Kansas City straddles two states, and senior-care rules, Medicaid programs, and agencies differ on each side of the line. This hub gathers the official resources for both the Missouri and Kansas sides of the metro so families know exactly which regulator, program, and phone number applies to them.
State regulators & license lookup
On the Missouri side, senior-care facilities are licensed and inspected by the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS), Division of Regulation & Licensure — residential care and assisted living fall under RSMo Chapter 198. Look up any Missouri provider's license, inspections, and complaints at health.mo.gov/safety/assisted/.
On the Kansas side, facilities hold an Adult Care Home license from the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) under K.A.R. 26-39. Look up a Kansas provider at kdads.ks.gov/find-a-provider/. We only refer families to communities with an active license and no open disciplinary action.
Medicaid long-term care: MO HealthNet MLTC vs. KanCare
Which program pays depends on which state the senior lives in. On the Missouri side it's MO HealthNet MLTC (Missouri's HCBS Aged & Disabled waiver); on the Kansas side it's KanCare (the HCBS Frail Elderly waiver). Neither pays for room and board directly, but both cover personal care, attendant care, and community-based services that offset much of the care portion of the bill. Eligibility is income- and asset-based, and because Medicaid follows the resident's state of residence, a cross-line move can change which program applies.
Area Agencies on Aging
- Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Area Agency on Aging — (816) 474-4240. Serves the Missouri side (Jackson, Clay, Platte, Cass, and Ray counties): free counseling on long-term care options, benefits screening, and caregiver support.
- Johnson County Area Agency on Aging — (913) 715-8861. Serves the Kansas side with the same kind of free guidance and referrals.
Veterans resources
Wartime veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for the VA Aid & Attendance pension, which adds a monthly benefit toward senior-care costs. Two VA medical centers serve the metro: VA Kansas City (4801 Linwood Blvd, Kansas City, MO) and the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center in Leavenworth, KS. For family caregivers, the VA Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274. Bring the veteran's DD-214 when you apply.
Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Both states run a free, confidential Long-Term Care Ombudsman program that advocates for residents of nursing homes and assisted living and helps resolve complaints about care, rights, or conditions — the Missouri Ombudsman on the Missouri side and the Kansas Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman on the Kansas side.