Maine is now the state with the highest percentage of seniors in its population — 21.2% of Mainers are aged 65 or older — claiming the title from Florida as of the 2021 Census estimate. With such a large senior population, the number of people with Alzheimer’s in the state is correspondingly high as well. In 2020, there were 29,000 seniors with Alzheimer’s, and by 2025, that number is estimated to be 35,000. The disease ranked as Maine’s sixth-leading cause of death in 2019.
Maine is a relatively safe and healthy state for seniors overall, however, with very low crime rates and above-average ratings for water and air quality. Upon becoming a member of the AARP Age-Friendly Network in 2019, Maine reorganized its public assistance framework for elderly residents. Health care costs are on par with the national median, and memory care services in Maine cost an average of $7,331 per month.
Memory care can either be offered on its own in a community designed especially for those with dementia or Alzheimer’s, or, more often, it’s provided as a service in a separate wing of an assisted living facility. Memory care programs are designed specifically for those with memory impairment, and the facilities often coordinate social activities and schedules specifically for the needs of those living with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
This guide helps seniors and their families understand the typical cost of memory care in Maine and the wider region. Assistance programs from state agencies and nonprofit organizations are also detailed, along with regulations governing memory care and available options to help pay for services.