10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Albuquerque, NM

Albuquerque residents have several private and public assistance options to choose from to help pay for memory care. By first assessing your loved one’s unique financial situation, you can determine the best way to cover the costs of their memory care needs. Even while using private methods to pay for care, make sure to apply for any additional benefits seniors may qualify for in your area. There may be assistance available to your loved one that can help their private pay options go further.

New Mexico memory care facilities are licensed and regulated by the New Mexico Department of Health‘s Division of Health Improvement, Health Facility Licensing and Certification Bureau. New Mexico regulations require that memory care facilities provide the following services:

• As-needed supervision and/or assistance with specified nursing services
• Medication administration assistance
• Assistance with activities of daily living
• Recreation and social activities
• Housekeeping and laundry services
• Transportation services
• At least three nutritionally balanced meals per day, as well as evening snacks

The state’s memory care regulations also include the following staff requirements:

• Required types of staff:
  • Administrator: A staff member in charge of the daily operations of the assisted living facility.
  • Direct care staff: Trained staff who offer personal care and supervision
  • A licensed nurse, physician’s assistant, or a nurse practitioner: One of these medical professionals must also be available to review health evaluations and individualized care plans.

• Staff ratio requirements:
  • One direct care worker for every 15 residents or fewer
  • One direct care worker and one additional staff member per 16 to 60 residents
  • Two direct care workers and one additional staff member per 61 to 120 residents
  • At least three direct care workers and one additional staff member for more than 120 residents.

Memory care facilities are required to follow state building code standards, including the following:

• Memory care facilities cannot house more residents than the maximum bed capacity that their license allows.
• All of the buildings on the memory care facility property need to be licensed. All indoor spaces that will be used by residents must pass inspection for health and safety purposes.
• Memory care facilities must be accessible for individuals with disabilities or those requiring a wheelchair.
• Memory care facilities must have a minimum of one bathroom (including toilet and bath/shower facility) to every eight residents.

Additionally, memory care facilities must keep the following documentation on the premises:

• Fire inspection report
• Zoning approval report
• Certificate of occupancy
• Approved building plan
• Pet vaccination records (if applicable)
• Most recent inspection report
• Copy of “Requirements for Assisted Living Facilities for Adults (7.8.2 NMAC)”

Inspection reports on New Mexico senior care facilities can be viewed through a search of the Health Care Provider Survey Reports. To look up a particular facility’s inspection report using this tool, select the category of care provider from the drop down menu, and then narrow your search by entering the county, the city, or the name of the specific organization you’re searching for.

Memory care facilities are required to have a diagnosis from each resident’s physician of their need to be in memory care. Memory care facilities may require secured indoor and outdoor environments. A memory care facility or secured unit must have at least one awake staff member at all times.

New Mexico Department of Health contact information

New Mexico Department of Health staff directory

COVID-19 regulations for Albuquerque memory care facilities

Most COVID-19 restrictions in New Mexico have been lifted. However, New Mexico skilled nursing and assisted living communities, including memory care, continue to have a few guidelines in place.

Albuquerque is rich in culture, with wonderful food, music, and scenery. Characteristic of the Southwestern United States, Albuquerque is also a very family-focused area. While many families prefer to care for their aging loved ones in their home, this is not a viable option for every family. Albuquerque memory care communities strive to be as family-forward as possible.

Explore the unique aspects of Albuquerque memory care below.

Residential setting

A Place for Mom partners with nine residential care homes in Albuquerque. Unlike larger senior care facilities, residential care homes are typically single-family homes that have been modified to accommodate a limited number of senior residents. Residential care homes are micro-communities, and generally offer a higher staff-to-resident ratio in a home-like environment. Smaller communities like these can be ideal for memory care, as residents may have less to overwhelm them and fewer new faces to get used to.

Albuquerque residential communities typically offer both assisted living and memory care. Residential communities’ neighborhood settings give them a cozy, often quiet atmosphere, and their small size can give residents a sense of normalcy. Albuquerque residential care homes are subject to the same regulation standards as other assisted living facilities. Residents are offered quality meals, care services, laundry and housekeeping, and enrichment activities, but may also receive more one-on-one attention due to the size of the community.

Multiple levels of care

Many Albuquerque memory care facilities are integrated with senior living communities that offer multiple types of care, such as combinations of assisted living, independent living, and skilled nursing. A Place for Mom partners with seven multi-leveled communities that include memory care. These communities make it easier for residents to transition to a support level that fits them if their needs change in the future. This enables residents to age in place without the stress of having to switch communities. As there are not always enough memory care openings to meet demands in the area, these multi-level care communities also enable seniors in mild stages of dementia to begin in assisted living even when memory care is full. Multiple care types together also offer more variety among residents, often giving more opportunity for friendships and community engagement, regardless of an individual’s specific level of need.

Amenities

Many of Albuquerque’s assisted living communities offer amenities like movie theaters, barber shop/beauty salons, fitness centers, and restaurant-style dining, so that residents can keep up their usual routines and pleasures without the hassle of a commute. Memory care communities often have secure areas where residents can safely take walks and maintain their autonomy, while also ensuring their safety. These communities also offer activities designed to support cognitive function to improve seniors’ quality of life.

Health care for seniors in Albuquerque

Albuquerque seniors have access to several reputable medical centers, many of which specialize in long-term acute care and rehabilitative stays. These types of facilities strive to reduce the risk of re-hospitalization, which can be especially important to the health of seniors.

Transportation for seniors in Albuquerque

While the neighborhoods and residential areas of Albuquerque are walkable, the commercial areas like shopping and dining generally require vehicle access. Of our partnered memory care communities in Albuquerque, 89% offer on-site transportation. These services may come at an additional cost, depending on the community’s policy.

Albuquerque offers senior transportation services for those aged 60 and up. Seniors are offered curb-to-curb van transport to medical appointments, restaurants, activities, and shopping, with wheelchair accommodations available for those who need it. Many of these services require reservations, which can be made by calling 505-764-6464.

Albuquerque’s main transit system is known as ABQ RIDE. ABQ RIDE offers monthly passes, assistance with planning your route, and a Guaranteed Ride Home system. The Guaranteed Ride Home system is ABQ’s “commuter insurance,” and it ensures that in the case of an emergency, such as a passenger missing the last ride, ABQ will make sure that the passenger is still safely picked up and driven home.