Ask directly whether the community holds the 'assisted living facility with dementia care' license, which is legally required for any secured dementia unit and mandates dementia-specific staff training under Minn. Stat. 144G.83. A base assisted living license without this designation is not licensed to operate a secured wandering-prevention unit.
How families here handle this
Wandering is one of the most safety-critical behaviors families face with dementia, and it's specifically why Minnesota requires a distinct license category rather than letting any assisted living building install door alarms and call itself equipped for memory care. Beyond the license question, families touring Twin Cities communities should ask concrete follow-up questions: how is the unit secured, what's the staff-to-resident ratio during overnight hours when wandering incidents often occur, and what is the facility's specific protocol if a resident is found near an exit. The mandatory written disclosure required under Minn. Stat. 325F.72 should also cover the physical environment and security features of the secured unit — ask to see that document before touring is complete, not after a decision has effectively already been made.
Related questions
- My parent has been diagnosed with dementia — where do I start in the Twin Cities?
- I'm burning out as a caregiver for my spouse or parent — what help is available in the Twin Cities?
- My parent's money is running out — what are our options in Minnesota?
- My spouse needs more care than I can provide at home — how do I protect our finances?
- My parent fell and can no longer live alone — what should we do first?