The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Multnomah County, OR for 2024

Multnomah County, in the northwest region of Oregon along the Columbia River, has a population of 735,334. Of those residents, more than 10 percent are seniors in the vulnerable 65 and older age range, some of whom may be living with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia. These seniors may benefit from living in one of the 17 memory care facilities located within the county.

In Multnomah County and the rest of Oregon, memory care facilities are referred to as Memory Care Communities and are overseen by the Oregon Department of Human Services.

• Multnomah County’s cost of living is 142.8, more than 42 points higher than the national average of 100, although healthcare expenses are lower than the average at 74. However, housing and transportation both are higher than the national average at 215 and 148, respectively. Budget-conscious families might want to keep the higher cost of living in mind when thinking of relocating to the county to be closer to a loved one in care.
  
• Multnomah County has a lot of cloudy, wet days. The area gets 44 inches of rainfall annually, slightly higher than the national average of 39 inches, and only sees 142 sunny days each year, compared to the U.S. average of 205 days. Sperling’s Comfort Index gives the county a 79 out of 100, much higher than the national average of 54, suggesting that seniors with arthritis and joint pain might be more comfortable living in the county than in other parts of Oregon.
  
• Crime rates in Multnomah County are 47.4 for violent crime and 49.2 for property crime, both slightly higher than the national averages of 31.1 and 38.1, respectively. While these higher crime rates might be cause for concern, most secure memory care facilities have safeguards in place to keep their residents safe.
  
• Oregon doesn’t tax Social Security benefits, partially taxes pensions and fully taxes retirement savings account income. Multnomah County seniors should keep Oregon’s tax laws in mind when preparing their memory care budgets.

Memory Care costs in Multnomah County start around $5,933 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 Multnomah 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 Oregon 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 Oregon page.

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