Stanislaus County is a largely rural farm county in California's central San Joaquin Valley. Home to 548,000 people, almost 13 percent of Stanislaus County's residents are seniors age 65 and over, many of whom are living with Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease or another form of dementia.
For those seniors whose condition requires full-time supervision and care, the county has eight memory care facilities to provide room and board, help following a doctor's treatment plan and assist with activities of daily living. These activities include meal service and personal care, and are usually looked after by trained staff. Staff training, health and safety standards and quality of care issues are regulated by the California Department of Social Services Adult Care Licensing program, which inspects facilities around the state.