Memory Care Communities in Waltham, Massachusetts

Waltham is a relatively expensive place to obtain memory care, with local facilities charging $8,524 per month for services. This is about $400 over the state average, and it is considerably higher than the national norm of $5,625. In Barnstable Town, monthly fees are higher at $8,750, but families may save about $1,400 by choosing a memory care facility in Worcester. In Springfield, care costs are about $2,200 less than in Waltham, and in Pittsfield, care costs are very competitive at $2,605.

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.

In Waltham, memory care facilities charge $8,524 monthly for care.

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 Massachusetts page.

In Waltham, dementia care is costly compared to most other senior care options, with monthly fees coming in at $8,524. This is significantly less than nursing home rates, which average about $13,155 for semiprivate rooms, but other long-term care solutions may be more economically priced. Seniors without memory-related conditions pay $6,819 for assisted living, and those who obtain private care at home pay $6,292 for in-home care and $6,244 for home health care. Adult day health care costs are even lower at $1,614.

Memory care facilities in Waltham are overseen by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, and they comply with minimum guidelines related to housing, nutrition service and care planning. While they’re licensed as assisted living facilities, they must meet increased requirements for staffing, staff training and specialized safety features to provide dementia care.

• The air quality in Middlesex County, where Waltham is located, is very good and may be beneficial for older adults with certain heart or lung conditions. The American Lung Association gives the city high marks across all three metrics it measures, including a passing score for annual particle pollution, a B for 24-hour particle pollution and an A for ozone pollution.
• While there are no hospitals in Waltham, many memory care facilities have physicians on-call who provide routine check-ups and care coordination services. There are about 371 doctors per capita in this city versus the national rate of 210, and health costs are about 17% lower than national norms.
• Seniors in Waltham don’t pay state income taxes on their Social Security income. However, income from other sources, including retirement savings accounts and public and private pensions, are taxed at the full state rate without any available deductions or exemptions. The sales tax rate is relatively low and prescription drugs are exempt, which may save money for seniors managing chronic conditions.
• Daytime temperatures in Waltham range from 35 in the winter to 83 in the summer, offering mild weather to seniors sensitive to extreme temperatures. The city rates 9.2 on a 10-point comfort index for its high number of days with pleasant weather conditions.
• Waltham’s violent crime rate is lower than the national average, and while property crime is considerably more prevalent, the rate of incidents is still low compared to a typical U.S. city. On a 100-point crime index, the city rates 10.5 for violent crime and 20.1 for property crime versus national respective norms of 22.7 and 35.4.
• Waltham’s overall cost of living rates are about 50% higher than the national average and about 22 points higher than the Massachusetts median on a 100-point index based on national norms. Groceries and utilities are relatively expensive, but housing costs are the main driver behind the city’s high cost of living. Choosing residential memory care may be a financially viable alternative to living independently for those with dementia.