Alzheimer's/Dementia/Memory Care
Alzheimer’s facilities in Arizona must have a supplemental license to provide Directed Care Services in order to serve people with Alzheimer’s disease who are not able to direct their care. This license requires policies that ensure the safety of residents who may wander, that control access and egress (exit seeking), and that provide appropriate training for their staff.
 
Arizona has several types of care facilities licensed to care for seniors afflicted with
Alzheimer’s/Dementia.
 
Free-standing cottage style care facilities are designed and built for Alzheimer’s care with anywhere from three to four cottages. Each cottage is designed identical to the others, with the reasoning that once the disease advances from needing moderate assistance to advanced assistance, or more complex care assistance, the senior’s move into one of the other cottages, where the lay-out is identical, will not add confusion and therefore trauma.

 
Many large Assisted Living facilities offer Alzheimer’s care within their building, often referred to as “Alzheimer’s/Dementia wing”, where seniors afflicted with Alzheimer’s can move directly from their Assisted Living apartment into the Alzheimer’s wing. This makes it comforting if a couple is occupying an apartment in the Assisted Living and one of them can no longer stay in the apartment, due to more complex Alzheimer’s/Dementia care needs. Visiting - by just walking down the hall-way can be consoling to the other mate.

 
 
Adult Forster Care Homes (up to 4 residents) and Assisted Living Homes (more than 4 residents) with a supplemental license to provide directed care services offer care to Alzheimer’s clients. Seniors with Dementia/Alzheimer’s who are more at ease in a family home style environment might do well in this type of facility.  Only the family will know which setting might be best for their family member.