and spot red flags. This hub summarizes how assisted living-style care, memory care, nursing homes, and Medicaid long-term care work in Pennsylvania, and where to verify any facility's license.
Every fact below applies statewide — the same regulators, Medicaid programs, and public license databases cover Philadelphia, Montgomery County, Bucks County, Delaware County, and Chester County.
Who licenses assisted living in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania licenses two distinct community-care types — a genuine PA quirk worth knowing: a Personal Care Home (PCH) — licensed under 55 Pa. Code Chapter 2600 by the PA Department of Human Services (DHS) — or an Assisted Living Residence (ALR) — created by Act 56 of 2007, licensed under 55 Pa. Code Chapter 2800, which allows more aging-in-place services and has additional physical-plant/staffing requirements. Nursing homes are licensed separately — see below. You can look up any PCH/ALR facility's license, inspection history, and deficiency findings through the PA Department of Human Services facility locator. We only refer families to communities with an active license and no open disciplinary action.
Memory care: PCH or ALR, not a separate license
Pennsylvania has no standalone memory-care license. A community offering dementia care most often holds a PCH or ALR license and meets the applicable dementia-care disclosure requirements under 55 Pa. Code Chapter 2600 or 2800 for the dementia-care services it provides, with dementia-trained staff and structured routines for residents who wander or need more supervision. Always confirm the specific secured unit is covered by the facility's license and its dementia-care disclosure.
Nursing homes — a different agency
Nursing homes are licensed separately by the PA Department of Health (DOH) — not DHS. DOH-licensed Long-Term Care Nursing Facilities under 28 Pa. Code Chapter 211 plus CMS certification provide 24/7 licensed medical care and post-hospital rehabilitation. You can check ratings and inspection records on Medicare Care Compare in addition to the PA DOH facility search. Do not confuse DHS (personal care/assisted living) with DOH (nursing homes) when researching a facility.
Medicaid long-term care: Community HealthChoices and LIFE
Pennsylvania's long-term care Medicaid runs through Community HealthChoices (CHC) — the state's mandatory managed long-term services and supports (MLTSS) Medicaid program for dual-eligibles and adults 21+ needing LTSS, administered by DHS's Office of Long-Term Living and delivered through CHC managed-care organizations (in the Philadelphia region: AmeriHealth Caritas, Keystone First, PA Health & Wellness — verify current roster). CHC does not pay PCH/ALR room and board directly, but it can cover personal care and attendant services for those who qualify. Pennsylvania's brand of the National PACE program is called LIFE (e.g., LIFE Philadelphia) — note that Pennsylvania separately runs a totally different program also called "PACE"/"PACENET," a state prescription-drug subsidy for seniors unrelated to long-term care placement, so when we mean the health/LTSS program we say "LIFE," not "PACE." You apply through the PA Department of Human Services, and eligibility includes a medical-necessity / level-of-care assessment.
Free help: Philadelphia Corporation for Aging and the collar-county AAAs
The Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) serves Philadelphia County. The four collar counties each have their own Area Agency on Aging: Montgomery County Aging and Adult Services, Bucks County Area Agency on Aging, Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA), and Chester County Department of Aging Services. They offer free counseling on long-term care options, benefits screening, and caregiver support. Statewide, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging — a standalone cabinet agency, separate from DHS and DOH — oversees the AAA network and connects families to local aging services (verify the current statewide elder-abuse reporting number before citing it).
Veterans
Greater Philadelphia veterans are served by the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia. Wartime veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for the VA Aid & Attendance pension toward care costs; the VA Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274, and the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs assists with benefit applications. The Southeastern Veterans' Center (Spring City, near Philadelphia) serves Greater Philadelphia veterans directly.
Reporting concerns
The Pennsylvania State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (housed within the PA Department of Aging) advocates for residents of long-term care facilities. To report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an older adult, contact your county Area Agency on Aging or call the statewide elder-abuse reporting line at 1-800-490-8505 (24/7, verify current number before launch).
Related: Cost of assisted living in Philadelphia · Assisted living FAQ · Facility directory
Not sure where to start? A free Philly Senior Advisor advisor will talk it through with you — 15 minutes, no pressure, no fee. Call (215) 555-0100 or send a message.