Memory Care in Texas

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) licenses and regulates memory care facilities. In Texas, memory care facilities are considered a type of assisted living facility. Therefore, Texas memory care regulations are a part of existing assisted living regulations and laws. The state of Texas refers to assisted living facilities as ALFs and categorizes them into two main types:^[01]

• Type A ALFs provide care to seniors who don’t need routine overnight attendance and are able to follow directions in an emergency.
• Type B ALFs are for seniors who need nighttime attendance and staff assistance to evacuate during emergency situations. This type includes facilities with special care units, including memory care and skilled nursing.

All certified memory care facilities fall under the Type B ALF. The main difference between general assisted living and assisted living with memory care is that the latter must meet additional certification requirements to provide memory care.

Below, you’ll find an overview of Texas’ robust memory care regulations communities must follow to remain licensed and continue providing care to residents.^[02]

Memory care admission, assessment, and care plan requirements

• Within a resident’s initial two weeks after admission, facilities must perform an assessment of the resident’s behaviors, health conditions, communication abilities, dietary requirements, required medication, and ability to perform activities of daily living.
• Resident assessments must inform personalized care plans that accommodate residents’ needs, preferences, and strengths.
• Care plans must be reevaluated and adjusted on an annual basis or after serious conditional changes.

Memory care staffing and training requirements

• Memory care facilities providing care to more than 17 residents must have two caregiving staff members on-site at all times.
• Caregiving staff must undergo 4 hours of memory-care specific training before they can start any job-related duties or tasks.
• After initial training, caregiving staff must participate in 16 hours of additional supervised training. Supervising training includes responsibilities like assistance with activities of daily living, behavior management, emergency procedures, and more.
• Facility managers are required to complete 6 hours of continued memory care education while their caregiving staff is required to complete 12 hours on a yearly basis.

Memory care programming requirements

• Memory care facilities and units must have an activities program that encourages, not forces, socialization, self-expression, physical activity, and cognitive awareness among residents.
• Facilities must designate an activity director to lead activities and help ensure a healthy balance of group and individual activities to address residents’ varying cognitive, recreational, and activity of daily living needs.
• Activity directors must consider each resident’s medical history, limitations, and preferences to determine person-centered activities. They must also provide special equipment to residents who need it.

Texas Department of Health contact information

Texas Health and Human Services
4601 W. Guadalupe St.
Austin, TX 78751

Phone: 512-424-6500

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

How to find memory care facility inspection reports in Texas

After the initial licensure inspection, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission conducts unannounced inspections approximately every two years. To access a licensed community’s most inspection report, you can use the HHSC’s Long-term Care Provider Search and search for a community by name or location. You can also email RSLTCR.RecordsMgmt@hhsc.state.tx.us for more information about memory care inspection reports.