Memory Care in Maryland

The state of Maryland falls in the middle of the country’s Northeast, Southern, and Midwestern regions, and its culture combines elements of them all. This is part of why Maryland earned the nickname “America in Miniature.” With the Appalachian Mountains passing through the far western part of the state, and the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic coastlines in the east, Maryland’s geographical features give residents plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities — even in a small state. Annapolis and Baltimore are also home to many historic Colonial sites, and Washington, D.C. sits on Maryland’s southern border. Maryland is a transition state in several ways, which helps make it an attractive retirement destination.

Currently, A Place for Mom partners with more than 315 senior living communities in Maryland that provide memory care.

The median monthly cost of memory care in Maryland is about $5,800.

The Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ) is the agency within Maryland’s Department of Health (MDH) that monitors memory care in Maryland. Specifically, it regulates assisted living programs that provide memory care to seniors with dementia.

Assisted living facilities don’t need a specific license to offer memory care services, but they must contact the OHCQ before doing so. Additionally, the facility must send the MDH a written description of the memory care unit using the Department-approved Assisted Living Disclosure form when obtaining a license or upon license renewal. This description must contain the following:^[01]

• A written statement of the memory care unit’s overall philosophy and mission, which reflects the needs of residents with dementia
• The process and criteria for placement, transfer, or discharge from the unit
• The process the facility uses to assess potential residents and establishing a plan of care for them, as well as implementation (this includes how the plan will adapt to potential changes in the resident’s condition)
• The physical environment and design features the facility houses to support cognitively impaired residents
• Staffing patterns, such as the ratio of direct care staff to residents for a 24-hour cycle, compared to other programs
• Staff job titles
• The different types of resident activities and their frequency
• The involvement of families and family support programs
• The cost of care and any additional fees
• Any other information the Department may require

The facility’s assisted living manager is required to have completed a minimum of eight hours of training by a nationally recognized Alzheimer’s and dementia care resource or association. They are also responsible for designing a mandatory memory care program for all employees to undertake. This includes:^[01]

• A minimum of five hours of training on cognitive impairment and mental illness within 90 days of employment
• At least two hours of annual training for those providing personal care through class instruction, in-service training, internet courses, correspondence courses, pre-recorded training, or other methods

The law requires the facility to disclose the mentioned description to anyone who requests it. A resident’s family or their representative will also receive it before admission to the memory care unit.

Maryland Department of Health contact information

Maryland Department of Health
201 W. Preston Street
Baltimore, MD 21201-2399
Phone: 410-767-6500 or 1-877-463-3464

Maryland memory care inspection reports

The Maryland State Office of Health Care (OHCQ) conducts various surveys under state or federal authority to ensure facilities follow established regulations. If the department determines the facility has not demonstrated compliance with its regulations or satisfied the criteria to provide memory care, it restricts admission or closes the program entirely.

One such survey is an unannounced health and fire safety inspection report every one to two years of facilities with 10 or more beds. However, inspections can occur sooner if the state receives a complaint. The law requires the latest inspection results to be displayed publicly in the facility, though they are also available online for any facility with more than 10 beds at the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC) website.^[02] You can search by name or zip code to look up an assisted living community.

The MHCC also annually collects mandatory influenza vaccination policies from assisted living facilities, as well as the influenza vaccination rates of assisted living staff. Additional information on communities includes:

• An overview of the facility, including ownership data and daily room rates
• Clarification of the level of care provided
• Affiliation with hospice or palliative care providers
• Total number of beds available
• Demographic information on residents
• Available services
• Whether the facility participates in Medicaid Waiver programs

The OHCQ can be contacted via email at AL.HELP@maryland.gov or by calling 410-402-8217 for copies of individual surveys. For information regarding complaints at a particular facility, those interested can call the mentioned phone number or email OHCQ.web@maryland.gov. A community’s violation history can also be found by contacting the Maryland Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.