Subcategories include:

Adult Care Facilities (ACF) provide long term residential care and supervisor to five or more adults unrelated to the operator. Residents are provided room, bath and common areas for dining and socializing. Adult Homes are licensed by New York State and may be profit, public or non-profit. Owner provides supervision (reminding resident of doctor's appointments, checking on medication, etc.), personal care, housekeeping, three meals per day plus snacks, 24/7 staffing, and custodial care. Residents should be able (with direction) to evacuate the facility in case of emergency

These programs meet the same requirement as Adult Homes but do so in units resembling independent housing apartments. Enriched Housing Programs provide room, board, housekeeping, personal care, and supervision (reminding residents of doctor's appointments, checking on medication, etc.). Operated by a sponsoring agency. 24-hour staffing is not required but may be provided. Case management, housekeeping, and food service (a minimum of one hot meal per day) are required.

These are licensed adult care facilities who have special "secure units" for residents in the early to middle stages of Alzheimer's disease or other dementias who are at risk of wandering. They also offer room, board, housekeeping, personal care, and supervision. (See Also Nursing Homes - Alzheimer's Memory impaired & Mental Health - Facility based Mental Health Services).

Licensed by New York State, an Assisted Living Program (ALP) offers combined residential care and home care services within an Adult Care Facility (ACF) or an Enriched Housing Program. It is designed as an alternative to nursing home placement for individuals with stable medical conditions. An ALP must have a contract with a Certified Home Care Agency (CHHA) that provides skilled nursing services and with a Licensed Home Care Services Agency that provides personal care services. Three meals per day are required. Provides or arranges for room, board, housekeeping, supervision (reminding residents of doctor's appointments, checking on medication, etc.), personal care, case management, and home health services. These programs must provide 24 hours, seven days per week supervision. ALPS admit Medicaid, SSI, and home relief recipients. A note about terminology: the word "assisted" is sometimes used, in a less formal sense, to indicate the presence of additional "supportive" services in Assistive Living Facilities or Enriched Housing Programs. However, New York State makes a distinction between these types of housing. In New York, the word "Assisted", as in Assisted Living Programs, denotes the specific definition above. In other states, a NYS Enriched Housing Program would be called Assisted Living.

An Enhanced Assisted Living Unit is available at some adult homes and can provide additional specialized services such as diabetic management, including blood glucose monitoring and insulin injections, physical assistance with ambualtion and transfers, chronic incontinence management and assistance with complex medical equipment. Each Enhanced Unit can have its own set of specialized services, so be sure to check with each Adult Home to verify what is offered.

Independent apartments are not licensed or regulated. The owner/operator hs no responsibility to supervise or provide personal care services. Residents ma contract fo in-home personal care or nursing services from an outside agency. Residents, also may be able to contract from the owner for supportive services such as congregate dining, housekeeping, hairdressers, and laundry service or transportation. Some "luxury" level independent living facilities include one or more meals per day in the monthly rent. Rents are paid entirely by the resident and no insurance or government subsidies apply. Age restrictions usually apply. Some accept younger adults with disabilities.

These independent senior apartments may be subsidized by government funds or programs. There may be waiting lists. These apartments are not licensed or regulated and the owner/operator has no responsibility to supervise or provide personal care services. Residents may contract for in-home personal care or nursing services from an outside agency (some facilities have offices for these agencies on-site). Residents also may be able to contract from the owner for supportive services such as congregate dining, housekeeping, hairdressers, and laundry service or transportation. May be subsidized through Section 8, DSS Vouchers, or other types of subsidies.

NORC (Naturally Occurring Retirement Community) - Retirement communities that develop as the result of “aging in place” by current residents.

Independent housing that provides a private room, shared bath and kitchen, and common living areas.