-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Srr6SC2M3cvz5WUKjdIrSouMUfCDBXSq0fe/a5f2tRHBaHay7+cGRYCBtmy3uFfv
 zCoC57w7fcZGyiUXLRiIew==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001102946-04-000007.txt : 20040803
<SEC-HEADER>0001102946-04-000007.hdr.sgml : 20040803
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040803170806
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001102946-04-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040802
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040803

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MACKENZIE PATTERSON FULLER INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001102946
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13498
		FILM NUMBER:		04949208

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1640 SCHOOL STREET
		CITY:			MORAGA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94556
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9256319100

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MACKENZIE PATTERSON INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000111

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ASSISTED LIVING CONCEPTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000929994
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-NURSING & PERSONAL CARE FACILITIES [8050]
		IRS NUMBER:				931148702
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1349 EMPIRE CENTRAL
		STREET 2:		SUITE 900
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75247
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2144244000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1349 EMPIRE CENTRAL
		STREET 2:		SUITE 900
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75247
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000929994</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ASSISTED LIVING CONCEPTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>aslc</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001102946</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MACKENZIE PATTERSON FULLER INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>665093</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>securities owned by affiliated funds managed by reporting person</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Chip Patterson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----