Residential care facilities would need staff training to use “memory care”

Community-based residential facilities would need to meet service and training requirements to use “memory care” in their names, advertising, or communications. Covered workers would include those managing the facility or supervising residents, handling their medicines, providing personal care or treatments, or planning or running resident training or activities. Facilities would have to serve people with dementia that cannot be reversed, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Administrators and resident care staff would need initial and yearly training covering dementia basics, care tailored to each person, communication, ways to manage behavior without medication, and support for independence. Previously completed training could count toward the initial requirement. The staff requirement would exclude volunteers, off-site employees, and employees working exclusively in food service, maintenance, laundry, housekeeping, transportation, security, or clerical work. The labeling requirements would begin July 1, 2027. Facilities already providing memory care would need to comply by that date to keep using the label.