The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Pima County, AZ for 2024

Pima County is a sprawling county with more than 1 million residents, nearly one in five of whom are aged 65 and over. Roughly 8 percent of Medicare recipients are seniors living with Alzheimer's disease or dementia. The Desert Southwest Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association serves local seniors and families who have been affected by Alzheimer's. 

In Pima County, seniors with dementia receive memory care services in assisted living facilities that specialize in providing this level of care. Facilities are licensed and regulated by the Division of Public Health Licensing Services, Bureau of Residential Facilities Licensing. Families in Pima County have nearly two dozen memory care facilities to choose from, the majority of which are located in the city of Tucson. 

• Pima County seniors do not pay state income tax on Social Security income, but all other types of retirement income are partially or fully taxed at the state level. This may affect how much money can be put toward memory care in this region. 
  
• Pima County's air quality is decent, with the county receiving a C for ozone pollution and an A for short-term particle pollution from the American Lung Association. Because good air quality can lessen the symptoms of conditions like asthma and COPD, the county may appeal to some families seeking memory care for a loved one. 
  
• Pima County's cost of living is slightly higher than the national average and is 10 percent lower than the state average, which may benefit budget-conscious families who are looking for memory care services for a loved one. Healthcare expenses in this county are more than 15 percent lower than state and national averages.
  
• Pima County's crime rate is higher than state and national averages, with property crime rating 49.6 and violent crime rating 49.3 on a 100-point scale. This is higher than the national averages of 38.1 and 31.1, which may be a consideration for safety-minded families who are researching local memory care facilities. 

Memory Care costs in Pima County start around $5,259 per month on average, while the nationwide average cost of memory care is $5,694 per month.

It’s important to note that memory care rates in Pima County and the surrounding suburbs can vary widely based on factors such as location, the level of care needed, apartment size and the types of amenities offered at each community.

Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Memory Care in Arizona page.

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for memory care, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance memory care costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance memory care, visit our Memory Care in Arizona page.

Pima County-area memory care communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all memory care communities in Arizona are required to follow. Visit our Memory Care in Arizona page for more information about these laws.