What is needed for a resident to be moved from a skilled nursing unit to a lock down unit in a nursing home?

Is her facility calling memory care a locked down unit? I haven't heard memory care being called locked down for over 10 years. why the change? because locked down = jail, memory care allows the resident if able to walk and socialize.
Memory care units are built circular because the residents who are able to walk will be able to walk and be monitored by staff.
Check to see if the 'locked down' unit is circular and how engaged the residents are with activities, not just placed in front of a tv for entertainment and lessen monitoring by staff.

Did they not tell you why they thought Mom needed lock down? As said, its usually because they wander. Havevtried to leave the facility. Or she is hitting other residents. Has she been violentvin some way?

Mage578: Pose your question to the facility's administrator. Is this patient beginning to wander?

You need to meet with the director of the facility to have all your questions answered. Nobody here can tell you what their policy is or what is required to move her to the secure part of the facility. We can only guess and that’s not what you need. Set up that meeting as soon as possible so you’ll have a clear understanding of what to do next.

If I can help relieve any concerns or fears about your Mother moving then I hope this will help. My Mother was placed in a locked down memory care unit because legally she was declared incompassitated. She was a danger to herself and perhaps others. She wandered off at times. So for these reasons she needed this smaller and safer setting. If your Mother doesn't wander off or is not a danger to herself or others and has no big behaviors such as wandering even at night around facility then she may be fine in the regular skilled care or asst setting. At this point if her facility has expressed concern then I would ask what those concerns are and accept that they know since they see her daily, weekly. I am pleased with this setting for my Mother and in agreement with it.

Yes, they can move her. I am uncertain why you would come to a Forum for answer to this question when the answer really is with this particular long term care facility. You should contact their administration to discuss. Each facility is different, and other than the usual rules and laws dictated by the particular state involved, they make their own rules, which have to do with staffing as well as safety.

General a move to the "locked side" is done when a person tends to wander out of the facility, and poses a danger to self in doing so. As you can imagine this is a safety issue for your loved one. The fact is that some ALFs are now having "locked cottages" for those who don't really require the extra staffing, and who are fine on their own for the most part, but may tend to wander and become confused once out of their known environments.
This was the case at my brother's ALF which had unlocked cottages (where you were required to sign out when leaving and back in when returning), locked cottages and a larger cottage which was long term MC and better staffed as well as locked.

Care facilities are always changing, so do discuss by phone or in person with the facility involved in the care of your Mom. You'll get best answers from them. And I wish you the best.

Do you not want her to move to lock down?

If they think she needs it, they may require you to move her (assuming that you're her POA) and if you refuse I wonder if they'd say OK but it's time for her to leave then. I assume she has dementia and perhaps she has progressed too much to handle? Hard to know since you don't want to talk about it.

Good luck.

If wandering is not involved, it might possibly involve behavior or it might be that she is more likely suited for the activities taking place in the secured unit rather than the "at large" unit. How they process a transfer from one unit to another is based on the regulations set up by her state and on their procedures. The social worker at the facility can give you details. I would think that at some point you would get a written statement regarding the transfer.

Understand the need for privacy, the facility should issue a notice to her rep,if she is not competent,stating the reasons for the move

Mage578, have you asked the nursing home why they would want your Mother to move to the Memory Care section? Could it be that your Mother has been trying to leave the nursing home at night?


A lock down unit is no different than you or I locking our houses during the day. Residents are free to roam around the unit but cannot leave that unit without someone being with them that are family or staff.


My Dad needed to move into Memory Care as he was experiencing what is called "sundowning" which means he tends to become confused late in the afternoon and into the evening. Dad would climb into his "time machine" and go back to the 1940's. He was also trying to leave the building [which wasn't a lock down] during the night.