Short answer: Start with the town where your parent lives or where family will visit most. Each guide explains how to check New York license types, what to ask on tours, and how families usually pay. Cardinal does not list or rank communities here because licenses and openings change; we check them for you.
Assisted living by town
Pick the guide closest to where your parent lives or where family will visit:
- Assisted living in Buffalo
- Assisted living in Williamsville
- Assisted living in Cheektowaga
- Assisted living in Orchard Park
- Assisted living in Hamburg
- Assisted living in Tonawanda
- Assisted living in West Seneca
- Assisted living in Lancaster
- Assisted living in Clarence
- Assisted living in East Aurora
- Assisted living in Niagara Falls
- Assisted living in Lockport
- Assisted living in North Tonawanda
- Assisted living in Grand Island
- Assisted living in Lewiston
Memory care
- Memory care in Buffalo
- Memory care in Amherst & Williamsville
- Memory care in Williamsville
- Memory care in Cheektowaga
- Memory care in Orchard Park
- Memory care in Hamburg
- Memory care in Tonawanda & Kenmore
- Memory care in West Seneca
- Memory care in Lancaster
- Memory care in Clarence
- Memory care in Lockport
- Memory care in East Aurora
- Memory care in Niagara Falls
- Memory care in North Tonawanda
- Memory care in Grand Island
- Respite stays in assisted living
- When to consider memory care
- Assisted living vs nursing home vs memory care
How to use these guides
- Confirm the address and county (Erie vs Niagara) so you call the right aging and Medicaid offices.
- Learn the New York license types: ALR, EALR, SNALR and ALP.
- Look up facilities in the NY State adult care facility directory — we do not name individual communities here because status changes.
- Tour with a written list of care needs and budget questions.
- If staying home is still possible, compare with HOMEWARD by Cardinal.
Costs and paying
See the Buffalo Senior Care Cost Guide 2026 and cost of assisted living in Buffalo for published benchmarks. For Medicare vs Medicaid long-term care basics, see Medicare vs Medicaid for long-term care in NY.
Working with an advisor
Read how free senior living advisors get paid and how Cardinal is paid before you share details.
Cardinal helps you organize and compare; the provider evaluates care needs and admission. For care concerns in a licensed residence, contact the NY Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.