Nestled in the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs, California, is a resort city where almost one-third of the 48,142 population is over 65 years old. Projections from the Alzheimer’s Association show that the rate of seniors with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia will increase by 29 percent in California by 2025. To meet the needs of this surging demographic, the Palm Springs area offers seven memory care facilities, with two in town and five nearby in Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert.
In California, residential care facilities (RCFs) provide memory care services. RCFs are housing arrangements licensed by the Department of Social Services where 75 percent of the residents are 60 years of age or older, although they may admit residents younger than 60 if their needs are compatible with the needs of other residents. These facilities cannot serve individuals who need 24-hour nursing care or assistance with all activities of daily living. They can support individuals with mild dementia who arrange for their own specialized care. For example, a resident with dementia may receive medical care outside the facility or from a visiting nurse, or they may contract with hospice agencies to access services not provided by their RCF.