Texas doesn't license 'memory care' as its own category — it uses Type A and Type B assisted living licenses instead. Here's what Dallas families need to know before choosing a secured memory care community.
By Dallas Senior Advisor Care Team · March 27, 2026
Unlike some states, Texas does not issue a separate memory-care license. Instead, a community offering dementia care operates under an assisted living license from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), Long-Term Care Regulation (Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 247 and 26 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 553), classified as either Type A or Type B. A Type A facility serves residents who are physically and mentally capable of evacuating the building without staff assistance. A Type B facility serves residents who need staff assistance to evacuate, who may not be able to follow directions in an emergency, or who require nighttime attendance — which is where most memory care sits.
For Dallas families, the practical upshot is that the 'memory care' label on a brochure isn't itself a license — it's a description of a program built on top of a Type B assisted living license. Two communities can both call themselves memory care and hold meaningfully different licenses, disclosures, and staffing commitments underneath.
Because most residents with progressed dementia cannot reliably evacuate without help, a genuine memory care community should hold a Type B license rather than Type A. Texas also requires facilities that provide personal care to residents with Alzheimer's disease or related conditions to make a written disclosure describing the nature of their dementia care — the services, staffing, security, and philosophy of care in the unit. Some communities additionally pursue an optional Alzheimer's/dementia certification from HHSC, which signals a further commitment to specialized dementia care and training.
For dementia-specific care, families should ask what dementia training staff have completed, how the secured unit prevents elopement, and what the disclosure statement actually promises. A locked door is not the same as a trained, adequately staffed memory care program, and the license type and disclosure are where families can separate marketing from substance.
Before touring, confirm the community holds a Type B license if your parent has dementia or cannot evacuate independently, and ask to see the written Alzheimer's/dementia disclosure for the specific secured unit — not just the parent community. Ask what dementia training staff have completed and how recently. Ask about the overnight staff-to-resident ratio in the secured unit specifically, since that number often differs from the community's overall staffing.
Verify the facility's HHSC license type and any inspection findings on the HHSC Long-Term Care Provider Search (apps.hhs.texas.gov) before you commit. Memory care in the DFW metro runs $4,800 to $7,000 a month in 2026 — above the $3,800 to $5,800 range for standard assisted living — and the price should reflect the additional staffing and Type B licensing, not just a locked door. A free advisor familiar with Dallas, Collin, and Denton County memory care options can help match a family's needs to the right license type and verify the record before a tour is scheduled.
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