Did You Know: New to the world of dementia and Alzheimer’s care? Take a look at our guide, What Is Memory Care?
In 2022, the national median cost for memory care is about $5,430 per month for a private room. Depending on the specific community, memory care can cost anywhere from $3,000 to over $10,000 per month.
One of the primary determinants of the price is location. Based on data from A Place for Mom, we’ve compiled a list of the most and least expensive states for memory care.
Did You Know: New to the world of dementia and Alzheimer’s care? Take a look at our guide, What Is Memory Care?
State | Median monthly price |
---|---|
District of Columbia | $11,490 |
Vermont | $8,400 |
Hawaii | $8,100 |
New Jersey | $7,710 |
Massachusetts | $7,695 |
Maine | $7,695 |
Connecticut | $7,250 |
New Hampshire | $6,950 |
New York | $6,895 |
Minnesota | $6,418 |
State | Median monthly price |
---|---|
Georgia | $3,995 |
Utah | $4,220 |
Idaho | $4,336 |
Alabama | $4,410 |
South Carolina | $4,415 |
Tennessee | $4,417 |
Mississippi | $4,452 |
Kentucky | $4,513 |
New Mexico | $4,600 |
Florida | $4,650 |
To care for residents with cognitive impairments, memory care facilities provide supervision from specially trained staff and a secure environment with stimulating therapies. Memory care services include:
Memory care facilities generally cost more than assisted living due to the level of care, training, and specialization required. A memory care facility provides assistance to people with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other memory impairments, with specific care plans and stimulating activities to boost brain health.
An assisted living facility is a long-term care option for seniors offering personal care assistance and communal activities. Both facilities may offer 24/7 supervision along with three meals a day, laundry, and housekeeping services.
According to Genworth, the monthly median cost for an assisted living facility is $4,635. You can expect to pay 20 percent to 30 percent more in memory care costs due to specialized training, mobility assistance, and additional security on the premises.
Some assisted living and memory care facilities require charges for services beyond their base level of care. Under a fee-for-service model, for example, you will need to pay a base rate for room and board at your assisted living or memory care facility. If you need additional services, then some assisted living communities will charge additional fees and incorporate a fee-for-service model.
Some communities opt instead for an inclusive monthly payment that includes the rental fee for the room along with all the transportation, utilities, housekeeping, and personal care assistance. In many cases, this monthly fee won’t increase or result in added fees for additional services.
You may want to inquire about the pricing tiers at the senior community you choose for your services, since they may have certain service caps or different pricing models. Some communities may also have an interview and entrance fee deposit on top of the monthly rental fees.
If you or a loved one has Alzheimer’s or dementia, then Medicare can help pay for some of the costs of home health care, skilled nursing care, or dementia-related diagnostic tests. Medicare does not cover memory care, however, which means many people are left to figure out a way to pay for this type of care.
In addition to using your savings, some other ways to pay for memory care include:
When looking at memory care communities for yourself or a loved one, keep the following in mind:
To learn more about dementia care, check out our helpful guides:
Due to its more specialized care, memory care tends to cost about 30 percent more than assisted living.
Some memory care communities use all-inclusive pricing, while others charge extra fees for additional personal care needs.
Assisted living communities can be relatively hands-off with care, but memory care communities have personnel who are trained in the nuances of caring for people with cognitive impairments. Because of the increased level of care, memory care tends to be more expensive.
Medicaid can be used to pay for some of the costs of memory care.