Memory Care in Texas

Admission and disclosure

Before admission, staff must explain the HHSC Alzheimer's Assisted Living Disclosure Statement form to the family and hand it over. Non-certified facilities that market memory care use a separate Memory Care Disclosure Statement form (§553.3). A pre-admission screening is required. The assessment and service plan must be done within 14 days of admission and updated at least annually.⁵

Memory care staff education and training requirements

In certified memory care

All staff: 4 h of dementia-specific orientation before duties. Attendants: 16 h of on-the-job dementia training within the first 16 h worked, then 12 h of annual in-service on dementia topics. Manager: 6 h of dementia CE yearly within the 12 h of required CE.

In other facilities with residents who have dementia

Staff: 4 h of competency-based dementia training plus 2 h of yearly CE. Manager: 4 h plus 2 h yearly.

From the state rules.⁶⁷

Staffing

Staffing must be sufficient for residents' needs. In units with 17 or more residents, at least 2 staff must be immediately available at all times. Otherwise 1 awake attendant at night where residents need it.⁸

Secured units and exits

Locked doors are allowed only with electronic/electromagnetic locks that release on fire alarm, sprinkler flow, power failure and a manual switch. A secured outdoor area of at least 800 sq ft is required. Each unit needs at least two remote exits.⁹

HHSC contact information

Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), Long-Term Care Regulation
512-438-2630 (licensing & certification); 512-438-3161 (policy & rules)⁴

How to look up the latest inspection and complaint reports

HHSC Long-Term Care Regulation (Regulatory Services) inspects licensed facilities. At least once every 2 years after the initial licence inspection, plus complaint investigations. Inspections are generally unannounced.³

You can look up any facility’s license status and inspection history in the state’s public search.¹⁰

Open the Texas facility search

To report a problem in a licensed facility, call 1-800-458-9858 (option 1), file a complaint online or email ciicomplaints@hhs.texas.gov.¹¹

Why do licensure and inspection reports matter to families?

A license tells you a community met the state’s minimum rules when it was checked. Inspection and complaint reports show what happened after that: which rules were broken, how serious it was, and whether the problem was fixed. Read the last two or three reports before you tour, then ask the community about anything that worries you.

How to read an inspection report