The 3 Best Memory Care Facilities in Cullman, AL for 2024

The Alzheimer’s Association predicts a 15% uptick in Alzheimer's cases in Alabama between 2020 and 2025, but in communities such as Cullman, the growing number of people with this disease outpaces state norms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the total number of deaths in the Cullman region went up by 29% between 2016 and 2020, but the number of Alzheimer’s-related deaths surged by 58%. The majority of people who develop this disease are aged 65 and over, an age group that makes up 1 in 5 Cullman residents.

Fortunately, several residential care communities in Cullman provide comprehensive dementia care for those living with memory loss. Memory care communities feature secured environments with comfortable housing, daily meals and hands-on personal care. Residents can participate in brain games and practice familiar activities in life skills stations, as well as benefit from recreational therapies and evidence-based programs.

This guide provides a look at how much memory care facilities in Cullman charge for specialized services, and it outlines some programs that may help residents fund their care. 

The Alabama Department of Public Health, Bureau of Health Provider Standards licenses memory care communities in Cullman as specialty care assisted living facilities and enforces minimum standards for nutrition and medication services, building features and staffing. It also requires memory care facilities to have fully secured perimeters and provide advanced dementia-related training for caregivers.

• Because Alabama ranks as a dementia-friendly community, residents in Cullman have access to a broad range of services and resources, including virtual and in-person memory care cafés and support groups, helplines and educational resources. Dementia Friendly Alabama also publishes a regular newsletter to help individuals stay up-to-date on available programs and services.
• Cullman Regional Medical Center, which sits in the city proper, is a 150-bed hospital that offers a large provider network and a range of primary and specialty services. Memory care residents may obtain neurology services through this hospital, including evaluation, diagnosis and treatment services for dementia.
• Cullman offers exceptional affordability compared to a typical U.S. city, which may benefit families and prospective memory care residents with budgetary considerations. On a 100-point scale based on average living costs in the nation, the city scores 81.3, which is about three points below the Alabama norm. Although health care costs trend high, housing is affordable and may impact residential care costs.
• In Cullman, the hottest season lasts from late May until mid-September, and it has average daytime temperatures ranging from 82 to 89 degrees Fahrenheit. Conditions are generally muggy during this season, but fortunately, memory care communities offer indoor activities to help residents stay cool and comfortable. The cool season, which runs from late November until late February, brings moderate daytime temperatures between 51 and 59 degrees Fahrenheit, and snowfall is rare.
• Property crime occurs more frequently in Cullman than in a typical U.S. city, although annual rates have been slowly trending downward over the past two decades. However, the violent crime rate is consistently low, which may provide peace of mind for families. On a 100-point scale that gives the United States scores of 22.7 for violent crime and 35.4 for property crime, Cullman has respective scores of 11.6 and 56.7.

 

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 residents in Cullman pay approximately $4,299 per month for housing and specialized services.

In Cullman, memory care rates come in at $4,299, which falls in line with the state norm of $4,379 but offers a potential monthly savings rate of 24% over the national norm. For seniors seeking more affordable care, facilities in Huntsville charge $4,181 for dementia services, and seniors in Gadsden pay $3,504 for care. However, memory care rates in Cullman come in 15% below care costs in Birmingham and 17% below rates in Florence.

Memory care facilities in Cullman charge an average monthly rate of $4,299. While this type of care is economical compared to nursing home care, which costs $7,968 for around-the-clock medical support and care and extensive personal care services, other senior care solutions are generally more affordable. For example, seniors spend $4,195 for home health care, which includes skilled nursing services in the individual’s home, and those with mild dementia who obtain full-time custodial services at home pay $3,956 for in-home care. Additionally, seniors who need residential services but don’t require memory care pay 20% less for assisted living.

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 Alabama page.