Glossary
Base rent
Base rent is the monthly charge for the room, meals and standard services in a senior living community, before any care fees are added.
A quoted “starting price” is usually base rent for the smallest or shared room. Care-level fees, medication management and a second-person fee are added on top.
Related terms
Starting price
A starting price is the lowest monthly rate a community quotes, usually a shared or studio room at the lightest level of care, before care fees.
Level of care
Level of care is a community’s rating of how much personal assistance a resident needs, used to set the monthly care fee on top of base rent.
Community fee
A community fee is a one-time, usually non-refundable charge paid at move-in to an assisted living or memory care community, often equal to a portion of one month’s rent.
Second-person fee
A second-person fee is the added monthly charge when two people, usually a couple, share one apartment in a senior living community.
Definitions reviewed September 5, 2026. Rules vary by state and change over time; confirm specifics with the community and the licensing agency.