The 5 Best Memory Care Facilities in Merced County, CA for 2024

The prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia in Merced County is 9.7 percent among residents 65 and older. Around 11 percent of the county's population falls into this age group, meaning that close to 3,000 people in Merced County are living with dementia.

For family members who are trying to help an affected loved one transition into memory care, Merced County has 17 memory care facilities at the ready. Families may hear them called Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs), which is their official name in California. 

• Merced County is among the more affordable regions in California for seniors and their families, with an overall cost of living that is 56.6 percent less than the state average. Families of seniors with Alzheimer's disease may be interested to know that the county's median healthcare costs are 4 percent cheaper than the U.S. average.
  
• Families may want to ask if a memory care facility has an outdoor area where seniors can enjoy Merced County's bright, dry climate, with its annual average of 263 sunshiny days and only 11 inches of rain.
  
• The air in Merced County earned a passing grade from the American Lung Association for year-round particle pollution but failing marks for ozone and 24-hour particle pollution. These pollutants can cause health problems for seniors, who may be safer staying inside a memory care facility on days with bad air quality.
  
• Merced County's crime rate is higher than those of the surrounding counties of Mariposa and Stanislaus. On a scale of one to 100, where 100 represents the highest level of crime, Merced County has a violent crime rate of 65.2 and a property crime rate of 63.8. While memory care facilities are already secure, concerned families can familiarize themselves with a specific facility's security features while touring it.
  

Memory Care costs in Merced County start around $3,095 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 Merced 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 California 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 California page.

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