Memory Care Communities in Great Falls, Montana

Memory care costs an average of $5,188 per month in Great Falls, $375 less than the state norm and $437 cheaper than the national average. Care is more expensive in most other cities in Montana. Seniors who move to Billings may pay nearly 10% more per month than they would for care in Great Falls. Memory care is also over 12% more expensive in Missoula. Coeur d'Alene, ID, a nearby interstate option, has approximately 12.6% more expensive memory care than Great Falls.

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.

Memory care communities typically charge $5,188 per month in Great Falls.

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 Montana page.

Dementia care costs $5,188 in Great Falls. Families weighing other options might first consider assisted living, as this type of care provides daily support while costing $1,038 less per month than memory care. In-home care provides help with daily activities, similar to assisted living, at a rate of about 9.5% less than memory care, while home health care, also 9.5% cheaper, includes skilled nursing services. Based on the price of a semi private room, traditional nursing care is over 64.8% more expensive than memory care, but it may be a suitable choice for seniors needing more intensive medical treatment.

Memory care is typically provided in assisted living residences or specialized units, both of which are regulated in Great Falls and elsewhere across the state by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. The department sets the minimum standards long-term care providers must follow, conducting inspections to ensure compliance.

 

• The cost of living in Great Falls, measured on a 100-point index, is 87.9, comparing favorably to the U.S. average of 100. This low overall cost of living is complemented by a lack of a sales tax in Montana, helping improve seniors' purchasing power. While Great Falls has a slightly higher-than-average income tax rate of 6.9%, in contrast to the 4.6% seen nationwide, Montana offers a Social Security income tax deduction with greater scaling for low-income seniors.
• Health care is highly accessible in Great Falls, as the city has 36 more physicians for every 100,000 people compared to the national norm of 210. Associated costs are about equivalent to the U.S. average, avoiding major surprises for seniors with Alzheimer's and other chronic illnesses.
• Local hospitals in Great Falls include Benefis East Campus, an award-winning medical provider recognized for its excellence in coronary care, and the Great Falls Clinic Hospital, highly regarded for clinical outcomes in joint replacements. There are also at least two other hospitals within 50 miles, giving seniors more options.
• The incidence of property crimes is quite high in Great Falls, ranking at 65.2 on a 100-point scale compared to the U.S. average of 35.4. Although this may concern families, it's crucial to note memory care communities often have security staff and alarm systems, reducing the risk of this type of crime. Violent crime rates, in contrast, are a little lower than the national norm at 21.8 in Great Falls vs. 22.7 nationwide.
• Great Falls' continental climate leads to relatively calm weather, which seniors sensitive to extreme temperatures may appreciate. While the region experiences 17 fewer sunny days annually than the national norm, it also sees approximately 16 fewer rainy days.
• Air quality in Great Falls falls into the good category of the U.S. Air Quality Index. It also usually meets the WHO annual guidelines, so seniors with respiratory conditions may experience fewer breathing difficulties.