Boise Senior AdvisorGem County lies northwest of Boise in the Payette River valley, with Emmett as its seat; about 21,773 people lived there on July 1, 2025.
25.1% of residents are 65 or older, with a median age of 45.0, well above Ada and Canyon. All of its licensed senior care, three assisted living buildings and two nursing homes, is in Emmett, and Valor Health is the county hospital.
How many seniors and licensed care options does Gem County, Idaho have?
Gem County had about 5,462 residents aged 65 and older (25.1% of 21,773), including 551 aged 85 and older, on July 1, 2025, and IDHW lists 3 senior-serving RALFs while CMS lists 2 certified nursing homes there.
| Found in Gem County | Not found in Gem County | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed or certified with a local address | Senior assisted living (RALFs): 3, Nursing homes: 2 | — |
| No local listing on file | — | Home health offices, Hospice offices |
| Secured memory care beds | 50 beds in 2 buildings | — |
Population: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 county population estimates by age (July 1, 2025).
Which facilities are licensed in Gem County?
Every senior-serving RALF and certified nursing home in Gem County appears below, from IDHW's search (retrieved November 6, 2026) and CMS Care Compare.
| Facility | Type | Licensed beds | Secured (memory care) beds | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Valley Residence 715 North Butte Avenue, 83617 | RALF | 46 | 0 | Emmett |
| Cottages Senior Living I LLC dba The Cottages of Emmett 411 East 12th Street, 83617 | RALF | 32 | 32 | Emmett |
| Meadow View Assisted Living and Memory Care 1013 S. Johns Ave., 83617 | RALF | 88 | 18 | Emmett |
| Cherry Ridge of Cascadia 501 West Idaho Boulevard, 83617 | Nursing home | 40 | 0 | Emmett |
| River's Edge Rehabilitation & Living Center 714 North Butte Avenue, 83617 | Nursing home | 74 | 0 | Emmett |
Who helps seniors and caregivers in Gem County, Idaho?
Gem County is part of Area 3, served by the Southwest Idaho Area Agency on Aging ((208) 898-7060, toll-free (844) 850-2883), which covers Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley and Washington counties and runs Adult Protective Services and the long-term care ombudsman for the region.
Assisted living complaints go to IDHW's RALF program at (208) 364-1962; Medicaid applications go through IDHW at (877) 456-1233. The Idaho Commission on Aging's state office is in Boise at 6305 W. Overland Rd., Ste. 110, Boise, ID 83709.
How far is Emmett from a hospital and from downtown Boise?
From Emmett, the county seat, the nearest acute-care hospital is Valor Health, about 4.5 miles away in a straight line, and downtown Boise is about 26 miles away.
Next come West Valley Medical Center (about 21 miles) and St. Luke's Nampa Medical Center (about 23 miles). These are approximate straight-line distances, not driving routes.
