Are there facilities especially for people with Alzheimers?
Many nursing homes have designated areas or units exclusively for people with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. These special care units (SCUs) have become common, based on the idea that those residents with dementia require specialized care that may not be routinely available in nursing homes. The goal of SCUs are to provide an environment that enhances individualized care and effective approaches to difficult behaviors often associated with dementia. Characteristics of SCUs may include specially selected, trained and supervised staff, specifically designed activities, family involvement, and a physical design that promotes mobility and enjoyment. SCUs are diverse in nature. There are no state regulations governing what constitutes an SCU. However, Illinois law requires facilities that advertise that they have SCUs must disclose details about their programs. Although there are no other regulatory policies covering SCUs, concerns about quality led to the development and impleme
