Memory Care Communities in Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore is at the more affordable end of the spectrum for Maryland. With fees averaging $5,938, it’s below the state median of $6,560. It’s also less expensive than most other cities included in the 2021 Genworth survey, such as Cumberland ($6,560) and Salisbury ($6,225). Hagerstown is the only Maryland city with lower median fees, which, at $5,788, are still above the national average of $5,625, suggesting the state, in general, is costlier than most. However, Baltimore is an affordable alternative to the nation’s capital, where fees are approximately $7,435 per month.

Note: Residential memory care is usually offered in assisted living facilities, and in general, memory care rates tend to be 20-30% higher than assisted living rates. No national database currently tracks memory care costs in the United States, so we’ve estimated the monthly memory care costs listed below by adding 25% to the rates listed in Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey.

Genworth reveals the average fee charged by the city’s assisted living facilities is $5,938 per month, which is around 5.3% more than the national median but 10.5% below the norm for Maryland. 

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for memory care, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance memory care costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance memory care, visit our Memory Care in Maryland page.

Adult day health care is the most affordable option in Maryland, which, with fees averaging $1,927, is less than half the cost of the nearest alternatives — assisted living at $4,750, home care at $4,957 and home health care at $5,053. Memory care is costlier, at $5,938, although it is significantly more affordable than a semiprivate room in a nursing home, which costs approximately $10,798 per month. 

The quality of care in Maryland’s assisted living facilities is monitored by the Office of Health Care Quality, a division of the Maryland Department of Health. It also licenses facilities and certifies those authorized to accept beneficiaries of Medicare and Medicaid. Additionally, it surveys facilities to determine if they’re continuing to comply with their licensing conditions.

• Baltimore County is a dementia-friendly community, which is an initiative that raises awareness about memory loss among the general population and encourages them to include seniors with dementia in social activities. The county’s programs include organizing dementia-awareness events and training various groups that regularly come into contact with seniors, such as transportation companies.
• Baltimore boasts many medical facilities that are nationally ranked in multiple specialties, including Greater Baltimore Medical Center and the University of Maryland Medical Center. The city is also home to Johns Hopkins Hospital, which regularly appears in the country’s top 10 lists and is recognized worldwide for its quality of health care. 
• The latest data for Baltimore shows violent crime, and, to a lesser degree, property crime, is still high by state and national standards. However, the chance of being a victim varies greatly depending on the neighborhood, with areas such as Roland Park and Cedarcroft recognized as safer communities. Citizens concerned about the city’s crime figures should know memory care facilities include stringent security systems, such as keypad-entry doors and monitored surveillance cameras.
• Baltimore’s overall cost of living index of 88.2 is much lower than the state and national averages of 113 and 100, respectively. The health cost index is lower than the national average too, which suggests Baltimore’s seniors spend less for similar levels of health care services than their peers across the country.
• Baltimore has a continental climate, resulting in hot and humid summers, with temperatures averaging 88 degrees in July and 27 degrees in January. Precipitation levels are high, with rainfall typically 4 inches more than normal and snowfall at around 19 inches per year, which is below average. There are around 213 sunny days a year, which is more than the national median of 205.
• With a health cost index of 97.1, Baltimore’s environment is considered healthier than normal. Air and water quality are a little below average but the city boasts an exceptionally high number of Medicare-registered physicians and an above-average Superfund index score of 91.