Assisted-Living Centers Get Much-Needed Virus Aid for First Time

Assisted-living facilities received a much-needed hand from the federal government Tuesday when for the first time some were given access to aid that was previously restricted largely to nursing homes.

The Department of Health and Human Services program set aside $15 billion for providers that participate in certain state programs like Medicaid and haven’t received any aid yet. That opens a window to some assisted-living facilities, which had been shut out of previous rounds since their residents don’t rely on the federal Medicare program, as many nursing homes do.

Also unlike nursing homes, assisted-living residents have individual living spaces. That’s been an asset in ...