How Washington regulates memory care
Memory care is not a separate type of license. Since July 1, 2026, an assisted living facility that operates a memory care facility or memory care unit must hold a memory care certification from DSHS. A facility counts as memory care if it markets itself that way or restricts residents from leaving because of cognitive impairment.
Adult family homes can hold a dementia specialty, which you can filter for in the DSHS lookup.
Medicaid and specialized dementia care
DSHS runs a Specialized Dementia Care Program through contracts with a small number of assisted living facilities. It requires an irreversible dementia diagnosis, Medicaid eligibility and an assessment by a DSHS case manager.
What to check
- The facility's memory care certification, or the home's dementia specialty
- How staff are trained in dementia care, and how many are on duty at night
- How the setting keeps residents safe while allowing them to move freely
- How the home responds to distress, wandering or changes in behavior
- Whether a resident can stay as the dementia progresses
Common questions
Is memory care always in a locked unit?
Not always. Settings differ in how they manage safety. Ask what the doors, alarms and outdoor spaces are like, and how residents spend their day.