Macedonia is a suburb of Akron, Ohio, and has a population of about 12,000 people, of whom 17 percent are seniors 65 and over. Seniors in this age group are among the most likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease and other dementia-related conditions. Throughout the state, 220,000 seniors are living with one of these diseases, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
To accommodate Macedonia's seniors who require special care due to these cognitive conditions, there are two memory care facilities in Macedonia and more than a dozen more in nearby communities, such as Cleveland and Bedford. In Ohio, memory care facilities are referred to as Residential Care Facilities, and these communities are housed in standalone properties or within assisted living facilities. The Ohio Department of Health regulates and licenses both types of facilities.