What is memory care in Alabama?
Memory care in Alabama is provided in specialty care assisted living facilities (SCALFs), licensed by ADPH under chapter 420-5-20 to care for residents with cognitive impairment, with secured exits allowed, Table A staffing minimums, an RN and a physician medical director.
ADPH lists 25 specialty care assisted living licenses in the seven Birmingham-area counties, with 898 licensed beds; 13 are in Jefferson County and 7 in Shelby. See the memory care roster.Who is a good fit for a SCALF?
A good fit is someone with dementia who needs supervision and a secure environment but can still walk and do much of their own feeding, dressing and grooming; Alabama bars SCALFs from keeping residents with a PSMS score above 23.
See our SCALF rules guide.
What does memory care cost around Birmingham?
No published memory care median exists for Alabama; get written quotes, which usually exceed the regular assisted living rate in the same community.
Alabama Medicaid does not pay SCALF fees.
What does Table A require for a 32-bed memory care unit?
At a full census of 32 residents, Table A of rule 420-5-20-.04 requires at least 4 staff on duty from 7 AM to 3 PM and 3 staff from 3 to 11 PM and from 11 PM to 7 AM, with more whenever residents' needs demand it.
Our facility pages compute the Table A minimum for each SCALF's licensed bed count.
What activities should good memory care offer?
Look for structured daily activities matched to ability, such as music, simple chores, walks in secured outdoor space and small-group conversation, plus staff who redirect rather than restrain residents who become anxious or restless.
Ask how activities change in the late afternoon, when sundowning is most common.
How do I find SCALF inspection reports?
Search ADPH's Deficiencies site under Assisted Living Facilities (Specialty Care), or open any SCALF on our memory care roster, which links the newest posted statement of deficiencies.
The facility must also post its last 24 months of reports inside the building.
Where are memory care (scalf) providers located across the seven counties?
ADPH's October 30, 2026 export lists 25 memory care (scalf) licenses in the seven counties; the table shows how they spread by county and city.
| County | Licenses | Licensed beds | Cities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson | 13 | 552 | Bessemer, Birmingham, Gardendale, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Trussville, Vestavia Hills |
| Shelby | 7 | 250 | Birmingham, Columbiana, Hoover |
| St. Clair | 0 | 0 | None listed |
| Walker | 2 | 30 | Jasper |
| Blount | 3 | 66 | Hayden, Oneonta |
| Chilton | 0 | 0 | None listed |
| Bibb | 0 | 0 | None listed |
Browse every one in the sortable roster.
At a glance
| An Alabama SCALF provides | It does not provide | |
|---|---|---|
| Security | Secured exits for residents with dementia | Care past the PSMS limit of 23 |
| Clinical | An RN and a physician medical director | Ongoing skilled nursing beyond 90 days |
