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The niece is in charge of her and has POA and the other sister-in-law makes all the decisions for the family and basically forced her into this situation. She calls my husband crying because she doesn't want to be there and says she wants to die. She is 74 years old and has always been social and independent. The memory care unit is where people are non verbal or don't really speak and socialize. I don't see any way out for her since we don't have any control over this situation, but I would love to help get her back into assisted living in the same building.

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Memory Care costs more than Assisted Living. Her family would not move her to it and pay more unless it was necessary. The facility is legally obligated to place her at the appropriate level for her needs. Instead of siding with her and resenting the sister and niece who are there and making the tough decisions for her, talk with them about what led to this move and ask how you can be supportive. And, there is more socialization in memory care than many people realize. Most likely the move was necessary for her safety in some way.
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Reply to MG8522
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If your SIL didn't qualify for memory care she wouldn't be there.
Instead of you and your husband feeding into her distress, perhaps it best that you allow your SIL to adjust to her new home as it often takes several weeks for one to do so. And that may very well mean not taking her calls or going to see her for a bit.
I've been in many memory care units and while there are some there that are non-verbal, most still like to socialize with their neighbors, and they all have activities. In fact most memory care units will allow their patients to attend the activities in the assisted living part of the facility if their minds are not too far gone.
So give it time. Your SIL will never get better but will only continue to get worse, so I'm guessing she's right where she needs to be.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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What is the facility’s reputation? Because a good facility would not allow someone to be placed in memory care if they do not belong there. POA doesn’t make the level of care assessment, the facility does.

On the other side, if she is a flight risk and has dementia/Alzheimer’s that may be the best place for her. It’s pretty common for memory care residents to believe they’re not like the other people there, and that they don’t belong “with all these old people”.
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Reply to Slartibartfast
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This is all up to the POA. She is the one that has the power. She is the one who has the finances. Moms AL allowed Dementia residents as long as did not become a problem.

The other SIL. What do you mean she makes the decisions for family. If there is a POA in place that person makes all the decisions for the person who assigned her.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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