The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Howard County, MD for 2024

Howard County, Maryland, has a robust population of 321,113 residents, 13.4 percent of whom are aged 65 years and older. People with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias make up 10.8 percent of the senior population. Howard County has five memory care facilities to serve this population. These facilities are licensed by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and are called Assisted Living Programs (ALPs).

• Charles County is home to world-class medical facilities, including those specializing in brain health and dementia care such as the Howard County General Hospital, in the event of medical emergencies or illness.
  
• Seniors looking for memory care facilities in Howard County should be aware that the area's cost of living is 50 percent higher than the national average. Almost all sectors of spending in Howard County are quite a bit higher than elsewhere in the state, but housing is the most expensive. Homeowners can expect to pay 134 percent more on housing than the national average.
  
• Winters in Howard County can be snowy and cold. The area gets an average of 26 inches of snow per year, and the average January temperature can drop to 24 degrees. People with dementia who have difficulty getting around in cold weather can talk to their memory care providers about ways to stay ambulatory.
  
• Howard County has crime rates significantly lower than the rest of the country, making it a safe place for seniors who need memory care. On a scale of 1 to 100, where 1 is the safest scenario, Howard County scores 23.7, just over 15 percent lower than the US average. Violent crime has a score of 21.1 compared to a national average of 31.1.

Memory Care costs in Howard County start around $6,002 per month on average, while the nationwide average cost of memory care is $5,743 per month.

It’s important to note that memory care rates in Howard County and the surrounding suburbs can vary widely based on factors such as location, the level of care needed, apartment size and the types of amenities offered at each community.

Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Memory Care in Maryland page.

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.

Howard County-area memory care communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all memory care communities in Maryland are required to follow. Visit our Memory Care in Maryland page for more information about these laws.