Memory Care: Disclosure, Certification, or Neither?

New York does not require every program marketed as "memory care" to hold a specific state certification. Here's exactly what does and doesn't require one.

A standard Assisted Living Residence (ALR) or Adult Home may continue serving a resident with mild-to-moderate dementia under an ordinary Individualized Service Plan — no special certification required. Special Needs Assisted Living Residence (SNALR) certification, under 10 NYCRR §1001.5(j), is required only when a facility designates fixed, non-floating beds specifically for residents whose needs exceed standard ALR licensure.

Getting SNALR certification requires the operator to submit a written special-needs plan to the Department of Health for approval, covering: the specific services to be delivered, staffing levels and ratios, staff training requirements, and any physical/environmental modifications for the unit.

What to ask on a tour

• Does this specific unit hold SNALR certification, or is memory care provided under the general ALR license?
• Can I see the approved special-needs plan, if one exists?
• What specific dementia-care training do direct-care staff receive, and how often?
• What is the overnight staffing ratio in the memory care unit specifically?

Neither approach — SNALR-certified or standard ALR — is automatically better in every case, but they are meaningfully different, and it's worth knowing which one applies before you tour.