Best Assisted Living in Ithaca, NY

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 4 assisted living communities in Ithaca, NY using NY State Dept. of Health (NYSDOH) data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank assisted living in NY
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Last updated
We analyzed These are the facilities in Ithaca, NY our team has analyzed — not a count of every assisted living provider in Ithaca, NY.
4 homes
Other senior care options in Ithaca:

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Avg Monthly Cost: $14,750The average monthly cost across facilities in Ithaca, NY. Reflects published or estimated base rates and can vary with care level, room type, and amenities. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: $5,600
Avg Walk Score: 40/ 100The average Walk Score across facilities in Ithaca, NY. A third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100) measuring convenience and context, not healthcare quality. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 50/ 100
Avg No. of Beds: 49The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in Ithaca, NY. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90

Compare Assisted Living around Ithaca (Metro Area)

Info below is compiled from the NY State Dept. of Health (NYSDOH), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.

Communities are listed from highest-ranked to lowest-ranked based on our methodology.

Care Types in This Table AL (Assisted Living): Housing with help for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication, without 24-hour skilled nursing. NH (Nursing Home): 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility): Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness. MC (Memory Care): Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. IL (Independent Living): Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care. ADC (Adult Day Care): Daytime supervision, health monitoring, and social activities for seniors who live at home.
City and state of the facility. Used for mapping and state-average comparisons.
Licensed bed capacity (maximum allowed). Not the same as how many beds are currently filled.
Indicates whether residents are allowed to have pets in the facility.
Third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100). Convenience/context metric, not a healthcare quality measure.
Name of the licensed owner, operator, or managing entity as filed with the state. Useful for grouping facilities under the same organization.
A 0–100 score of a facility's regulatory inspection record, shown as a letter and compared with other facilities of the same kind in the same state. This is a proprietary Assisted Living Magazine score. It is not a government rating. A dash means we do not publish a grade for that facility: either its public record is too thin to be fair, or we hold nothing for it at all.
Count of regulatory inspections in the reporting window. Higher volume can reflect more oversight visits, complaint-driven surveys, or routine licensure cycles.
Share of inspections that resulted in violations, expressed as a percentage of total inspections in the window.
Regulatory visits tied to complaints or allegations in the state file—not the same as every routine survey.
Total count of violations (cited regulatory issues) recorded in the selected reporting period. Read alongside inspection counts for context.
The average number of violations this facility receives each time it's inspected, calculated as total violations ÷ total inspections. A lower number suggests more consistent compliance with safety and care standards.
Housing or bed configuration options (e.g. studio, shared), often from facility-reported amenities and licensing details.
Bridges Cornell Heights
AL
Ithaca
15
Facility 15
NY AVG 126
Rank #350 / 355
Yes
44
Facility 44
NY AVG 64
Rank #537 / 753
Elizabeth Classen AmbroseA+3
33%
Facility 33%
NY AVG 56.5%
Rank #91 / 323
1
Facility 1
NY AVG 14.5
Rank #31 / 323
0.3
Facility 0.3
NY AVG 2.2
Rank #43 / 323
-
Brookdale Ithaca
AL
MC
Ithaca
36
Facility 36
NY AVG 126
Rank #335 / 355
Yes
2
Facility 2
NY AVG 64
Rank #749 / 753
Ithaca Sterling Cottage Operator, IncC14
57%
Facility 57%
NY AVG 56.5%
Rank #253 / 323
14
Facility 14
NY AVG 14.5
Rank #220 / 323
1.0
Facility 1.0
NY AVG 2.2
Rank #152 / 323
Suite
Longview Senior Living Community
AL
ADC
IL
Ithaca (South Hill)
96
Facility 96
NY AVG 126
Rank #200 / 355
Yes
24
Facility 24
NY AVG 64
Rank #655 / 753
Ithacare Center Service Company, IncC25
52%
Facility 52%
NY AVG 56.5%
Rank #163 / 323
33
Facility 33
NY AVG 14.5
Rank #278 / 323
1.3
Facility 1.3
NY AVG 2.2
Rank #159 / 323
Studio
Kendal at Ithaca
AL
IL
NH
SNF
Ithaca (City Of Ithaca)
48
Facility 48
NY AVG 126
Rank #412 / 429
Yes
91
Facility 91
NY AVG 64
Rank #57 / 458
Kendal At Ithaca, Inc (Not For Profit)A2100%94.5-

Rank badges are statewide: each community is ranked against every NY community we track that reports that metric, not just the 4 analyzed for Ithaca. See how we rank facilities

Overview of Bridges Cornell Heights

Bridges Cornell Heights offers assisted living in Ithaca, NY, for residents who need help with daily tasks and medication management. Supervision and health monitoring are also available, providing ongoing oversight within a resident’s routine care. With 15 beds, the community may suit someone who needs daily support in a smaller setting.

Respite care is available for short stays. That can give a family caregiver time to travel or recover while the resident remains supported. Rehabilitation services are available as well, allowing a resident to receive rehabilitation support through the community.

Meals and snacks are prepared by a professional chef, so residents do not need to prepare every meal themselves. Pets are allowed, meaning a resident may continue living with a pet after moving in. The community also helps coordinate medical appointments, so a resident does not have to manage those arrangements alone.

Elizabeth Demisse is the owner and director. A Walk Score of 44 places the area where most errands require a car or ride. For a resident who no longer drives, routine errands therefore require arranged transportation rather than a short walk.

Contact Bridges Cornell Heights

Overview of Brookdale Ithaca

Nestled in Ithaca, New York, Brookdale Ithaca offers personalized assisted living and memory care services to help seniors embrace freedom and independence. The community provides enhanced assisted living, with support for daily tasks like housekeeping, laundry, transportation, mobility, bathing, and dressing. Care associates also coordinate with outside healthcare providers. For memory care residents, Brookdale Ithaca offers a secure space with gentle guidance, visual reminders, and a daily path of engaging activities to help those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia thrive. With 24/7 staff availability, residents can enjoy a life filled with fewer worries and more enthusiasm.

The community encourages residents to pursue their interests, whether it’s playing bingo, joining a book club, or participating in devotional services and movie nights. Brookdale Ithaca’s dining program features weekly menus with delicious and nutritious choices, created with resident feedback and favorite recipes. The community’s location in Ithaca provides easy access to healthcare facilities, shopping, and dining options.

Contact Brookdale Ithaca

Overview of Longview Senior Living Community

Longview Senior Living Community offers assisted living, adult day care, and independent living in Ithaca’s South Hill neighborhood. Assisted living includes help with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and taking medication while the resident keeps a studio apartment. Independent living provides a private home with community services but no daily care. Adult day care offers care during the day without requiring a residential move.

The community has 96 beds and studio housing, with one private living space for each resident. Pets are allowed, so someone moving in may bring a pet. Longview also has a Short Term Stay program for people who need temporary housing and care. It may suit someone or a family seeking daytime care, independent living, assisted living, or a short term stay within one community. Ithacare Center Service Company operates the community.

Contact Longview Senior Living Community

Kendal at Ithaca

2230 North Triphammer Road, Ithaca, NY 14850
Overview of Kendal at Ithaca

Kendal at Ithaca offers independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing in Ithaca, NY. Independent living provides a private home with community services and no daily care, while assisted living helps with tasks such as dressing, bathing, and taking medication.

Skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock. Having all three care levels can allow a resident to move to a different level of support without leaving the community, which may suit someone whose needs could grow over time and who prefers a smaller setting.

The community has 48 beds, so staff and residents can get to know each other. Housing includes cottages, apartments, studios, and one bedroom and two bedroom layouts, including options with a den; a studio offers one private living space, while a two bedroom layout can suit a couple moving in together.

A 91 / 100 Walk Score places the area in the walker’s paradise band, meaning daily errands do not require a car and a resident who no longer drives can still get out independently. Pets are allowed, with a dog park providing a designated outdoor area for residents with dogs, while a TV studio, woodshop, aviaries, winemaking, and clay tennis courts provide on site activity spaces; public transportation and walking access to retail offer additional ways to get out.

Rehabilitation services and short term rehab are available for someone who needs a temporary setting for therapy and recovery. Total nurse staffing is 5 hours 23 minutes per resident per day, representing the daily hands on nursing time allocated per resident, and payment options are Medicare and private pay, allowing families to use Medicare coverage when applicable or pay directly for care.

Contact Kendal at Ithaca

Weighting overview

  • 35%
    Resident Experience
  • 25%
    Regulatory
  • 15%
    Visual Media
  • 10%
    Website
  • 10%
    Stability
  • 5%
    Environment
01

Resident & Family Experience 35%

The single largest share of every ranking. Aggregated review sentiment and volume from major platforms — the closest signal to real resident experience.

  • Includes
  • Review Sentiment
  • Review Volume
02

Regulatory & Safety Record 25%

State inspection records, citations, and complaint visits. We weight per-inspection rates more heavily than raw counts.

  • Includes
  • State Inspections
  • Citations/Inspection
  • % Inspections w/ Citations
  • Complaint Visits
  • Accreditations
  • BBB Rating
03

Visual Media & Transparency 15%

Communities that publish high-quality visuals give families a real preview. No photos or tours = a negative transparency signal.

  • Includes
  • Video Tours
  • Virtual Walkthroughs
  • Photo Quantity
  • Photo Quality
04

Website & Operator Transparency 10%

Site quality and whether the operator publishes basic accountability information — staff names, contact details, ownership.

  • Includes
  • Website Content
  • Mobile Usability
  • Staff Info Available
  • Owner Info Available
05

Community Stability 10%

Operational signals indicating whether a community is well-run and meeting demand.

  • Includes
  • Occupancy Rate
  • Bed Options
06

Environment & Pricing 5%

Walkability and pricing transparency. Walk Score is weighted higher for Independent Living than for Memory Care, where most residents do not leave unaccompanied.

  • Includes
  • Walk Score
  • Pricing Transparency
No paid rankings Communities cannot pay to influence placement.
How we're paid: If we help you find a community and you move in, that community may pay us a referral fee. This never affects where they rank or what you pay. Learn more
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Frequently Asked Questions about Assisted Living in Ithaca, NY

What's the difference between assisted living and memory care in New York?

Assisted living in New York supports residents with daily activities (bathing, dressing, medication management) while preserving independence. Memory care is a specialized form of assisted living for residents living with Alzheimer's or dementia, and adds 24/7 secured environments, dementia-trained staff, and structured routines designed to reduce confusion and wandering.

What's the difference between assisted living and a nursing home in New York?

Assisted living in New York is a residential model focused on housing, hospitality, and help with daily activities. Nursing homes (skilled nursing facilities) provide 24/7 medical care from licensed nurses for residents with significant health needs, and are regulated more strictly under both state and federal CMS rules.

Does New York Medicaid cover assisted living?

New York Medicaid does not directly pay room-and-board for assisted living, but most states (including New York) offer Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers that can offset the cost of care services delivered inside a licensed community. Eligibility, waitlists, and covered services vary — check directly with the state Medicaid agency.

What is assisted living?

Assisted living combines private or semi-private apartments with help on activities of daily living (meals, bathing, dressing, medication management) and a social calendar — for residents who need some support but do not need 24/7 medical care.

How many assisted living facilities are listed on this page?

This page features 4 assisted living facilities in Ithaca, NY. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right assisted living facility in Ithaca, NY?

Start by matching the level of care offered to the resident's current and anticipated needs, then compare licensing status, staff-to-resident ratios, recent inspection results, and pricing. Tour at least two or three communities in Ithaca, NY, talk to current residents and families, and confirm what is included in the base rate versus billed as add-on services.

What should I look for when visiting assisted living facilities in Ithaca, NY?

Pay attention to staff interactions with residents, cleanliness and odor, food quality at meal times, the activity calendar, and how questions about pricing and care plans are answered. Ask to see the most recent state inspection report, the move-out / level-of-care-change policy, and a sample monthly bill that lists every fee.