Independent Living in Montana

Montana, or “Big Sky Country” as it’s often called, is an ideal retirement destination for seniors looking for a relatively quiet lifestyle paired with truly breathtaking scenery and plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities. Eastern Montana is part of the Great Plains and has a distinctive mixed landscape of vast prairies, buttes, and bluffs, which is also captured by the area known as the “Missouri Breaks” in the north central part of the state. However, it’s western Montana — with several subranges of the Rocky Mountains — that draws most of the state’s tourists. Its two national parks, Glacier in the northwest and Yellowstone in the southwest, feature some of the country’s best opportunities for sightseeing and hiking. Montana is also home to charming, quaint cities like Missoula, home of the University of Montana, and Bozeman, a top destination for fans of skiing and outdoor recreation.

Currently, A Place for Mom partners with more than 10 independent living communities in Montana.

Independent living communities in Montana don’t have specific licensing requirements and are not regulated by the state like senior care facilities. However, residents of independent living communities are afforded certain rights which are illustrated in the Montana Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.

Montana independent living communities can be stand-alone facilities, but many may also share a campus with a senior care facility like assisted living or memory care communities. These communities offer a higher level of care than independent living but are subject to state licensing and regulatory oversight.

Communities that don’t share a campus with other senior living facilities are referred to as stand-alone. They often look similar to a multi-unit dwelling, like an apartment building. And much like an apartment building, residents of independent living communities typically rent or lease their living space.

Montana’s landlord-tenant laws offers protections for tenants and consigns landlords to certain responsibilities including the following:^[01]

• Landlord must do whatever is necessary to keep the property safe and habitable.
• Landlord must ensure there is running water at all times and hot water between October first and May first.
• Each unit must have working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.

Cities, towns, and counties in Montana may have housing codes that provide additional protections for residents of rental properties.

Independent living communities in Montana are allowed to set a minimum age requirement for residents which is typically 55+ or 62+. Admission information can usually be found on an individual facility’s website.

Protections against discrimination

The state of Montana and the federal government protect renters from housing discrimination. It is illegal for property owners to refuse to rent to someone based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or family status.^[01]

Montana Department of Health and Human Services contact information

Montana Department of Health and Human Services
111 North Sanders
Helena, Montana 59601
Phone: 404-444-5622