The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Erie County, NY for 2024

Erie County, New York, has over 900,000 residents with 17.5 percent, or over 150,000, seniors over 65 years of age and some may be part of the 400,000 seniors in New York State who are living with Alzheimer's disease. This figure is expected to steadily rise to approximately 460,000 residents by 2025. 

To help people those who live in Erie County, there are over 10 memory care facilities, officially referred to as Special Needs Assisted Living Residences. All are regulated by the New York State Department of Health. 

• While the summers in Erie County are generally pleasant, there's almost three times as much snowfall as the national average. Erie County sees, on average, 75 inches of snow per year. This may cause an issue during the winter months for families traveling to visit their loved ones in memory care and for seniors who enjoy sitting outside.  
• Rates of reported violent and property crime are slightly above the national average in the Erie County area. Families may get greater peace of mind by  inquiring directly to Special Needs Assisted Living Residences and finding out more about the security details at the individual facilities. 
• Erie County is home to world-class medical centers, including those specializing in brain health and dementia care, such as the ECMC Hospital, in the event of medical emergencies or illness.
• In Erie County and all of New York State, Social Security payments aren't taxed, making it an appealing option for some seniors. However, only pensions from the local or federal government and certain public authorities are exempt from tax. This is a potential downside to living in this state, as it could be a drain on seniors' finances.

Memory Care costs in Erie County start around $5,950 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 Erie 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 New York 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 New York page.

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