Cranston, Rhode Island, has an estimated population of 81,202 residents, and 16.6 percent are age 65 and older. There are approximately 23,000 people in the 65+ age group with Alzheimer’s disease living in Rhode Island. To accommodate Cranston residents with this disease or another type of dementia, there is one memory care facility in the city and 75 in surrounding areas, such as Warwick and Providence.
In the state of Rhode Island, including Cranston, assisted living residences (ALRs) are regulated by the Department of Health’s Offices of Residences Regulation. ALRs that have units dedicated to Alzheimer’s and dementia care are called Special Care Units (SCUs) and are subject to stringent requirements that encompass everything from staff training to fire safety and medication services.