The Lexington region has 320,000 residents and a moderately sized senior community that accounts for 14% of the population. While this percentage is low compared to state and national norms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that the number of dementia-related deaths per capita is high. In 2016, 137 deaths in the region were linked to Alzheimer’s, a disease primarily diagnosed in those aged 65 and over. In 2020, this number increased by almost 25% to 171. During this reporting period, the total number of deaths went up by a little less than 23%.
While memory care doesn’t cure Alzheimer’s, it can improve the quality of life of someone living with this disease. The Lexington region supports seniors and families affected by Alzheimer’s through several residential memory care facilities. These facilities provide standard assisted living services such as housing, meals and housekeeping and laundry services, and they have specialized social and recreational activities that help residents maintain social, physical and cognitive health. This guide provides information on dementia care costs and resources for seniors and families in Lexington.