New standards for memory care at assisted-living facilities in Washington are now the law.

Senate Bill 5337, passed by the Llegislature and signed by the governor in April, requires certifications for assisted-living communities that provide memory care. Advocates for long-term care residents say the measure will help improve care and accountability.

The legislation is supported by the Alzheimer’s Association and the Washington State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, as well as SEIU 775, the labor union for thousands of care workers.

The measure standardizes the definition of memory care, allows oversight by the state Department of Social and Health Services of facilities, and gives the state attorney general enforcement authority under the Consumer Protection Act.

An estimated 70 percent of assisted-living residents have some form of dementia, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH): “As dementia and behavioral symptoms become increasingly common in AL (assisted living) settings, so do questions about the quality of dementia care in AL facilities,” NIH stated in a study of the issue.

Industry analysts say assisted living facilities tend to be large, with hundreds of residents and relatively low staff-to-resident ratios, and sometimes have track records that are difficult to monitor due to complex ownership and rebranding. In addition, unlike nursing homes, AL care workers currently aren’t required to be certified nursing assistants or registered nurses and have minimal training and minimum wages—factors that can affect the quality of care for residents, according to supporters of the proposed state standards.