Free senior care guidance for Nassau and Suffolk County families. No cost to you, ever.
Call (934) 200-2603
Long Island Senior Advisor

Memory Care: SNALR Certification in New York

New York requires a Special Needs Assisted Living Residence (SNALR) certification for dementia-specific care -- an add-on to an ALR license, not a separate disclosure requirement.

Get matched freeCall (934) 200-2603
Home›State Rules›Memory Care: SNALR Certification in New York

Memory care in New York: SNALR, not a separate license

New York does not issue a wholly separate “memory care license.” Dementia-specific care is regulated through the Special Needs Assisted Living Residence (SNALR) certification — an add-on certification layered onto an existing Assisted Living Residence (ALR) license, under 10 NYCRR Part 1001. A community can legally use the words “memory care” in its marketing without holding SNALR certification, so the certification itself is what to verify, not the marketing language.

What to actually ask for on a Long Island tour

Ask to see the SNALR certification specifically, by name — not a brochure that uses the words “memory care” or “memory neighborhood.” You can also independently verify SNALR status before the tour, free, by searching the community on NYS Health Profiles’ Adult Care Facilities tool (profiles.health.ny.gov/acf) and filtering by facility type.

Questions families ask

What's the difference between a CCRC or Life Plan Community and a standalone assisted living or nursing facility on Long Island?

A Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), also called a Life Plan Community, offers a full continuum of care, independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing, on one campus, so a resident can move between levels of care as needs change without relocating to a different facility or provider. Long Island examples include Jefferson's Ferry in South Setauket, which describes itself as Long Island's first Life Plan Community, and Peconic Landing in Greenport, which describes itself as New York's only equity-based CCRC; a standalone assisted living or nursing facility, by contrast, offers only one level of care and requires a resident to move elsewhere if their needs change.

Who regulates assisted living facilities on Long Island?

New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) licenses and regulates assisted living as part of its Adult Care Facility (ACF) program, which covers Adult Homes, Enriched Housing Programs, and Assisted Living Residences (ALR). Long Island facilities are overseen locally through NYSDOH's Metropolitan Area Regional Office - Long Island (MARO-LI) in Central Islip. Nursing homes are licensed separately by NYSDOH under a different set of regulations (10 NYCRR Part 415).

What's the difference between an Adult Home, Enriched Housing Program, and Assisted Living Residence in NY?

Adult Homes and Enriched Housing Programs (EHP) are New York's two base licensed categories providing room, board, housekeeping, and personal care to five or more unrelated adults, with EHP generally serving residents 65+ in more independent, apartment-style settings. An Assisted Living Residence (ALR) is an additional certification layered on top of an existing Adult Home or EHP license - it cannot exist as a standalone building type. Adult Homes and EHPs are regulated under 18 NYCRR Parts 487 and 488; ALRs are regulated under 10 NYCRR Part 1001.

How do I check if a Long Island assisted living facility has a clean inspection record?

New York State publishes licensing status and inspection history for every Adult Care Facility, including Assisted Living Residences, on the NYS Health Profiles website (profiles.health.ny.gov/acf), searchable by county, name, or facility type. Each facility's profile page includes an Inspections tab showing survey results. NYSDOH also publishes a statewide Consumer Information Guide: Assisted Living Residence that explains how to read these records.

Is memory care a licensed category in New York, or just a marketing term?

New York does not have a separate memory care license. Dementia and cognitive-impairment care is addressed through the Special Needs Assisted Living Residence (SNALR) certification, an additional certification layered onto an existing Assisted Living Residence license under 10 NYCRR Part 1001. Families should verify a facility's actual SNALR certification on NYS Health Profiles rather than relying on a memory care sign or brochure.

Not sure where to start?

Answer five questions and a local advisor will come back with senior care options in your area that actually fit your situation and budget. It is free, and there is no obligation.

Find care options
Find senior care — free