Memory Care in Wisconsin

Wisconsin sits in the northern portion of the Midwest and is often referred to as “America’s Dairyland,” due to the state’s large number of dairy farms. Besides having great cheese, Wisconsin is known as a northern oasis, with many lakes and streams throughout the state – Wisconsin has some of the highest concentrations of fresh water in the country. Popular local pastimes include fishing, boating, hunting, and cheering on the Green Bay Packers. Whether you prefer spending time outdoors or enjoy living in a major city like Milwaukee, Wisconsin has got you covered.

Currently, A Place for Mom partners with more than 280 senior living communities in Wisconsin that provide memory care. The median monthly cost of memory care in Wisconsin is about $5,800.

Memory care units in Wisconsin are considered a type of assisted living, which the Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ Division of Quality Assurance licenses. There are three types of assisted living facilities in Wisconsin that can offer memory care: residential care apartment complexes (RCAC), community-based residential facilities (CBRF), and adult family homes (AFH). Memory care units located in these facilities must obey assisted living regulations, in addition to dementia-related policies.

RCACs, CBRFs, and AFHs don’t need a specific license to offer memory care. However, when obtaining or renewing their assisted living license, they must disclose specific information about how they’ll help those with dementia. What must be shared varies depending on the facility.

Residential care apartment complex memory unit requirements

Besides marketing the facility as providing a specialized memory care unit and completing a disclosure form, RCACs only need to comprehensively assess potential residents before admission. The assessment involves the resident’s active participation in gauging their physical/mental condition and learning what services the RCAC will need to provide.^[01]

Community-based residential facility memory unit requirements

At licensure, CBRFs must state they will provide care for people with irreversible dementia such as Alzheimer’s. The facility must submit a description of the residents’ special needs and how they will be met to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ Division of Quality Assurance. This statement should also include structured activity programming information and how the facility will integrate it into the daily routines of residents with dementia.

Before admission, the facility assesses a prospective resident to identify their care needs, physical/mental condition, and what services they require to develop a care plan. This care plan must be finalized within 30 days of admission and reviewed annually or anytime a resident’s condition changes and warrants changes to their care plan.^[01]

Adult family home memory unit requirements

Like the other assisted living facility types, AFHs must make it publicly known they’re going to serve people with dementia. As part of the licensing process, the facility must develop a program statement describing the number of individuals the unit is willing to accept and how it will meet their needs.

Within 30 days of admission, the facility will develop a written assessment of new residents, as well as a personalized care plan. The assessment’s format depends on the facility, but it must thoroughly identify the person’s needs and physical/mental abilities.^[01]

Memory care staff education and training requirements

Memory care staff don’t need dementia-related education prior to being hired, nor are there direct staff-to-patient ratios. Nonetheless, state regulations note facilities must have enough employees to meet residents’ needs 24 hours a day. Staff in all three facilities must undergo memory care training that addresses managing the psychological needs of those with dementia within 90 days of employment.

CBRF training is more specific, with required topics including:^[01]

• The characteristics of those with dementia, such as their physical, social, and mental needs
• Specific medications or treatments residents may need
• Program services the facility offers to residents
• Meeting the needs of residents with several diagnoses
• Maintaining or increasing social participation, self-direction, self-care, and vocational abilities

Wisconsin Department of Health contact information

Wisconsin Department of Health Services
1 West Wilson Street
Madison, WI 53703

Phone: 608-266-1865

How to look up the latest inspection and complaint reports

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ Division of Quality Assurance inspects and monitors all three types of assisted living facilities. CBRFs are the most strictly regulated, with licensing specialists inspecting facilities every two years through unannounced surveys. While there, the specialist records any violations in a Statement of Deficiencies (SoD) report. Facilities must acknowledge the problem(s) and develop a Plan of Correction (PoC) explaining the amendment(s) and any systems in place to ensure violations do not happen again. The inspections can occur earlier in response to filed complaints or to confirm a facility corrected any noted deficiencies.

The department has the authority, but isn’t required, to inspect RCACs or AFHs. Because of this, residents in these facilities must be notified pre-admission that the department doesn’t regularly visit or inspect them. The department does conduct inspections in response to complaints, though. Complaint inspections follow the same procedures as CBRFs.

Wisconsin has a thorough online provider search tool you can use to find a facility’s inspection, complaint, violation, and SoD reports. Facilities can be found by entering geographical information or checking any of the boxes under the “assisted living facilities” provider/facility type category and hitting the search button. The long-term care ombudsman service can also answer any questions you have concerning a facility’s violation history.