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.
