Southbury, Connecticut is a town of roughly 20,000, located in western New Haven County. Over 75,000 seniors across the state of Connecticut have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and in a town where 28.2 percent of its residents are aged 65 and older, several memory care programs, or Alzheimer's special care units (SCUs) as they are referred to as in Connecticut, are available to serve this segment of the population.Â
In Southbury itself, there are two facilities offering this type of care, along with an additional 21 options available in nearby communities. Each of these facilities, as required by the state's Department of Public Health, have a special license that authorizes them to provide services for individuals with Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
- The New Haven-Milford metropolitan area is ranked as the 20th most secure place to live in the U.S. for large metropolitan areas. On a scale out of 100, with 100 being high crime, the area receives a score of 23.9 for violent crime and 23.5 for property-related offenses, which are significantly lower than the U.S. averages of 31.1 and 38.1 in the same categories.Â
At 124.7, the overall cost of living in Southbury exceeds the U.S. national average of 100. Housing and associated daily living expenses are the largest contributing factors for this, something seniors transitioning to a memory care facility may need to consider when budgeting.
The New Haven-Milford metropolitan area is home to world-class medical facilities, including those specializing in brain health and dementia care such as St. Mary's Hospital and Waterbury Hospital, in the event of medical emergencies or illness. The Bridgeport Hospital is also located less than 30 miles away, which has received national recognition and several prestigious awards for its dedicated work in geriatrics.
While the climate is generally more temperate in Southbury than in other parts of Connecticut, the area only receives a 49 out of a possible 100 in terms of overall comfort. Winter lows can drop below 20 degrees, and an average of 45 inches of snow are expected each year. Check with individual memory care facilities to see what measures they have in place to ensure residents are safe during winter months.