Memory Care Licensing in Georgia: HB 987, Staffing Rules, and How to Verify

Georgia Does Not Issue a "Memory Care License"

This confuses nearly every family that starts researching facilities. Georgia does not have a standalone memory care license. Instead, the state issues a Memory Care Center certificate — a specialized designation layered on top of an existing facility license.

The base license is either a Personal Care Home (PCH) or an Assisted Living Community (ALC), both regulated by the Healthcare Facility Regulation Division (HFRD) under the Department of Community Health. If a facility with 25 or more beds markets itself as specializing in dementia care or charges a premium rate for cognitive services, it is required by law to hold the Memory Care Center certificate. Operating without it is a regulatory violation.

What House Bill 987 Requires

House Bill 987 established Georgia's framework for certified memory care centers. The law mandates specific operational standards that go well beyond what a standard PCH or ALC must meet.

Staffing ratios. The center must maintain at least 1 direct care staff member for every 12 residents during all waking hours, and 1 for every 15 residents during non-waking hours. These are monthly averages, not shift-by-shift guarantees — ask the facility for their actual staffing schedules, not just the ratio they quote.

Nursing coverage. At least one registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or certified medication aide must be physically on-site at all times in the memory care unit. Beyond that baseline, the law scales required nursing hours by census:

• 1 to 12 residents: minimum 8 RN/LPN hours per week
• 13 to 30 residents: minimum 16 hours per week
• 31 to 40 residents: minimum 24 hours per week
• More than 40 residents: minimum 40 hours per week

Dementia training. Every employee — not just direct care staff, but also kitchen workers, maintenance, and administrative staff — must complete at least 4 hours of dementia-specific orientation within their first 30 days. This training covers Alzheimer's disease progression, techniques for minimizing challenging behaviors, and safety risk identification. Direct care staff must complete 16 hours of specialized training within their first 30 days of working independently with residents, plus 8 hours annually.

Financial stability. Any ALC or PCH with 25 or more beds applying for licensure must submit a financial stability affidavit from a CPA affirming the operator's ability to run the facility for at least two years. The operator must also provide 60 days' written notice before any bankruptcy or eviction that would force resident relocation.

Penalty structure. Facilities cited for deficient practices face fines of up to $2,000 per day per violation, capped at $40,000. If a violation causes death or serious physical harm, a mandatory minimum $5,000 fine applies.

How to Verify a Facility's Certification

The HFRD maintains the GaMap2Care portal where you can search for any licensed facility in Georgia. The portal shows the facility's license type, certification status, inspection reports, and complaint history.

When you search, look for three things. First, confirm the facility holds an active Memory Care Center certificate — not just a PCH or ALC license. Second, read the most recent inspection report and note any cited deficiencies, particularly those related to staffing shortfalls, medication errors, or resident safety. Third, check whether any complaints have been filed and what the investigation outcomes were.

If a facility claims to offer memory care but does not appear in the HFRD portal with the Memory Care Center designation, they are either operating below the 25-bed threshold that triggers the certification requirement or they are out of compliance. Either way, you want to know.

PCH vs ALC: Why It Matters for Memory Care

The distinction between a Personal Care Home and an Assisted Living Community is not cosmetic — it dictates the clinical care your parent can legally receive.

A PCH provides housing, meals, and personal services (bathing assistance, grooming, supervised self-administration of medications). Residents must be physically ambulatory and capable of self-preservation. PCHs cannot administer medications — they can only supervise a resident taking their own medication.

An ALC, licensed only for facilities with 25+ residents, can employ Certified Medication Aides to administer medications and provide limited nursing services. If your parent needs medication administered by staff rather than self-administered under supervision, they need an ALC-based memory care center.

Filing a Complaint

If you observe a problem at a memory care facility — inadequate staffing, medication errors, unsafe conditions, or resident mistreatment — reports go to different agencies depending on the situation. For facility-based residents, complaints are filed with the Healthcare Facility Regulation Division. For suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation, reports go to Adult Protective Services. Both pathways are documented in the Georgia Dementia & Memory Care Guide, which also includes the facility audit checklist families use during tours.

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