10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Ronkonkoma, NY

Payment for memory care often involves a mix of private and public funding sources, such as personal savings or Medicaid and Medicare benefits. Below are sections that provide information on payment options for memory care facilities on Long Island. These payment sources can include private pay, Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare.

In New York, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) regulates assisted living facilities under the Assisted Living Residences (ARLs), which can also be certified to provide memory care. That would then be referred to as a Special Needs Assisted Living Residence or SNARL.

New York codes, rules, and regulations apply to both ARLs and SNARLS. The certification for memory care, however, adds some additional provisions. A memory care unit, whether standalone or part of a larger facility, is required to be self-contained with a delayed-egress system on all external doors and windows. However, fully locked units are not permitted. Enclosed courtyards must be provided for residents. An additional layer of fire safety regulations is also added to SNARLs.

Staff must also be given additional special training on caring for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia that help them meet their needs and understand their behaviors. Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and home health aides are required to be on staff. There is no set number that must be present. The regulations only state that the coverage must be sufficient to meet residents’ needs.

Like any assisted living facility, a memory care facility must provide three meals a day, take care of housekeeping and laundry, provide 24-hour supervision and personal care, and case management.

Assisted Living Residences are regularly inspected by the NYSDOH every 18 months to ensure they’re meeting standards. You can find inspection reports at the NYS Health Profiles website.

New York Department of Health contact information

Metropolitan Area Regional Office — Long Island (MARO)
320 Carleton Ave., Suite 5000
Central Islip, NY 11722
Phone: 631-851-3898

COVID-19 regulations for Long Island memory care facilities

Long-term care facilities on Long Island, including those providing memory care, do not have specific COVID-19 mandates to follow. However, the below guidelines are the New York State Department of Health’s best practices.

Memory care on Long Island offers a range of services with a focus on functionality and security. It is designated to provide a safe and secure living environment, specialized care, and personalized services for seniors with memory-related conditions. It offers a supportive and structured environment that is designed to help residents maintain their independence and quality of life.

The services are mainly provided for comfort and meeting seniors’ needs, including facilities that are secured to prevent wandering, built to support seniors with loss of directionality, and tend to diverse physical needs as well as cognitive. While there are other amenities such as meals, social gatherings, and dedicated transportation at many facilities, the primary focus is on a safe and dignified care plan.

Facilities to meet every need

Several facilities are integrated into larger communities and are meant to provide minimal disruption as seniors transition through cognitive and life stages. One of our partner Long Island facilities is considered a standalone memory care facility, meaning its sole focus is on helping patients with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Long Island is also home to eight facilities we partner with offering a combination of assisted living and memory care; five of Long Island’s facilities are a combination of memory care and group home living. Called Adult Homes by the state, group homes can provide assistance and supervision but not nursing or medical care.

Memory care in the broader Long Island area

For those looking for more specialized care, expanding their radius to a 25-mile range of Long Island’s Ronkonkoma provides more possibilities. Not only does the expanded area offer an additional 14 assisted living/memory care combination facilities, as well as another memory care facility combined with group home living, but it also offers four facilities offering a combination of assisted living, independent living, and memory care. This progressive care classification is appealing to careseekers and provides a broader range of options for seniors with memory care needs.

Specialized memory care amenities

Communities that offer memory care are designed to accommodate the specific needs of those living with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. On Long Island, nearly all memory care facilities offer redirection, cuing, and disorientation care, as well as provide care for restlessness, pacing, and wandering. A secured community and 24-hour awake staff is also a common feature, ensuring Long Island seniors and their families feel safe within their facilities’ setups.

Long Island has access to some of the country’s best medical facilities, and this accessibility is showcased in its memory care facilities’ offerings. More than 70% of Long Islands’ memory care facilities offer visiting nurses and podiatrists for residents. In addition, more than half host visiting occupational therapists and speech therapists.

These specialized services provide comfort and heightened awareness; several facilities are integrated into larger communities to ensure seniors receive the safe and continuous care they need as they navigate memory loss and other forms of dementia.

Long Island hospitals provide specialized care for seniors and have expert physicians catering to specific health care requirements. They are well-equipped to meet the changing and complex needs of seniors in memory care facilities. Please see below for a list of the resources available for Long Island senior residents.

Seniors in memory care, and their families, want to ensure there is reliable and safe access to transportation for trips like medical needs or outings. A large percentage of the partners in A Place for Mom’s network — 62% — offer complimentary transportation to and from their facilities; the rest provide it at-cost.

More than half are located conveniently to public transportation for seniors with their caregivers. In the event that external transit is needed, the following three options are excellent resources:

• Essential Transportation for Seniors: This is a door-to-door transportation service that prioritizes medical appointment transit but can be used for other errands, too. The ride service won’t venture outside city limits, but it operates in several towns in both Suffolk and Nassau counties.
• Able-Ride/Paratransit Program: This program provides transportation services for individuals who have difficulty using public transportation due to their unique needs. Attendant caregivers are welcome to ride along. The fare is $3.75, but Medicaid recipients can apply for free transportation. Contact Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) Bus at 516-228-4028 for an application.
• Long Island Rail Road: This busy commuter railroad offers seniors aged 65 and above a half-price fare on trains as long as their destination isn’t New York City. Families or caregivers may be able to help their loved ones find cheaper fares for longer trips and accompany them.

Long Island is in the greater New York City ecosystem, so it shouldn’t surprise prospective residents that the area is home to many activities. From gardens to museums, many of Long Island’s attractions are well-suited to seniors and their visitors.

Memory care residents have unique needs and their families want to make sure that, in addition to excellent care, those residents maintain a quality of life appropriate for their abilities. Many Long Island memory care facilities will schedule group outings for residents to the wide range of destinations available. If you want to take your loved one out and about, there’s plenty to do.

Outdoor Activities

Bailey Arboretum offers a 42-acre preserve full of gardens and wildlife viewing opportunities, offering a serene and placid environment for those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. The park has paved paths and benches for breaks, and there are interactive activities like nature walks and bird watching. Sands Point Preserve and Clark Botanic Garden offer similar outdoor activities for seniors seeking memory care and their loved ones.

Of course, beaches stretch for miles on Long Island if you and your loved one want to take in the sunshine and fresh sea air. You can find Jones Beach State Park, Fire Island, and Montauk State Park on the Atlantic Ocean side of the island.

Historical Activities

If seniors want to explore Long Island’s history, they should explore the Cradle of Aviation Museum and learn about Long Island’s importance in the development of flight and contributions to the continued exploration of the skies. This museum offers wheelchair accessibility and assistive listening devices. The Long Island Museum offers similar opportunities to explore history and has a diverse range of exhibits to explore.

Shopping excursions

You and your loved one can spend time perusing the adorable Village Town Shops in Suffolk County. From restaurants and boutiques to spa products and chocolate, there is something for everyone to enjoy. For bargain hunters, one of the area’s outlet malls might be the right stop for you.

These activities are in addition to the abundance of activities at our partner facilities and external senior centers that cater to those with memory care needs. Long Island families can be confident that there is an activity that will meet their loved one’s needs.