What is an Alzheimer's special care unit disclosure?
A required Connecticut document that memory care facilities must provide to prospective residents and families detailing their dementia-specific care staff, therapeutic programming, and physical environment features.
Connecticut law requires assisted living facilities and residential care homes offering specialized dementia care to provide a written disclosure describing their Alzheimer's and dementia special care unit. This document outlines the facility's approach to caring for residents with cognitive decline, including staffing qualifications, training, and supervision levels specific to memory care.
The disclosure covers three core areas:
- Staff credentials and ongoing education in dementia care, including requirements for supervisory personnel and direct care workers
- Therapeutic activities and programming designed for memory loss, such as cognitive stimulation, reality orientation, and social engagement tailored to residents' abilities
- Physical design features that support safety and independence, such as secured outdoor spaces, wayfinding systems, adapted bathrooms, and non-institutional layouts
Families use this disclosure to understand how a facility meets the specific needs of people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. It serves as a transparency measure and helps consumers compare specialized care approaches across memory care providers in Greater New Haven. The disclosure is required before admission and must be truthful and current, reflecting the facility's actual staffing and programming at the time of review.