What is assisted living in Michigan?
In Michigan, assisted living is a description, not a license: the communities families tour are licensed by LARA as homes for the aged or as adult foster care homes. Our five counties have 146 of the larger ones -- 55 homes for the aged and 91 AFC homes of 13 or more residents.
Last verified: October 2026| County | Homes for the aged | AFC 13+ | Licensed beds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent | 33 | 38 | 3676 |
| Ottawa | 17 | 30 | 2083 |
| Allegan | 3 | 14 | 419 |
| Montcalm | 2 | 6 | 208 |
| Ionia | 0 | 3 | 60 |
Who is assisted living right for?
Someone who needs daily help -- bathing, dressing, medications, meals, getting to the bathroom at night -- but not continuous nursing care, and who is no longer safe or well-supported living alone.
The usual triggers are falls, missed medications, weight loss, or a spouse who can no longer manage the care. Assisted living is not the right fit for someone who needs two-person transfers around the clock, daily skilled nursing, or a secured dementia environment the home does not offer.
What does assisted living cost in West Michigan?
The sourced benchmark is CareScout's 2025 Michigan median: $69,000 a year, about $5,750 a month, for a private one-bedroom. No Grand Rapids-specific median is published.
Quotes depend on the license, apartment size and the care level the home assigns. Ask for the all-in monthly cost in writing. Full cost table.
Where are assisted living homes concentrated around Grand Rapids?
Grand Rapids, Holland and the Cascade/East Paris corridor have the largest homes for the aged; Holland, Grandville, Jenison and Lowell have clusters of 20-bed adult foster care homes built as small-house neighborhoods.
Every licensed home: assisted living directory.
Which West Michigan assisted living homes have the cleanest recent state records?
39 of the 146 homes for the aged and large AFC homes in our five counties had a renewal inspection with no violations established and no special investigation reports published since October 2023. The largest of them are listed here.
- Robbinswood Assisted Living Community -- Grand Haven, 110 beds, renewal August 24, 2025
- Clark Retirement Home -- Grand Rapids, 107 beds, renewal September 10, 2024
- Porter Hills Presbyterian Village -- Grand Rapids, 100 beds, renewal July 19, 2024
- Grand Village Assisted Living -- Grandville, 72 beds, renewal August 23, 2024
- Waterford Place Assisted Living -- Jenison, 70 beds, renewal May 9, 2025
- Appledorn ALC North -- Holland, 65 beds, renewal October 4, 2024
- The Inn at Freedom Village -- Holland, 62 beds, renewal August 1, 2025
- Rose Garden -- Grandville, 46 beds, renewal July 19, 2024
A clean record is a strong start, not a guarantee -- it reflects what inspectors saw and what families reported. Visit, and ask the questions below.
What should you ask an assisted living home in Michigan?
Ask which license the building holds, for the all-in monthly cost at your parent's assessed care level, how care levels are reassessed, who is awake overnight, and what would lead the home to issue a discharge notice.
Then ask to see the latest LARA renewal study and any special investigation reports, and ask what changed after each one. A home that answers those directly is usually a home that runs well.
