Board approves new Arizona memory care rules over objections from long-term care industry

Aging advocates and family caregivers scored a big win on Tuesday. Members of the Governors’ Regulatory Review Council — or GRRC — voted in favor of a package of rules for assisted living communities that offer memory care.

"So do we have a motion?" said GRRC Vice Chair Frank Thorwald.

Then GRRC member John Sundt spoke up: "I make a motion that we move the rules forward."

A second and then roll call, the ayes prevailed, despite opposition from long-term care industry lobbyists who argued the rules package is unclear and confusing.

Trevor Laky represents the Arizona Assisted Living Federation.

"We can address these issues before the rule making is done. I understand we have a time limit, we can push this back, there’s nothing that’s preventing us from pushing these back a month or two to get these resolved," Laky said.

The rules are the result of a bill Gov. Katie Hobbs signed into law last year, which requires minimum training standards for staff who work in memory care, person-centered care planning and preventing elopements.

Something firefighter Steve Wagner has witnessed.

"Just last week, we responded to a call for a man with memory loss who had wandered out of a licensed memory care facility. We found him a quarter-mile away from the facility, injured, scared and disoriented," Wagner said.

Advocates concerned that the vote would be rejected or tabled showed up in force on the virtual call, including Amy Scoville-Weaver. Her mother has Alzheimer's disease and lives in a group home.

"The average care worker makes $27,000 per year. The average cost of memory care for dementia is $7,500 per month, per family. Dementia training for homes already exists and can be implemented and industry can do this," Scoville-Weaver said.

The rules go into effect July 1, but there is more work to be done.

Tory Roberg is with the Alzheimer’s Association in Phoenix.

"That doesn’t mean everything automatically is going to change on July 1. There needs to be some time for implementation, and DHS testified to this that they are going to be working with the industry," Roberg said.

Last week, the long-term care industry expressed concerns about the rules package, saying they were confusing and unclear. However, some industry members were present at stakeholder meetings since discussions began in 2023.