Florida Atlantic University’s Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center of the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing has been named a “Specialized Alzheimer’s Services Center” by Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration’s Division of Health Quality Assurance. The dementia-specific adult day center is the first to receive the designation.

 

Florida’s “Specialized Alzheimer’s Services Adult Day Care Act” went into effect on July 1, 2012 and requires stricter standards for an adult day care seeking specialized licensure. Among other criteria, organizations seeking the designation must demonstrate that each participant has a dementia diagnosis from a physician, physician’s assistant, or advanced registered nurse practitioner and an individualized plan of care; that nursing care be available on-site during operating hours; and that staff members meet education and experience requirements. There must be a staff-to-participant ratio of one to five; a daily schedule filled with at least 70 percent therapeutic activities; and a caregiver education program.