Huntington Beach, California, an affluent coastal city with more than 200,000 residents, has more than 16 percent of residents 65 years of age or older. Throughout California, an estimated 650,000 seniors have Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, and in cities like Huntington Beach with large senior populations, the need for memory care is substantial.
The Huntington Beach area is home to 55 memory care facilities that provide support to seniors who've been diagnosed with dementia disorders. These facilities, which are officially known as residential care facilities throughout the state, are closely regulated by the California Department of Social Services and must adhere to strict regulations similar to those in place for assisted living services. Because of the similarities in these regulations, memory care and assisted living services are often offered in the same residential care facility.