The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Tucker, GA for 2024

 

Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia affecting adults aged 65+ in the United States. An estimated 6.7 million Americans live with it, a figure projected to rise to almost 13 million by 2050. The 2024 Alzheimer's Association report also notes one in three Americans dies with dementia, raising the possibility of Alzheimer-related deaths increasing accordingly. However, CDC figures for Tucker between 2016 and 2020 reveal deaths from Alzheimer's, although up by 3.77%, were far below fatalities from all causes, which rose by 30.75%. Interestingly, an above-average 19% of Tucker's 37,000 residents are seniors, yet this doesn't seem to have affected the CDC data. 

Although there isn't yet a cure for cognitive disorders, dementia care is getting better. Memory care facilities support seniors with dementia and provide them with safe spaces. There are programs to slow down dementia's advance and life-enriching activities to stimulate residents cognitively and emotionally.

This guide compares memory care costs and reviews the benefits and drawbacks of living in Tucker. It also looks at financial options and lists some resources for families.

 

Health Facility Regulation is the division within the Georgia Department of Community Health responsible for licensing memory care facilities. It enforces states and federal statutes, investigates complaints and conducts unannounced inspections to ensure facilities comply with licensing conditions involving staff training, the company's financial stability and adherence to fire and health and safety regulations.

 

• Tucker is home to the highly-regarded Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital, which specializes in issues related to bones, muscles, tendons and nerves. Outside the city limits, but nearby, is Emory St. Joseph's Hospital, ranked as high-performing in almost 20 procedures and regarded as one of Georgia's finest hospitals.
• Based on the U.S. average of 100, Tucker's cost of living index of 107.4 appears high, particularly when compared to Georgia's 94.5. However, the city is in the Atlanta metro area, which is known for having a higher cost of living than much of the state. Within this area, Tucker's cost of living is considered quite low.
• Ranked on a scale of 1 to 100, with 1 being low, property crime in the city ranks at 55.5, which is far above the national average of 35.4. Violent crime is less common, though, ranking at 21.3 compared to the country's average of 22.7. Families considering Tucker for memory care may be pleased to know licensed facilities must introduce "safety and security precautions that ... protect residents from harm." Although each facility is unique, these precautions often include controlled-access doors and 24/7 awake staff.
• Tucker's subtropical climate results in hot and humid summers, with highs of 88 degrees and uncomfortably muggy days between June and August. Annual rainfall of 16 inches above the national average of 38 is a contributory factor. Snowfall isn't common, typically 1 inch per year, and freezing temperatures are infrequent and usually occur during the night.
• On a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being the best, Tucker's air quality index of 40 is 18 points below the national average, and its water quality of 32 is 23 points below the norm. However, the city boasts 107 extra physicians per capita than the country's average of 210, so waiting times for medical care may be shorter in Tucker.

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.

Tucker's median monthly fee for memory care is $4,806, although lower and higher fees are possible based on the community's number of amenities and location.

Although the average family in Tucker saves $819 per month on memory care when compared to the national average, they pay another $387 when compared to the typical Georgian family. However, Tucker is more affordable than other nearby options. Families would need to increase their monthly spending by $60 in Gainesville, $424 in Athens and $560 in Rome. 

Nursing home care, at $7,528 per month, is the only option costlier than memory care's $4,806. Both can support seniors at all stages of the memory loss journey. Families may find other options can help up to the mid-stage of dementia, but none will provide 24/7 assistance without substantially increasing their fees. Consequently, 44 hours of home health care per month can be had for $4,576 and in-home care for $4,290. Adult day care averages $1,327 but requires daily trips to a center, and assisted living offers 24/7 care for $3,845, but it's unsuitable for people with dementia.

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 Georgia page.