Assisted living and memory care are both licensed in Indiana as Residential Care Facilities. A memory care unit must additionally file a written Alzheimer's and Dementia Special Care Disclosure under Indiana Code 12-10-5.5 -- there is no separate state certification, just a more detailed disclosure and training requirement.
What physically differs
Secured exits, alarmed doors, a dedicated activity program, and staff who have completed 12 hours of initial dementia-specific training (6 hours annually) are what the disclosure actually requires. Ask to see the document itself on a tour, and ask specifically what happens when a resident tries an exit.
Cost
There is no published memory-care cost median in Indiana or any other state. Get all-in quotes in writing rather than trusting an online estimate.
