Pharr, part of the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metropolitan area, is located deep in the south of Texas. This is a state with over 380,000 diagnosed Alzheimer's and dementia patients, many of whom reside in specialized memory care facilities. Pharr's population is just under 80,000, 12 percent of whom are seniors 65 and over, a portion of whom may need to transition into one of the city's memory care facilities. Some of these facilities are independent, dedicated dementia care homes while others are part of a larger assisted living campus, separate and secured.
These facilities are regulated by the Department of Health and Human Services and licensed according to specific state regulations, including specialized staff training. Alzheimer's and dementia care facilities are considered Type B nursing care in Texas, a legal designation for residents who require overnight supervision, care from certified staff and assistance in an emergency.