What Is the Average Stay In Memory Care?

The average stay in a memory care facility is 2-3 years. However, some seniors remain in a community for 10 years or longer. Many factors influence the duration of a stay, such as age, overall health, level of memory impairment at admission and progression of the disease.

Typically, the earlier someone moves into a memory care community, the longer their stay will be, unless they experience health concerns that require a move to more intensive care.

Many families choose to care for an elderly relative at home, especially during the early stages of the disease. However, seniors with a health issue or a disability that affects their ability to carry out everyday tasks may choose to move into a care community with only mild cognitive impairment. In addition to specialized dementia programming, memory care facilities provide residents with 24/7 supervision and the assistance they need to complete the activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and grooming.

People enter memory care facilities at different stages of dementia, which impacts the length of stay. The average adult lives with Alzheimer’s between 4 and 8 years. However, the effects and progression of the disease vary from person to person, and life expectancy can be as long as 20 years after diagnosis. Seniors with early-stage Alzheimer’s may not require memory care if they simply experience memory lapses but still work, socialize, drive and live independently. As Alzheimer’s or dementia progresses to the middle and latter stages, the need for specialized memory care increases, with people in the latter stages eventually requiring round-the-clock care and supervision.