In Alabama, there are an estimated 92,000 seniors who've been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease or other forms of dementia and therefore, the need for memory care facilities in most cities, including Montgomery, is great. In Montgomery, a city of nearly 200,000 residents, 13.4 percent of the population is 65 or older, a time of time of life where dementia begins. For those who require specialized care for cognitive impairments, there are a total of eight memory care facilities in the city.
These facilities, which are officially known as specialty care assisted living facilities, are regulated closely by the Alabama Department of Public Health. Regulations stipulate that all specialty care assisted living facilities must have a secure perimeter to accommodate residents who may wander and must be equipped with electronic locks on all doors.