Glossary

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.

It covers the second resident’s meals and services and is usually far less than a second full rent. Each person’s care is still assessed and billed separately.

Related terms

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.

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.

Definitions reviewed September 5, 2026. Rules vary by state and change over time; confirm specifics with the community and the licensing agency.