Florida has no separate memory-care license — it layers endorsements onto a base ALF license instead. Here's what Jacksonville families need to know about ECC, LNS, and LMH before choosing a secured memory care community.
By Sandra Boyd, CDP · March 27, 2026
Unlike some states, Florida does not issue a separate memory-care license. Instead, a community offering dementia care operates under its base Assisted Living Facility (ALF) license from AHCA (Florida Statutes Ch. 429, Part I and Rule 59A-36, F.A.C.), typically layered with an Extended Congregate Care (ECC) endorsement, a Limited Nursing Services (LNS) endorsement, or a Limited Mental Health (LMH) endorsement, depending on the resident population served. Facilities that advertise a secured dementia unit must also meet Florida's Alzheimer's/dementia care disclosure and staff-training standards under s. 429.178 and s. 430.5025, Florida Statutes.
As a Certified Dementia Practitioner, I tell Jacksonville families that this structure means the 'memory care' label on a brochure isn't itself a license — it's a description of a program built on top of a base ALF license and one or more endorsements. Two communities can both call themselves memory care and hold meaningfully different endorsements and staffing commitments underneath.
An Extended Congregate Care (ECC) endorsement allows a facility to keep residents who need more help with activities of daily living than a standard ALF license permits — often relevant for residents whose dementia has progressed to needing more hands-on care. A Limited Nursing Services (LNS) endorsement allows limited nursing tasks to be performed in the ALF setting rather than requiring a move to a skilled nursing facility. A Limited Mental Health (LMH) endorsement applies to facilities serving residents with a diagnosed psychiatric condition and involves additional staff training requirements.
For dementia-specific care, families should also ask about Florida's ADRD (Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias) staff-training requirements, which mandate a minimum number of training hours for staff who work in a dedicated memory care unit. Florida has also finalized new AHCA 'Memory Care Services' minimum standards, expected to take effect around October 1, 2026, which will set more specific statewide requirements for facilities marketing memory care.
Before touring, confirm the specific secured unit — not just the parent community — is covered under the facility's licensed endorsements. Ask what ADRD 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 AHCA license, endorsements, and any inspection findings on Florida Health Finder before you commit. Memory care in the Jacksonville metro runs $4,500–$6,800 a month in 2026 — above the $3,200–$5,500 range for standard assisted living — and the price should reflect the additional staffing and endorsement, not just a locked door. A free advisor familiar with Duval, Clay, and St. Johns County memory care options can help match a family's needs to the right endorsement and verify the license before a tour is scheduled.
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