Memory Care Communities in Portsmouth, Virginia

Portsmouth is a relatively budget-friendly option for memory care, with seniors in this city paying $5,863 per month for care. Although this exceeds the national average of $5,625, it runs about 11% below Virginia's norm and comes in below rates in nearby cities. For example, in Richmond, rates exceed Portsmouth’s norm by 4%, and in Charlottesville, care costs average 22% higher. Additionally, Portsmouth may be a cost-effective alternative to Roanoke, where seniors pay $7,406 for dementia care.

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 rates in Portsmouth average $5,863 per month.

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 Virginia page.

Seniors in Portsmouth pay an average monthly rate of $5,863 for memory care. This rate comes in 23% higher than what agencies charge for in-home care services, such as personal care assistance and companionship, as well as home health care services, such as rehabilitative therapies and wound care. Assisted living, which provides housing and personal care for seniors who don’t need dementia support, costs about 20% less than memory care, and seniors who attend adult day health care pay $1,690 for personal care in a daytime community environment. Even so, memory care is economical compared to nursing home care, which costs $8,490 for 24-hour medical support and monitoring in an institutional setting.

All memory care communities in Portsmouth obtain licensure through the Virginia Department of Social Services. This department monitors facilities through annual licensing processes, as well as regular site inspections, and it enforces rules for care planning, security measures and recreational activities. It also conducts background checks on all prospective caregivers.

• Older adults in Portsmouth don’t pay state income taxes on their Social Security income, and although the state taxes other forms of retirement income at rates of 2% to 5.75%, it provides a deduction of up to $12,000 for those aged 65 and over. This may reduce what seniors owe in taxes and allow them to put more money toward memory care expenses.

• Portsmouth’s crime rate is higher than 98% of U.S. communities and 99% of cities across Virginia, with residents having a 1 in 22 chance of being victims of violent or property-related offenses. The local crime rate is high compared to cities with comparable population sizes, but seniors in memory care facilities generally benefit from security features, such as professionally monitored alarm systems and high-security locks.

• Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center operates as the only hospital in Portsmouth proper. This award-winning medical facility offers 24-hour emergency care and a comprehensive neuroscience unit with doctors who provide dementia treatment. Additionally, the hospital offers telemedicine services, letting residents obtain basic health care without disruptive off-site appointments.

• Throughout the year, daytime temperatures in Portsmouth range from 49 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit, and residents see about 5 inches of snow and 47 inches of rain. Humidity levels tend to run high during the summer months, but fortunately, memory care communities help residents stay comfortable through amenities such as unit-controlled thermostats and indoor common areas.

• Compared to Virginia and the nation as a whole, Portsmouth is a budget-friendly place to live. In general, living costs in this city run 10% below the national norm and 14 percentage points below Virginia’s average, mainly due to its economical housing prices. As a result, local memory care costs tend to come in below state and national averages.