Memory Care Communities in El Cajon, California

El Cajon’s memory care residents pay $1,250 more than the California mid-rate and $2,375 more than the U.S. median price. Sacramento offers relatively modest savings of $138, while seniors in Merced pay about $5,069 less each month than their peers in El Cajon. Memory care is pricier in Napa, where the cost jumps by $297 compared with El Cajon’s median fee.

Note: Residential memory care is usually offered in assisted living facilities, and in general, memory care rates tend to be 20-30% higher than assisted living rates. No national database currently tracks memory care costs in the United States, so we've estimated the monthly memory care costs listed below by adding 25% to the rates listed in Genworth's 2021 Cost of Care Survey.

El Cajon’s memory care communities charge a typical monthly fee of $9,063.

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 California page.

In El Cajon, the median rate for memory care is $2,495 below the cost of a nursing home semi-private room, emphasizing the higher price for nursing facility care due to the more intensive clinical services it provides. Seniors who age at home pay even less; home health care, which includes home-based medical care, stands $1,818 less expensive, while the nonmedical support of in-home care is $2,199 cheaper. Assisted living communities offer personalized help with day-to-day activities in a congregate environment and charge $1,813 less than dementia care facilities. 

The California Department of Social Services, Senior Care Licensing Program, oversees memory care communities in El Cajon and throughout the state. Department staff inspects facilities regularly to ensure they adhere to licensing terms and state regulations. They also investigate complaints against communities and help individuals resolve them.

• El Cajon hosts several primary and urgent care clinics, including El Cajon Family Health Center, Borrego Health Centro Medico El Cajon and Chase Avenue Family Health Center. Although each offers various medical services, the latter also provides older adult care. Additionally, just 4 miles away, Sharp Grossmont Hospital operates 24/7 and offers comprehensive clinical and wellness services.
• Overall living costs in El Cajon stand 3.3% above the California average and a considerable 54.9% higher than the national figure. Rates run especially high for housing, groceries, transportation and utilities compared to national averages. However, the California Department of Aging administers several assistance programs, and the fixed monthly fees of memory care may help seniors budget more effectively.    
• San Diego County joined the Dementia Friendly America Network, demonstrating its commitment to fostering a livable environment for those impacted by cognitive conditions. It raises local awareness, offers family support and helps businesses become more accessible for people with dementia.
• Aligning with regional norms, El Cajon experiences hot, dry summers and cool, cloudy winters. The short summer runs from early July to the end of September, and the longer winter lasts from the end of November to the start of April. Annually, temperatures usually range between 41 and 87 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Crime-wise, El Cajon has fewer property-related incidents than national and state averages. The violent crime rate is 0.75 points higher than the U.S. median but 0.24 points below California’s. However, residing in secure memory care communities may enhance feelings of safety for vulnerable adults.