Tennessee Personal Care Home Licensing Guide

Updated September 11, 2026

Tennessee uses several licensing categories for residential care. The Tennessee Health Facilities Commission (HFC) licenses Assisted-Care Living Facilities (ACLFs), along with other facility categories such as certain homes for the aged and adult care homes. Smaller Tier 1 homes for the aged are handled through the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging.

An ACLF is intended to provide a residential alternative to institutional care in a homelike setting while supporting dignity, autonomy, independence, privacy, and aging in place. Because “personal care home” is not the single statewide license name, always verify the exact location and licensing category before relying on a provider’s marketing language.

How to verify a Tennessee home

1. Search Tennessee’s licensed health-care facility system

Start with the Tennessee HFC licensure page and select Find Health Care Facilities. Search for the exact provider and location. Compare the facility name, address, license category, and other available details with the home you are considering.

For an assisted-living setting, look for the Assisted Care Living Facility category. Tennessee also publishes current health-facility and licensed-bed reports, including Assisted Care Living Facility and Residential Home for the Aged reports.

2. Confirm the category and current status

Ask the provider for its current license and confirm that the license belongs to that exact physical location. Similar names or common ownership do not make licenses interchangeable. Verify the licensed facility type, capacity, and current operating information close to the planned move-in date.

If a home does not appear in the expected HFC search, do not assume that it is exempt. It may fall under a different Tennessee licensing authority or category. Review the Tier 1 Homes licensing information and the state’s Unlicensed Facility Registry, then contact the appropriate state office with questions.

3. Review inspection and complaint information

Use Tennessee’s HFC resources and Public Records and Complaints portal to look for available survey or facility information. Ask the facility to provide its recent state inspection or survey findings and any correction plan. Review what was cited, how the provider responded, and whether follow-up occurred.

An inspection or survey documents conditions reviewed at a particular time. It does not guarantee present quality or suitability. Visit the home, speak with residents or representatives when appropriate, and recheck official information near the move-in date.

Common Tennessee residential-care categories

Assisted-Care Living Facility: a licensed residential setting primarily serving aged persons and designed to support personal dignity, autonomy, independence, privacy, and aging in place while meeting permitted medical and support needs.
Home for the Aged: a separate residential category providing room, board, and personal services. Tennessee divides these homes into licensing tiers handled by different agencies.
Adult Care Home: a small, licensed single-family residence providing 24-hour residential care and help with activities of daily living in a homelike environment.
Nursing home: a different licensing category for people whose needs require nursing-facility services.

These categories are not quality ratings. The right setting depends on the person’s needs, the services the license permits, staffing, the building, and the provider’s admission and discharge criteria.

Questions to ask before choosing a home

What is the exact Tennessee license category for this location?
What is the current license number, status, expiration date, and licensed capacity?
Does the official facility name and address match this exact home?
May we review the most recent inspection or survey findings and correction plan?
Were deficiencies identified, and how and when were they corrected?
What staff are present during the day, overnight, and on weekends?
What assistance is available with bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility, meals, and medications?
Which nursing or health services may be provided, and which require an outside licensed provider?
Can the facility safely meet the resident’s present needs, and what happens if those needs increase?
Does the home use a secured unit or provide dementia-related services, and what safeguards apply?
Which services are included in the stated price, and which cost extra?
How are emergencies, evacuations, severe weather, and power failures handled?
Can you review the complete resident agreement, discharge policy, and expected charges before committing?

Use our questions to ask when touring a personal care home for a longer visit checklist.

Complaints, suspected unlicensed care, and resident support

For a concern involving a licensed, certified, or potentially unlicensed health-care facility, use the Tennessee HFC complaint page. Complaints may be submitted through the Public Records and Complaints portal, by mail, or by calling the Complaint Intake Unit at 1-877-287-0010.

For concerns about a potentially unlicensed facility, also review the Tennessee Unlicensed Facility Registry and follow the state instructions for reporting a concern.

The Tennessee Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program assists residents of nursing homes, Assisted-Care Living Facilities, homes for the aged, and adult care homes. It can help with quality of care, resident rights, admission, transfer, discharge, and other concerns. Call 877-236-0013 to reach the appropriate district program.

Suspected elder abuse may be reported to Tennessee Adult Protective Services at 1-888-277-8366. Call 911 when someone faces an immediate life-threatening emergency.

What PersonalCareHomes.net does—and does not—verify

PersonalCareHomes.net is an advertising directory, not a government agency, placement service, inspection organization, or licensing authority. A directory page may contain public-record information or details supplied by a provider. A listing’s presence does not mean that we inspected, licensed, approved, or endorsed the home.

Before choosing care, confirm licensing with the appropriate Tennessee agency, review available records, tour the home, examine written terms, and decide whether the setting fits the individual’s needs.

Continue your search

Official sources

This guide is general educational information, not medical or legal advice. Regulations, records, contact details, and facility status can change. Verify current information with the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission or the applicable licensing agency.

View all state licensing and verification guides