Howard County sits between Baltimore and Washington, with Columbia and Ellicott City holding most of its population. Its licensed assisted living is split between a large number of 5-to-8 bed homes in residential neighborhoods and a smaller set of 50-plus bed communities.
How many licensed assisted living programs are in Howard County, MD?
OHCQ lists 99 assisted living programs in Howard County with 2,028 licensed beds; 12 report memory-care capacity and 25 told MHCC they take the Medicaid Community Options Waiver.
Size mix: 2 programs with 1-4 beds, 73 with 5-9, 9 with 10-49 and 15 with 50 or more. The county also has 6 licensed nursing homes, 8 adult medical day care centers and 169 licensed residential service agencies (in-home care).
| Area | Assisted living | Beds | With memory care | Nursing homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | 36 | 849 | 8 | 2 |
| Ellicott City | 30 | 690 | 2 | 3 |
| Elkridge | 6 | 88 | 0 | 1 |
| North Laurel (Howard County) | 7 | 68 | 0 | 0 |
| Clarksville, Fulton, Dayton and West Friendship | 18 | 259 | 2 | 0 |
Programs elsewhere in Howard County
These 2 programs are in towns without their own page.
| Program | Address | City | Beds | Level of care | Memory care | Medicaid waiver | MHCC rate | License # (status) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Meadows Assisted Living | 10210 Guilford Road | Jessup | 66 | Level 3 | — | — | Not reported | AL-00928 (active) |
| New Life Assisted Living IV | 7924 Savage Guilford Road | Jessup | 8 | Level 3 | — | — | Not reported | 13AL0269-C (active) |
Source: Maryland Department of Health, Office of Health Care Quality, assisted living licensee directory, data as of October 2, 2026; Maryland Health Care Commission consumer guide (rates, waiver, secure unit). "Active" means listed on OHCQ's current directory; OHCQ does not publish license expiration dates or assisted living survey results in bulk.
What are the CMS ratings of nursing homes in Howard County?
Howard County's 6 nursing homes average 3.5 stars on the CMS overall rating; 2 hold five stars and 0 hold one star.
| Nursing home | City | Licensed beds (OHCQ) | CMS overall rating | CMS health inspection | Last standard survey | Deficiencies cited | OHCQ license # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellicott City Healthcare Center | Ellicott City | 182 | ★★☆☆☆ 2/5 | ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 | February 19, 2026 | 44 | 13008 |
| Encore At Turf Valley | Ellicott City | 91 | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | May 14, 2025 | 9 | 13-010 |
| Lorien Health Systems - Columbia | Columbia | 205 | ★★☆☆☆ 2/5 | ★★☆☆☆ 2/5 | January 14, 2026 | 19 | 13005 |
| Lorien Nursing & Rehab Ctr - Elkridge | Elkridge | 70 | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | February 12, 2026 | 13 | 13011 |
| Residences At Vantage Point | Columbia | 44 | ★★★★★ 5/5 | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | March 19, 2026 | 9 | 13009 |
| The Lutheran Village At Miller's Grant | Ellicott City | 16 | ★★★★★ 5/5 | ★★★★★ 5/5 | June 26, 2026 | 3 | 13012 |
Source: OHCQ long-term care licensee directory, data as of September 30, 2026; star ratings, surveys and fines are the official CMS Care Compare figures (CMS data release October 1, 2026).
Which agency helps older adults in Howard County?
Howard County Office on Aging and Independence (Maryland Access Point of Howard County) is the Area Agency on Aging and Maryland Access Point for Howard County: 410-313-1234.
Ask about the Senior Assisted Living Subsidy, which the local office administers, and about getting on the Community Options Waiver registry. Adult Protective Services reports go to 1-800-91-PREVENT (1-800-917-7383).
Is assisted living in Howard County different from a nursing home?
Yes: a different license, a different payer mix and a different care ceiling.
| Assisted living in Howard County | Nursing homes in Howard County |
|---|---|
| 99 OHCQ-licensed programs (COMAR 10.07.14) | 6 licensed long-term care facilities, CMS-certified |
| Levels 1-3; intermittent nursing only | 24-hour licensed nursing and rehab |
| No federal star rating | CMS Care Compare star ratings |
| Medicaid only through waivers/subsidy | Medicaid long-term care entitlement |
