The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in New Port Richey, FL for 2024

New Port Richey is a suburban city on Florida’s Gulf Coast that’s home to over 16,700 residents, with the 65+ age group making up 28.3% of the population. Seniors are the group most at risk of developing dementia, so consequently, cities with more elderly residents are likely to have higher mortality rates linked to the condition. Data from the CDC reveals deaths in New Port Richey caused by Alzheimer’s increased by 53.11% between 2014 and 2018, while those from all causes rose by 11.6%. This supports a trend acknowledged in a 2020 study by the Alzheimer’s Association, which also projects cases of the disease to more than double by 2050.

Memory care facilities offer solutions for seniors unable to live at home and in need of 24/7 care. They provide secure and comfortable accommodation designed to avoid triggering residents easily confused and made anxious by changes in their environments. Staff is specially trained to support people with dementia, and certified therapists manage bespoke programs aimed at slowing down dementia’s advance. This guide looks into the pros and cons of living in New Port Richey and the costs families can expect for memory care and alternative options. It also lists some helpful resources.

The Bureau of Health Facility Regulation has sole authority to grant licenses to memory care providers who meet registration requirements and to revoke licenses from those who fail to meet minimum standards. The Bureau is also responsible for certifying facilities to accept Medicare and Medicaid. 

• The average cost of living index of 92 for New Port Richey suggests the city is more affordable than most in Florida, which has an index of 102.8. The city’s health index is about the same as the states but the transportation index of 102 is 10.6 points lower than Florida’s, indicating New Port Richey’s seniors don’t pay as much to get around their city.
• New Port Richey typically gets around 51 inches of rain annually, creating humid days, particularly in the last months of summer. However, for most of the year the city experiences great weather, ranging from a pleasantly cool 49 degrees in January to 90 degrees in July. There are also around 240 sunny days per year, which is significantly more than the U.S. average.
• The city has a median health cost index of 96.7, placing it comfortably in the better-than-average range. Factors that contribute to its score include the city’s work to rejuvenate contaminated land and the above-average quality of air coming in from the Gulf, which is particularly beneficial for seniors with respiratory conditions.
• Crime rates in New Port Richey are above the norm for Florida and the country. The chances of being a victim of property crime are 1 in 39, compared to the state’s 1 in 56. Families concerned about loved ones in memory care facilities should know that license conditions require they have stricter security than normal, such as surveillance cameras and keypad-entry doors.
• Morton Plant North Bay Hospital is the major medical facility in New Port Richey and Richey Medical Center is the hub for primary care in the city. Residents don’t need to travel far to reach hospitals beyond the city, such as the Medical Center of Trinity, which is only a 15-minute journey.
• Seniors in New Port Richey have several free and low-cost options for getting around. They include a paratransit service for eligible seniors, where the sliding scale costs range from $0 to $3 per one-way trip. Adults aged 65 and older qualify for the reduced fare of $0.75 on fixed-route buses.

Because of the greater levels of care provided, memory care communities typically cost between 20 and 30% more per month than assisted living. We can find an average for memory care fees by adding 25% to the costs published in the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey. This finds the median fee in New Port Richey to be $4,188, which is significantly more affordable than Florida’s average of $5,000 and the country’s $5,625.

The only city within a 2-hour journey of New Port Richey with lower average fees is Lakeland, where seniors typically pay $4,125 per month. In Orlando, they pay the state average of $5,000, while in Homosassa Springs, $5,313 is usual.

Adult day centers offer the most affordable care in New Port Richey, with monthly average fees of around $2,123, followed by assisted living, at $3,350. Homemaker agencies are likely to charge around $4,767, while home health aides cost about $95 more per month. Nursing homes have the most expensive fees, with private rooms typically costing $9,885 and semiprivate ones at $8,927.

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 Florida page.