Topeka is the capital city of Kansas, where a projected 53,000 people are living with dementia. This sprawling city has nearly 127,000 residents with a sizable senior community of about 16 percent of the total population. To support local seniors and families affected by Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, the city offers a variety of resources through the public library. Topeka also has four memory care facilities, and there are an additional four nearby.
The state of Kansas does not license or certify memory care facilities, including those that are in Topeka. However, facilities are permitted to serve seniors with "special needs," including dementia, if they have an admissions procedure in place to identify a resident's diagnosis, behavior and specific clinical needs. They must also provide specialized training for staff members and have secured exits.