Memory Care Communities in San Mateo, California

In San Mateo, memory care facilities charge monthly median rates of $7,899. This is about $1,300 higher than the state norm, and it exceeds the national average by about $2,300. San Mateo is also a relatively costly option for care compared to other surveyed cities in the region, including San Jose and Santa Cruz, where average fees are estimated at $7,500 and $6,938, respectively. Similarly, in Vallejo, memory care facilities charge about $1,700 less than those in San Mateo.

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.

Memory care residents in San Mateo pay approximately $7,899 per month for care.

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.

Memory care facilities in San Mateo charge $7,899, which is several hundred dollars higher than the cost of home health care, which averages $7,150, and in-home care, which costs about $1,000 less than residential memory care. Seniors who don’t need dementia services pay about $1,600 less for residential services, and in adult day health care, rates are the most economically priced in the San Mateo region at $1,950. Nursing home care, which includes around-the-clock medical support, is costlier than memory care at $11,566.

The  California Department of Social Services, Senior Care Licensing Program, monitors memory care facilities in San Mateo. In this city, as in the rest of California, memory care communities are officially licensed as assisted living facilities. However, they follow expanded guidelines related to staff training, care planning and recreational activities to support residents’ unique needs.

 

• San Mateo is home to two hospitals, including Mills Health Center and San Mateo Medical Center. The area is also served by Sutter Health, which provides a full suite of services for those living with Alzheimer’s, including testing, counseling and treatments and interventions. This may make San Mateo a practical option for those seeking dementia care in central California.
• Information from the American Lung Association shows that the air quality in the San Mateo region is relatively poor, which may impact the health and comfort of some seniors. The region gets a C for ozone pollution, indicating moderate levels of smog throughout the year. It gets a passing score for annual particle pollution but a failing grade for 24-hour particle pollution. To maximize residents’ comfort and safety, many memory care facilities are equipped with air purification systems.
• California levies some of the highest state income taxes in the nation, which may impact how much some seniors can put toward residential memory care services. However, Social Security benefits are tax-exempt for all seniors, which may benefit those who rely mainly on this source of income for living expenses.
• San Mateo scores 9.5 on a 10-point comfort index compared to a national score of 7.8, indicating that it’s among the most comfortable places to live in the United States. Year-round temperatures are mild, ranging from daytime highs of 58 degrees in the winter to 75 degrees in the summer, and the city gets about 24 inches of rainfall and no snow. This may appeal to older adults who enjoy relaxing outdoors.
• Crime is uncommon in San Mateo compared to the typical U.S. city, which may be reassuring to families considering local memory care options for their loved ones. On a 100-point crime index, the city scores 17.4 for violent crime and 30.7 for property-related offenses. Similarly, criminal activity is less common here than in similarly sized cities such as Hayward and Berkeley.