Memory Care in Nevada

Located in the heart of the Southwest, Nevada is nicknamed “The Silver State” for the silver rush that occurred during the mid 1800s which helped put the state on the map. Nevada is perhaps best known for its largest city, Las Vegas – a prime entertainment capital and the setting for countless books and movies. While the city’s popularity is undeniable and its tourism and casino industries play a massive part in the state’s economy, there’s much more to Nevada than gambling. The natural beauty of the state is awe-inspiring, ranging from snow-capped peaks to expansive deserts, and even Las Vegas itself, with its warm temperatures and Southwestern charm, can be a great place to retire and call home.

Currently, A Place for Mom partners with more than 45 senior living communities in Nevada that provide memory care.

Nevada memory care facilities are a specialized type of assisted living community that falls under the state’s Residential Facilities for Groups category. All Residential Facilities for Groups are licensed by Nevada’s Division of Public and Behavior Health’s Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance (HCQC), and those that provide memory care must apply for an endorsement to their license.

To uphold the best care practices for your senior loved one, each endorsed facility needs to follow each of the regulations outlined below.

Care and staff requirements

Care for seniors with dementia in an endorsed facility must include the following areas:^[01]

• Social activities
• Gross motor skills, such as standing and walking
• Outdoor activities
• Sensory enrichment activities, such as music and gardening

In addition, the staff members who provide care and facilitate these activities must meet several requirements:^[02]

• Staff must be at least 18 years old.
• They must complete at least eight hours of memory care training within the first three months of employment.
• All caregiving staff participate in at least eight hours of dementia-specific continued education per year.
• They must maintain a ratio of at least one caregiver for every six residents.
• Staff must coordinate schedules so that at least one staff member is awake and on duty at all times.

Room and building requirements

Your loved one may live in either a private or shared room in their memory care community. Each senior must have either at least 80 square feet in a private room or 60 square feet of their own space in a shared unit. If your senior family member moves into a shared unit, it may be helpful to know that they will only have one or two roommates.^[02]

In addition, memory care communities have to provide at least one toilet for every four residents and one tub or shower for every six residents.^[02] To keep all residents as safe as possible, your loved one’s community should also have alarms or time-delay locks on all exits. The community must also have a fenced-in yard with locked gates for the residents’ security and for your peace of mind.^[01]

Inspection reports

Before touring or moving your relative into a memory care community, you can check the community’s history of inspections. The Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance (HCQC) inspects all Residential Care Facilities once a year and when a complaint is filed, and these are available via Nevada’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Provider Search Form. Click on the Business Unit drop-down menu and select “Health Facilities,” click on the Credential Type drop-down menu and select “Residential Facility for Groups,” and then type in the name and address of the community you’re interested in.

Nevada Department of Health contact information

Nevada Department of Health and Human Services

4126 Technology Way, #100
Carson City, NV 89706

Phone: 775-684-4000