Unfortunately, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are rising in the United States and around the world. According to Alzheimer’s Disease International, someone in the world develops dementia every three seconds.
In the United States alone, more than seven million people currently have Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia. Those numbers will likely triple by 2050. As the population ages, the need for care for patients with dementia will only grow.
Care can be costly. Owing to specialized needs of memory care patients, the average per-patient cost may be around $400,000 over a lifetime of care. This can be a daunting number for any family.
However, don’t fear. Paying for memory care can be made much easier with some careful planning and understanding of what organizations and options are able to help seniors pay for the cost. Especially in high-demand places like Arizona, help is available.
Read on to understand the cost of memory care, what financial assistance may be available, and how the care community may be able to help your family.
Understanding the Costs of Memory Care
Nationally, the cost of memory care, per month, is often between $5,500 and $7,000. This cost may be slightly less in Arizona, but this is a good general rule of thumb. In some states, such as California and New York, the cost may be more due to higher costs of living.
Memory care costs are generally as follows:
- Room and board: This is almost always the largest expense. This includes food and a private or shared room.
- Activities and therapies: Enrichment activities vary widely by facility. These can include entertainment, recreation, exercise, and other activities that provide comfort and fun for your loved one.
- Non-dementia specialized therapies: These include many different kinds of therapies that don’t fall under the dementia-specific umbrella; programs such as speech therapy or physical therapy that you or your loved ones may still need.
- Specialized dementia care: This type of care includes staff trained specifically for dementia patients, memory therapies for those with dementia, and other structured and unstructured programs.
- Transportation: This includes trips to medical appointments or enrichment activities.
- Medical management: This may include checkups, the administration of medication, and other health screenings.
- Security and safety: This ensures all patients and staff are safe. This is often a greater expense in memory care than other assisted living facilities because of the particular nature of dementia. Costs can include locked wards and security officers.
- Personal care services: This may include services, like haircuts and laundry, aid in eating, help with bathing, etc.
Memory care is often more expensive than generalized assisted living. Typically, it can be 20 to 30% more expensive, including in Arizona.
This is due to the specialized care dementia and Alzheimer’s patients require. Typically, these include:
- Secure wards
- Specialized therapies for dementia patients, such as memory therapies
- Enrichment activities specific to dementia patients
- Staff trained to deal with dementia patients specifically
- Specialized behavior management policies
- Other structured programs for those with dementia
Payment Options for Memory Care
A number of options exist for paying for memory care.
The most common is private pay using savings or assets. With this method, families typically pay out of pocket for memory care using retirement savings, the sale of property, investments, pensions, etc.
Another common option is long-term care insurance to offset recurring expenses. This works like other health insurance, so you’ll have to check things, like benefit limits, maximum benefits, and any elimination periods that may be in effect. It’s also important to note, with any long-term care insurance, it must be purchased before the diagnosis.
Family members often contribute to help share the financial responsibility as well. This can involve asset management, like family trusts or direct monthly contributions from family members.
Financial Assistance Programs
There are some financial assistance programs available for those looking to help a loved one into memory care.
The most common is Medicaid. This is a state and federally funded program for those with a limited income. The program will often cover 100% of memory care services for those who meet the guidelines.
Medicaid is available in Arizona through the Arizona Long-Term Care System, or ALTCS for short.
Another way to pay for memory care is through the bureau of Veterans Affairs. They can often help veterans and their spouses with the cost of memory care.
For those who qualify, there may also be nonprofit and other grants that may be able to help cover the cost.
Choosing the Right Care Community
Choosing the right care community for your loved ones is one of the most important decisions you can make for and with them. Often, the higher the level of care and comfort for your loved ones, the higher the cost — but this is not always the case.
The best way to get a feel for a memory care community is to tour the facility. It’s a good idea to do this at different times per day, so you can get a full picture of the facility and their rhythms.
You’ll also want to look for a low staff to patient ratio. Better facilities often have more staff members per resident. With more staff, caretakers have more time to devote to your family member or members. It’s also a good idea to ask facilities about what training their staff have, specifically what training they have with dementia and Alzheimer’s care.
You also want to ask what kind of enrichment activities are available and what specific therapies are offered for those with dementia. Medication and medical support are also good things to inquire about.
Finally, look at the general cleanliness and friendliness of the atmosphere. Is this the kind of place you or your loved one would like to live in?
While cost can be an important consideration when choosing a memory care facility, it is not the only factor when it comes to the comfort and safety of those you love.
Thinking About the Cost of Memory Care? Call Today
While the cost of memory care can be expensive, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. There are numerous programs that can help you and your family pay, and with some early financial planning, you can find quality memory care for your loved one.
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re looking forward to speaking with you, and we are looking forward to caring for those you love.
Contact Haven Health to learn how we can help your loved one feel at home in assisted living.
Sources:
Dementia Statistics. (2025).
Fact Sheet: U.S. Dementia Trends. (2021).
How Medicaid Can Help Seniors Cover the Cost of Assisted Living. (2025).