Berks County, with its seat in Reading, is located in Southeast Pennsylvania and has a population of 618,000, with 17 percent age 65 and older. This is the age group most at risk for Alzheimer's disease, which already impacts 280,000 Pennsylvanians. To serve seniors in Berks County with Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease and other dementias, there are four memory care centers located throughout the county.
In Berks County and throughout the state, assisted living residences are licensed by the Department of Aging, Office of Long Term Living, Division of Licensing. Memory care facilities, which are standalone properties or co-located with assisted living residences, are referred to as Specialized Care Units.