Glossary
Memory care
Memory care is assisted living designed for people living with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, in a secured setting with dementia-trained staff and a structured daily routine.
It may be a dedicated community or a wing inside a larger one. Doors are secured against wandering, layouts reduce confusion, and activities are built to engage rather than frustrate.
In California a memory care unit is still an RCFE, with additional requirements for dementia-care staff training and state approval before a community may use secured perimeters or delayed-egress doors.
Related terms
Assisted living
Assisted living is a licensed residential setting where older adults live in their own apartment or room and receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, meals and medications, without the medical supervision of a nursing home.
Secured perimeter
A secured perimeter is a memory care design in which exits are locked or alarmed so residents with dementia can move freely inside without wandering out.
Wandering
Wandering, or elopement when the person leaves the building, is the tendency of some people with dementia to walk off without awareness of danger, and it is the main safety reason families choose a secured memory care setting.
Sundowning
Sundowning is increased confusion, agitation or restlessness in the late afternoon and evening in people with dementia.
Definitions reviewed September 5, 2026. Rules vary by state and change over time; confirm specifics with the community and the licensing agency.