A warm, humid climate and low housing costs make Lafayette Parish an appealing destination for retirees and their families who are considering the area. There are over 240,000 residents in the city, of which an estimated 10.3 percent are aged 65 and over, the age most susceptible to Alzheimer's and dementia. The Alzheimer's Association estimates the disease impacts 87,000 Louisianans and expects that number to increase to 110,000 by 2025.
Lafayette Parish seniors with cognitive impairments have numerous memory care facilities to choose from that can help provide for their specific physical and neurological needs. Collectively known as Adult Residential Care Provider (ARCP) and Alzheimer's Special Care Units (ASCU), these programs are licensed by the Department of Health and Hospitals Health Standards Section.