Ashley Milne-Tight

Family members of those with dementia worry about their safety.

Placing the person in a secure memory care unit can ease those fears.

But Kirsten Jacobs of LeadingAge, which represents non-profit providers of aging services, says growing numbers of senior living facilities don't use locked memory care units.

They train staff to care for those with dementia alongside other residents.

She says there's little research to support the idea that memory care is the best place to care for those with dementia.

For NPR News, I'm Ashley Milne-Tight.