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What Is Memory Care? Services, Cost, and Benefits

Find memory care options

What is memory care?

Memory care is a type of long-term care community designed to meet the specific needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Memory care facilities offer 24-hour care and supervision, staff trained in dementia care, specialized memory-enhancing activities and therapies, and secure environments. The goal of memory care is to provide an engaging, safe, and calming environment for seniors with dementia to support their well-being and improve their quality of life.

Dementia symptoms and behaviors progressively worsen over time, often leaving elderly adults unable to live independently. Memory care may be a good option for seniors with dementia who are no longer safe in their homes and for families who are feeling overwhelmed by their loved one’s advanced care needs.

A Place for Mom offers resources to help you learn more about memory care benefits, services, costs, and payment options. We also offer tips on finding a community and moving your loved one.

CAREGIVER SUPPORT

Signs It’s Time for Memory Care: 13 Questions to Ask

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AMENITIES

Secured Memory Care Units: What Are They and What Are the Benefits?

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Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.

Memory care services and features

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Personal care

As dementia progresses, seniors will likely need assistance with one or more activities of daily living (ADLs), such as eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, incontinence care, and moving about. Memory care staff are trained to provide help with ADLs based on each resident’s abilities.

AMENITIES

Memory Care Activities That Keep Seniors Active and Engaged

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CHOOSING CARE

What Is Person-Centered Care for Dementia?

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Memory care vs. other senior care types

Memory care provides many of the same amenities and services offered in other senior living settings. However, dementia and Alzheimer’s care facilities specialize in meeting the intensive needs of seniors with memory loss. The following articles can help you understand how memory care communities compare to other senior care options.

CARE OPTIONS

Assisted Living vs. Memory Care: 5 Key Differences

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CARE OPTIONS

Memory Care vs. In-Home Care for Dementia: What’s the Difference?

There are pros and cons to both memory care communities and home care. From the level of care, to caregiver experience, to price, there are a lot of variables to consider. Understanding the ins and outs of these different types of care will help you pick the right option for your loved one with dementia.

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Memory Care vs. Nursing Homes: What’s the Difference?

Memory care communities and nursing homes offer some similar services, but they are not the same thing. Learn what makes...

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Independent Living vs. Memory Care: What’s the Difference?

Learn the distinctions between these two settings as you consider senior living options for a loved one with dementia.

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Cost of memory care facilities near me

Average cost comparisons near ,

Memory care costs and payment options

The median national cost of memory care is $5,995 per month, according to proprietary data gathered by A Place for Mom. Costs vary greatly between communities and depend on factors like location, community amenities, programming, apartment size, and the level of care a senior requires. Pricing models also vary. For instance, some memory care communities may be all-inclusive, while others may use an a la carte approach and charge based on services required by a resident.

Memory care base costs typically cover rent, utilities, meals and snacks, housekeeping, transportation to medical appointments, on-site activities, nonmedical therapies, and shared amenities. However, some amenities — such as in-unit internet service, beauty and barber services, laundry, and pet accommodations — may cost extra.

While many families look to savings to finance senior care, there are other little-known funding sources that can help. The articles below can help you better understand pricing and the options available to help pay for memory care.

COST

Everything You Need to Know About the Cost of Memory Care: A State-by-State Guide

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PAYMENT

How to Pay for Memory Care: Surprising Tips for Families

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Explore top memory care communities

Highlighting top rated communities

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1 / 3

The Belvedere

5110 19th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11204

4.2

(33 reviews)

Atria Forest Hills

112-50 72 Avenue, Forest Hills, NY 11375

4.6

(79 reviews)

Sunrise at East 56th

139 East 56th St, New York, NY 10022

4.9

(10 reviews)

Sunrise of Sheepshead

2211 Emmons Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11235

4.4

(66 reviews)

Sunrise of Mill Basin

5905 Strickland Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11234

4.3

(74 reviews)

Atria Kew Gardens

117-01 84th Avenue, Kew Gardens, NY 11418

4.3

(77 reviews)

The Watermark at Brooklyn Heights

21 Clark St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

4.8

(5 reviews)

Atria West 86

333 West 86th Street, New York, NY 10024

4.4

(125 reviews)

The Apsley by Sunrise

2330 Broadway, New York, NY 10024

5.0

(3 reviews)

Choosing a memory care community

Touring communities is one of the best ways to find the most suitable memory care for seniors. A tour can help you see what a typical day would look like for your loved one. You’ll get to look at apartment floor plans, interact with staff members and residents, explore shared amenities, and maybe even try a meal. Some communities even offer virtual memory care tours if an in-person visit isn’t possible.


The following guides cover everything you need to know about finding the right memory care community for a loved one.

CHOOSING CARE

How to Find a Memory Care Facility: 10 Helpful Tips and a Memory Care Checklist for Touring

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CHOOSING CARE

6 Tips for Virtual and In-Person Senior Community Tours

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Tips for moving a loved one to memory care

Once you’ve narrowed down your memory care options, the next step is to figure out moving details. It’s important to keep your loved one involved in decisions to help them feel a sense of control. However, their memory loss may prevent them from fully understanding the situation. During this process, being patient and realistic is essential. You can use the following conversational and moving tips to make sure the transition is as successful and smooth as possible.

MOVING

How to Talk to Your Parent About Moving to Memory Care

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MOVING

Helping Seniors Move: Design and Downsizing Tips for Senior Living

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Have more questions?

Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.

Explore more memory care topics

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HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Music Therapy for Dementia

AMENITIES

9 Fun and Engaging Memory Games for Seniors: Puzzles, Card Games, and More

CARE OPTIONS

Memory Care Daycare: A Guide to Memory Care Day Centers

PAYMENT

Memory Testing: How to Qualify for Long-Term Care Insurance

CARE OPTIONS

Your Complete Guide to Memory Care

MEDICAL

What Is Sundowning in Dementia?

Memory Care

Memory care facilities provide housing, care, and therapies for seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia in an environment designed to reduce confusion and prevent wandering.

The score shown is the overall experience rating which is an average of the reviews submitted for those communities. The overall experience rating is a star rating that ranges from 1 being the lowest to 5 being the highest.

Below are the 51 largest cities grouped by their metropolitan area.

Top states for Memory Care

6.7
Alaska, AK
39 facilities
8.3
Alabama, AL
294 facilities
7.7
Arkansas, AR
136 facilities
8.0
Arizona, AZ
568 facilities
8.3
California, CA
1457 facilities
7.6
Colorado, CO
343 facilities
8.6
Connecticut, CT
172 facilities
7.8
8.3
Delaware, DE
40 facilities
8.1
Florida, FL
1549 facilities
8.0
Georgia, GA
609 facilities
5.3
Hawaii, HI
32 facilities
7.5
Iowa, IA
472 facilities
7.7
Idaho, ID
141 facilities
8.1
Illinois, IL
688 facilities
7.8
Indiana, IN
480 facilities
7.9
Kansas, KS
267 facilities
7.9
Kentucky, KY
271 facilities
7.9
Louisiana, LA
113 facilities
8.1
Massachusetts, MA
351 facilities
7.9
Maryland, MD
225 facilities
7.6
Maine, ME
143 facilities
7.9
Michigan, MI
809 facilities
7.2
Minnesota, MN
819 facilities
7.4
Missouri, MO
519 facilities
8.0
Mississippi, MS
182 facilities
6.9
Montana, MT
125 facilities
7.7
North Carolina, NC
658 facilities
7.3
North Dakota, ND
101 facilities
7.6
Nebraska, NE
304 facilities
8.1
New Hampshire, NH
95 facilities
8.2
New Jersey, NJ
355 facilities
8.2
New Mexico, NM
107 facilities
8.3
Nevada, NV
118 facilities
8.2
New York, NY
495 facilities
8.0
Ohio, OH
858 facilities
8.1
Oklahoma, OK
244 facilities
7.2
Oregon, OR
426 facilities
7.9
Pennsylvania, PA
1088 facilities
8.3
Rhode Island, RI
66 facilities
8.1
South Carolina, SC
395 facilities
7.2
South Dakota, SD
127 facilities
8.3
Tennessee, TN
436 facilities
8.3
Texas, TX
1186 facilities
7.8
Utah, UT
163 facilities
8.2
Virginia, VA
455 facilities
8.2
Vermont, VT
56 facilities
7.9
Washington, WA
537 facilities
7.5
Wisconsin, WI
1051 facilities
8.7
West Virginia, WV
57 facilities
4.1
Wyoming, WY
47 facilities

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal, or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney, or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.