The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Clay County, MO for 2024

Clay County, the fifth most populous county in the state of Missouri, is home to 221,939 people. Almost 25,000 of those residents are seniors aged 65 and older, and some might be living with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or other cognitive impairments. To support these seniors, Clay County has two memory care facilities, both of which are located in Kansas City.

In Clay County, as is the case with the rest of Missouri, memory care facilities are known as Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs) and Residential Care Facilities        (RCFs), both of which are governed by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Division of Regulation and Licensure, Section for Long-Term Care Regulation.

• The cost of living in Clay County is 99, slightly lower than the U.S. average of 100, although healthcare expenses rank slightly higher than the average at 103. Housing and groceries both rank lower than the average, which might be good news for families hoping to relocate to the area to be closer to their loved one in care.
  
• On a 100-point scale where 1 represents the safest places to live, Clay County has a violent crime rating of 34.2, three points higher than the national average of 31.1, and a property crime rating of 35, three points lower than the national average of 38.1. While seniors living in memory care facilities might not be affected by these crime rates, it’s still a good idea for families to inquire with prospective facility staff about safeguards they have in place to keep their residents safe.
  
• While the state of Missouri only partially taxes social security income and public pensions, private pensions and retirement savings account income are fully taxed. Seniors living in Clay County who depend on these types of income might have a harder time allocating money toward their memory care expenses.
  
• Residents of Clay County enjoy warm summers with highs of 88 degrees and cooler winters with lows of 19. While the area only receives 17 inches of snow each year compared to the national average of 26 inches, seniors who don’t like cold winters might not enjoy living in the county.

Memory Care costs in Clay County start around $6,561 per month on average, while the nationwide average cost of memory care is $5,694 per month.

It’s important to note that memory care rates in Clay 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 Missouri 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 Missouri page.

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