Memory impairment affects close to half of the population over 85 and is one of the most common reasons for dependency in late life.

Some assisted living facilities are designed with the dementia patient in mind. A portion of the building if not the whole structure may be designated for individuals suffering from memory impairment. They often provide more supervision and security compared to a regular assisted living facility. These communities are staffed with caregivers who are accustomed to the impulsivity and poor safety awareness exhibited by clients who are diagnosed with any type of dementia or Alzheimer’s specifically . The staff is trained on how to respectfully and humanely redirect the resident back to the appropriate activity or location.