Every brochure promises “specialized” dementia care, but Illinois law gives families concrete ways to check whether a community delivers it. The state’s Alzheimer’s Special Care Disclosure Act grew out of concern about false claims of specialized care, and it requires communities that offer a dementia program to put their approach in writing. 

Before choosing memory care in Illinois, it helps to know how communities are licensed, what they must disclose, and which questions turn marketing language into verifiable answers. For a broader picture of the options, start with the basics of memory care.

How Memory Care Is Licensed in Illinois

“Memory care” is not a separate license type in Illinois. Most communities operate as assisted living or shared housing establishments licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, and others are nursing homes, which have their own rules. 

The memory care wing or program sits inside one of those licenses, so the first question to ask is which license covers the unit your loved one would live in.

You also do not have to take a community’s word for it. IDPH publishes a public facility lookup of licensed assisted living and shared housing establishments. You can search by name or city to confirm that a community’s license is current before you tour.

What the Disclosure Act Requires

Under the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Special Care Disclosure Act, a facility that offers to provide care through an Alzheimer’s special care unit or center must give a written disclosure to the state licensing agency and to any potential or actual client, or that person’s representative. According to Section 15 of the Act, the disclosure must cover:

• The form of care and the philosophy that make the community suitable for people with dementia
• Pre-admission, admission, and discharge procedures
• Assessment, care planning, and implementation guidelines
• Minimum and maximum staffing ratios for both licensed and trainee staff
• The physical environment and available activities
• The role of family members in care
• The costs of care and treatment

The Act also directs the state to review the disclosure for accuracy as part of license renewal, which means the document is more than a sales piece. It is a statement the community has put on the record.

Reading the Disclosure Document

Ask for the written disclosure before you tour, and compare two or three communities side by side. Look closely at staffing ratios, and ask whether they differ between day and night shifts. Check the discharge triggers, which describe what level of need would require a move, because that tells you how long your loved one could realistically stay as their condition changes.

Compare what the base cost includes and what is extra, and read what role the community expects your family to play. Differences in these answers often reveal more than the lobby or the dining room does. To sort out the terminology you will encounter, read about the difference between memory care and dementia care.

What the Disclosure Act Does Not Do

The Act is a transparency law. It requires communities to describe their program, their staffing ratios, and their costs, but it does not rate quality, guarantee outcomes, or promise that every community will deliver what it describes. 

A disclosure is a statement of what the community says it does, which is why it works best as a starting point for questions, followed by tours, conversations with staff, and a look at the public record.

Extra Rules for Assisted Living Memory Care

Assisted living communities that offer a memory care program face additional requirements. Section 150 of the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act says no one may be admitted or retained if the establishment cannot provide or secure appropriate care, or does not have staff with the right numbers and skills to provide it. 

A program that offers a special unit for Alzheimer’s disease must also ensure a resident’s representative is designated, provide an appropriate number of staff, require ongoing dementia and cognitive training, and develop emergency procedures.

Assessments matter, too. Residents must be assessed before they are accepted, annually, and when their condition changes. IDPH rules also add a training floor: staff must receive at least four hours of dementia-specific orientation before they work without direct supervision in the program.

Memory Care Units in Nursing Homes

Some families will also encounter dementia units inside licensed nursing homes. Those facilities follow a parallel rule in IDPH’s nursing home code, 77 Ill. Adm. Code 300.163, which calls for the same categories of information, from care philosophy and admission procedures to staffing ratios and costs, to be provided in writing to a potential or actual client on request. 

The setting and the level of medical care differ from those of assisted living. Still, the principle is the same: if a community presents itself as specialized, ask it to document how it is specialized.

Questions to Ask on a Tour

Bring these to every community you visit:

• May I have your written Alzheimer’s disclosure?
• What are your staffing ratios, including overnight?
• Which license covers the memory care unit, and may I see its inspection history?
• How are residents assessed before admission, and how often afterward?
• What happens if my loved one’s needs change, and what triggers a discharge?
• What does the base price include, and what costs extra?
• How is your staff trained in dementia care?

Check the Record Before You Decide

A tour shows you the best day of the week. The record shows you more. Verify the license through IDPH, and ask the community for its inspection and complaint history. It also helps to know about the Illinois Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, a free resident advocacy service run by the Illinois Department on Aging.

Red Flags

Be cautious if a community cannot produce a written disclosure, gives vague answers about staffing, cannot say which license applies to the memory care unit, or makes marketing claims that do not match what is in writing. 

Any one of these deserves a follow-up question, and several together are reason to keep looking. For more on the broader decision, read what families should know before choosing memory care.

Where an Advisor Fits

Collecting disclosures, comparing ratios, and scheduling tours can feel like a second job while you are also caring for a parent or spouse. A local senior living advisor can help gather the documents, compare communities against your priorities, and join you on tours so nothing gets missed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is memory care licensed separately in Illinois?

No. Communities are licensed as assisted living, shared housing, or nursing homes, and a memory care program must meet the disclosure requirements.

Can I ask for the disclosure before touring?

Yes. The Act covers potential clients and their representatives, so you can request it in writing before you visit.

Does the law set a specific staffing ratio?

The Disclosure Act requires communities to state their minimum and maximum ratios, so you can compare them, while assisted living rules separately require an appropriate number of staff. Ask how ratios change by shift.

Is the disclosure the same as the residency agreement?

No. The disclosure describes the program, while the residency agreement is the contract, so compare the two and ask about any differences.

Where do I report a concern?

Start with IDPH, or contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program through the Senior HelpLine.

Looking for Memory Care in Illinois? Let’s Verify the Details Together

Our advisors at Senior Living Experts will help you request disclosures, compare communities, and tour with you, all at no cost to your family. Schedule your free consultation or call us at 773-231-7212 and get your loved one the care they deserve.