Memory Care Communities in Scottsdale, Arizona

On average, memory care facilities in Scottsdale charge $4,969 per month. This rate is $31 below Arizona’s statewide average ($5,000) and $656 below the national average ($5,625). Across Arizona, citywide memory care costs range anywhere from $6,250 (Flagstaff) to $4,750 per month (Yuma). In Lake Havasu City, memory care providers charge around $5,875 per month. On average, facilities in Tucson charge $5,063 per month.

Select assisted living facilities offer memory care as a standalone, add-on service, usually charging 20-30% more for memory care than standard assisted living care. Since there aren’t any authoritative resources on memory care costs in the United States, we’ve estimated memory care costs in Scottsdale, Arizona and nearby cities by pulling assisted living costs from Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey and adding 25%.

Memory care residents often have financial strategies that incorporate public and private payments to cover their care. By understanding the programs they qualify for and out-of-pocket expenses, seniors and families can ensure the long-term viability of residential dementia care.

• Medicaid: The statewide Medicaid managed care program, Arizona Long Term Care Services, pays for memory care expenses, such as case management, personal care services, respite care, and rehabilitative therapies.
• Medicare: Medicare doesn't cover nonmedical custodial care, which makes up the bulk of memory care services. However, Part B coverage pays for medically necessary services in a memory care facility, such as skilled nursing and medication administration, helping seniors reduce out-of-pocket costs.
• VA Benefits: Qualifying veterans pay for some memory care services through the Geriatrics and Extended Care program, which covers personal care and meals, and they receive increased monthly pension payments through the Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits programs. The VA also operates the Arizona State Veteran Home, which sits 10 miles away in Phoenix and features a 25-bed memory care unit.
• Private Payments: This funding covers all memory care costs, including room and board fees, meals, recreation and personal care services. Some common private payment methods seniors in Scottsdale rely on include Social Security benefits, pension income, long-term care insurance and money from their retirement savings accounts.

Adult day care ($2,167) is the most affordable senior care option in Scottsdale. Assisted living costs $3,975 per month. Home care and home health care providers both charge around $5,958. Nursing homes are the costliest senior care providers in Scottsdale, with rates ranging from $6,418 for a semiprivate room and $7,908 for a private room. 

The Bureau of Residential Facilities Licensing, a division of the Arizona Department of Health Services, oversees, regulates and licenses assisted living facilities in Scottsdale that offer memory care services. The BRFL provides numerous resources to memory care facility residents, family members, caregivers and the public at large, including a comprehensive directory of memory care facilities in Arizona.

Benefits

• Scottsdale has dry weather throughout the year with minimal humidity and rainfall, and its daytime temperatures range from 65 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. Memory care facilities help residents stay comfortable through indoor recreational activities and individually controlled thermostats.
• Arizona doesn’t tax Social Security benefits, making memory care in Scottsdale financially viable for those primarily relying on this income. Additionally, the state exempts food and prescription medication from the sales tax.
• Scottsdale, which has served as a member of the AARP Age-Friendly Network since 2020, has an action plan that focuses on eight livability metrics that improve favorability for seniors. The city's commitment to seniors fosters a welcoming environment for memory care residents.

Drawbacks

• Scottsdale’s cost of living runs nearly 9% above the national norm, affecting general affordability and memory care costs. To improve access to residential care for qualifying individuals with dementia, many local memory care communities accept payment from ALTCS.
• Scottsdale's crime rate exceeds 79% of Arizona cities and 81% of U.S. communities, with residents seeing about 22 violent and property crimes per 1,000 people annually. Local memory care facilities support resident safety through security gates and surveillance cameras.