Columbia is a large city in east-central Maryland with a population of nearly 100,000 people, with those who are 65 and over making up almost 14 percent of the population. It's estimated by the Alzheimer's Association that 110,000 Marylanders have Alzheimer's disease, primarily diagnosed in seniors age 65 and over. The number of state residents with the disease is expected to increase to 130,000 by 2025.
The Columbia area has three dozen memory care facilities, giving families plenty of options to choose from. Three of these facilities are located in the city, and the other 30 are in nearby cities, including Laurel, Ellicott City and Catonsville. While some memory care facilities have their own dedicated building, most are situated within assisted living facilities, also called assisted living programs.