On the outskirts of Orlando, Florida, sits Eustis, a small city of just overĀ 20,000 residentsĀ that experiences high tourism rates. Nearly 25 percent of EustisĀ residents are aged 65 or older, and while many can live independently and care for themselves, some require round-the-clock specialized care for dementia disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease. In fact, an estimated 540,000 seniors throughout Florida have been diagnosed with some form of dementia, and in cities where a large portion of the population is made up of senior citizens, the need for memory care facilities is considerable.
In Eustis, this need is met by nearly 50 facilities in the city and its surrounding areas. These facilities, officially known in Florida as assisted living facilities, are often housed alongside other levels of care because provisions for memory care and assisted living are similar in Florida.