A memory care tour checklist is a short list of what to inspect, ask, and photograph before you sign anything—covering staffing, safety, fees, and warning signs. "Memory care" means a dedicated dementia unit (sometimes called a special care unit) that advertises added training, secured exits, and higher supervision than standard assisted living. Tour with your phone ready. Photograph posted staffing sheets, secured-exit hardware, and every line on the rate sheet, then verify the facility's complaint history before you commit.
Medical information disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a physician or other qualified health professional about symptoms, medications, tests, or treatment decisions.
Table of Contents
- Staffing: what to ask and photograph
- Safety: securing against wandering
- Fees: reading the rate sheet
- Red flags to verify before signing
- Your disclosure rights and where to get help
- Frequently Asked Questions
Staffing: what to ask and photograph
Staffing ratios for memory care are set by each state and vary sharply, so a number that sounds fine in one state may be minimal in another. Georgia, for example, requires one dementia-trained staff member per 12 residents while awake and 1:15 overnight, plus an on-site RN or LPN and two direct-care staff at all times, under Georgia's memory care code. Some states set no memory-care-specific ratio at all and default to general assisted-living minimums, per HelpingParentsAge's state licensing summary. Because ratios drop overnight and on weekends, ask to see posted staffing for the day, evening, and overnight shifts—then photograph each one.
A glossy daytime floor tells you little about 2 a.m. coverage. Ask specifically about dementia training: whether it is required, how many hours, when new hires must complete it, and what topics it covers. Training rules differ by state; some mandate initial training within months plus continuing education, while others require little, according to A Place for Mom's memory care checklist.
Safety: securing against wandering
Wandering is the safety issue that defines memory care. The Alzheimer's Association reports that 6 in 10 people living with dementia will wander at least once, which is why secured exits are not optional. Walk the perimeter and photograph the exit hardware.
Look for keypad or delayed-egress doors, motion sensors, secured windows, and enclosed courtyards where residents can walk safely outdoors. Ask how staff are alerted when a door opens and how quickly someone responds. Test the details a brochure hides. Ask what happens if a resident tries to leave during a shift change, how the unit handles a resident who "sundowns" (grows agitated in late afternoon), and whether the outdoor space is accessible without a staff escort.
Fees: reading the rate sheet
Memory care costs more than standard assisted living, and the gap is roughly $1,000 a month. National figures put a dedicated memory care unit near $6,160 per month in the 2025 Cost of Care Survey from Genworth/CareScout, with typical national medians in the $6,000–$8,000 range. The base rate is rarely the full price.
Rate sheets often layer a one-time community or entrance fee, commonly $1,000–$5,000, plus care-level surcharges of roughly $500–$2,000 a month as dementia advances, according to A Place for Mom. Photograph every line of the rate sheet, not just the headline monthly figure. Ask which care level the current quote assumes, what triggers a move to a higher level, and how much notice you get before a rate increase.
Red flags to verify before signing
Some warning signs only show up in the paperwork and public records, not on the tour. Check the facility's complaint and inspection history before you sign.
- Ask the state Long-Term Care Ombudsman about complaints. The Ombudsman investigates resident-rights, abuse, and neglect complaints but does not license facilities—the state licensing or health agency does.
- Confirm the licensure type. Most pure assisted-living memory care is not listed on Medicare's Care Compare; if the facility is a CMS-certified nursing home, read its deficiency reports there.
- Watch for immediate-jeopardy flags. On Medicare's Care Compare, deficiency ratings of J, K, or L signal immediate jeopardy to resident health and safety.
- Note evasive answers. Reluctance to show staffing sheets, disclose training hours, or itemize fees is itself a red flag worth recording.
Your disclosure rights and where to get help
Facilities that advertise dementia care are governed by state Alzheimer's disclosure laws. These laws—such as Illinois' Alzheimer's Special Care Disclosure Act—require a unit to disclose its specific staffing, training, and care philosophy, per HelpingParentsAge.
Ask for that written disclosure and keep a copy. To find your state's Long-Term Care Ombudsman and licensing agency, use the Eldercare Locator or call 1-800-677-1116. Contact both before you sign: the ombudsman for complaint patterns, the licensing agency for inspection results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I photograph during a memory care tour?
Posted staffing sheets for day, evening, and overnight shifts; secured-exit hardware and windows; and every line of the rate sheet, including one-time and care-level fees.
Does a good state rating mean the memory care unit is safe?
Not necessarily. Most pure assisted-living memory care isn't on Medicare's Care Compare, so check your state licensing agency and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman for its actual complaint and inspection history.
