The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in West Palm Beach, FL for 2024

West Palm Beach is a city in southern Florida that’s home to around 117,000 residents. About one-fifth of the city’s population are seniors aged 65 and older. Alzheimer’s disease is responsible for an increasing number of deaths among elderly Americans each year. Studies from the Alzheimer’s Association show that one in every three seniors dies with dementia. To help combat this, many cities have adopted a variety of dementia care initiatives. West Palm Beach has been successful in these efforts. As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of Alzheimer’s-related deaths in the city decreased by more than 31% between 2016 and 2020.

This achievement is partly due to the care provided by the city’s many memory care facilities. These communities ensure seniors with dementia have access to the personalized daily support they need in a safe, secure setting.

This guide features information about memory care in West Palm Beach, including some of the benefits and drawbacks of living in the city, the average cost of memory care and where seniors can go for local support.

The Bureau of Health Facility Regulation oversees and monitors memory care communities in West Palm Beach and throughout the state of Florida. It has online licensure information for providers and a public records database that includes facility operation information and statements of deficiencies for seniors and their families to consider when navigating memory care options. 

• Seniors in West Palm Beach have access to 254 physicians per 100,000 people compared with the national median of 210 per 100,000. The city also has a good air quality rating of 69 on a 100-point scale, meaning residents are less exposed to hazardous pollutants. 
• Seniors have access to three hospitals in West Palm Beach and several more in surrounding areas. The HCA Florida JFK North Hospital is a 280-bed acute care facility offering several advanced medical services, including 24-hour emergency care, pain management and behavioral health services specifically designed for seniors. 
• The cost of living in West Palm Beach is higher than Florida’s statewide average and the national average. On a 100-point scale, West Palm Beach is 108, while the United States scores 100 and Florida sits at 103.1. However, utilities are about 3% less than the U.S. average, and memory care communities offer fixed monthly rates, which can make it easier to budget for additional expenses. 
• Florida is very tax-friendly for seniors, which benefits those living in West Palm Beach. Residents don’t have to pay taxes on their pension or retirement income, Social Security, or inheritance and estate benefits. Florida also doesn’t have a state income tax.
• West Palm Beach has higher violent and property crime rates than the U.S. average. On a 100-point scale, violent crime ranks at 41.9 compared with the national average of 22.7, while property crime is at 67.3 compared with 35.4. However, memory care communities are secure.
• Although West Palm Beach experiences humid weather and frequent thunderstorms during the summer, winters are mild with zero snow accumulation. Seniors can enjoy 238 sunny days per year for outdoor recreation compared with the U.S. average of 205 days. 

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 in West Palm Beach costs about $4,704 per month. However, prices vary depending on a facility’s location and the services or amenities it offers. 

Seniors in West Palm Beach pay about $300 less than Florida’s statewide median and $921 less than the national median. Jacksonville offers memory care for a higher monthly rate at $5,825, while care in Miami costs about $777 more than in West Palm Beach. At $5,000 per month, Orlando is also more expensive than West Palm Beach, but Tampa offers a more affordable monthly rate at $4,188. 

Adult day health care is the most affordable senior care option at $1,517 per month. Assisted living is an alternative long-term care option with a monthly rate of $3,763. For seniors who prefer aging in place, in-home care and home health care are also cheaper than memory care at $4,671 and $4,767 respectively. For seniors requiring 24-hour medical care, a semiprivate room at a nursing home costs about $8,164 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 Florida page.