Memory Care in West Virginia

West Virginia has earned its nickname of “The Mountain State” by being the only state located entirely within the Appalachian Mountain Range. The state is considered to be one of the most scenic in the country, with its rolling hills and stunning mountain views, and has the highest average elevation east of the Mississippi River. Aside from its natural beauty, West Virginia has a number of unique cities, such as West Virginia University’s home of Morgantown, and the state capital of Charleston. Between its natural beauty and quaint charm, as well as its convenient proximity to other major cities in the Midwest, the South, and the Mid-Atlantic, West Virginia has something to offer everyone and is an ideal place to retire.

When it comes to finding care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, West Virginia has many great options. Currently, A Place for Mom partners with more than 10 senior living communities in West Virginia that provide memory care.

The median monthly cost of memory care in West Virginia is about $4,700.

The state licenses assisted living facilities in West Virginia to provide memory care to those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Because of this, memory care units are considered a type of assisted living facility, which the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Service’s (DHHR) Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification licenses and regulates.

To offer memory care services, a facility must obtain an Alzheimer’s/dementia Special Care Units and Programs license from the secretary of the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification. Assisted living facilities that don’t market themselves as offering memory care can serve residents with early dementia symptoms, but can’t continue to if symptoms progress beyond the early stages.

To obtain the memory care license, a facility must send an application to the secretary before annually renewing their assisted living license. This application involves a disclosure form, as well as architectural plans (if any) for an Alzheimer’s/dementia care unit. The state fire marshal must approve any new facility additions and/or renovations. The disclosure form needs to include:^[01]

• A written policy explaining pre-admission screening, admission, transfer, and discharge procedures
• How the facility will tailor care plans to each resident
• Specifics concerning staff training for those providing direct care to dementia patients
• What actions to take if staff observe changes in a resident’s condition
• How the physical environment will accommodate those with dementia
• How the facility will implement program evaluations and determine their effectiveness

Before admission, the facility will provide the disclosure to any prospective residents and/or their legal representative for them to sign. A resident’s physician will also submit written documentation of the dementia diagnosis.

Memory care staff education and training requirements

Staff don’t need to have dementia-specific training before being hired, but must receive it within 15 days of employment. The training must be at least two hours long and include specific topics, such as dementia treatment, caregiver burnout, abuse prevention, and communication. Staff must undergo eight hours of continued education annually regarding Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia treatments.^[02]

Though there isn’t a specific staff-to-patient ratio required, at least two direct care staff must be present for units with more than five residents. The state also requires staff to offer at least two hours and fifteen minutes of direct care to each resident every day. Memory care units must have an administrator, direct care staff, and a program coordinator to help manage care plans and things like group activities.

West Virginia Department of Health contact information

West Virginia Department of Health
Office of the Secretary
One Davis Square, Suite 100 East
Charleston, West Virginia 25301

Phone: (304) 558-0684
Fax: (304) 558-1130
Email: DHSecretary@wv.gov

How to look up the latest inspection and complaint reports

The Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification conducts unannounced licensure surveys approximately three months before a facility’s current license expires. The survey consists of a team of registered nurses, social workers, and life safety/environmental inspectors evaluating a facility’s ability to provide safe care to residents. This occurs with a health investigation and a life safety inspection. The former interviews residents and employees to confirm there are no deficiencies in resident care. The latter checks compliance with building regulations, such as clearly marked ways to exit a building during a fire.

The Assisted Living Program (ALR) within the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification also conducts complaint investigations if an allegation is severe enough. This happens through an unannounced inspection within 45 days of the complaint’s submission. If the ALR discovers violations, the facility receives written notification of it, as well as a list of corrective actions they need to take.^[03]

Those interested can use West Virginia’s health care facility lookup tool to view a facility’s entire licensure and complaint survey result history. You can also contact the long-term care ombudsman program for questions concerning a community’s violation history.