Memory care: disclosure, certification, or neither?
New York does not have a stand-alone "memory care license." It has the Special Needs Assisted Living Residence (SNALR) certification, layered onto an existing Assisted Living Residence (ALR) license under the same rule chapter, 10 NYCRR Part 1001, that also governs ALR and Enhanced Assisted Living Residence (EALR) certification.
A SNALR must serve residents with dementia or other cognitive impairment according to an Individualized Service Plan built for that resident. That is a real, state-verified certification, not just a marketing label -- and it is worth confirming, because "memory care" as a phrase on a brochure or website is not itself regulated.
Source: NYSDOH Adult Care Facilities program
What SNALR certification requires
- The community must already hold Assisted Living Residence (ALR) licensure -- SNALR is layered on top, not freestanding.
- Care must be organized around an Individualized Service Plan (ISP) for each resident with dementia or cognitive impairment.
- Governed by the same rule chapter as ALR/EALR, 10 NYCRR Part 1001.
What to ask for on a tour, by name
Ask directly whether the community holds SNALR certification -- not whether it "offers memory care" or has a "memory care neighborhood," phrases that describe a marketing approach, not a regulatory status. Then confirm the answer independently through NYS Health Profiles rather than relying on what the tour guide tells you.
