Last verified: October 2026
What must an assisted living contract include in Pennsylvania?
A written resident-residence contract must be in place before admission or within 24 hours after, explained to the resident before signing, and it must list the actual charge for each service in the resident's core package, the party responsible for payment, refund conditions including admission fees and refunds after death, and the conditions for ending the contract (55 Pa. Code 2800.25).
The contract must also explain the annual assessment, medical evaluation and support plan, any financial-management arrangement, the residence's rules including smoking, and a list of available assisted living services. Ask for a blank copy before move-in week.
How much notice is required to leave or to discharge a resident?
An ALR contract runs month to month with automatic renewal; the resident can end it with 14 days notice, while the residence must give 30 days notice and follow the transfer and discharge rules in 2800.228.
The residence must also give at least 30 days advance written notice before changing the contract, which covers rate increases. If a discharge notice arrives, contact the local ombudsman immediately; the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program helps residents of personal care homes and assisted living as well as nursing homes.
Can a personal care home take all of a resident's income?
No. Each resident keeps at least the current personal needs allowance for personal spending, and a contract that says otherwise is not valid (2800.25(c)(1)); the same protection exists for personal care home residents under Chapter 2600.
For residents on SSI, the personal care home supplement raises the monthly payment to $1,433.30 in 2026 for an individual with no other income ($994 federal plus $439.30 state supplement), and the home's rate for SSI residents is built around that.
What should families check before signing?
Before signing, get the full fee schedule in writing, the care-level assessment your parent would receive today and what moves them to the next level, the three-year history of rate increases, the deposit and refund terms, and the exact license (PCH or ALR) your parent's room falls under.
Compare the contract against the license category on the DHS directory: ALR contract rules come from Chapter 2800, personal care home rules from Chapter 2600, and they are not identical.
A Pennsylvania ALR contract: what it is and is not
| It is | It is not | |
|---|---|---|
| Term | month to month, auto-renewing | a long-term lease |
| Resident notice | 14 days | 60 or 90 days |
| Residence notice | 30 days, per 2800.228 | same-day |
| Income | leaves the personal needs allowance | a claim on all income |
