In Columbia, a city where just over a tenth of the 126,000 residents are seniors, Alzheimer's-related deaths are on the rise. According to information published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of Alzheimer's deaths in the region nearly doubled between 2016 and 2020. While about 5% of the total number of deaths in the region were linked to Alzheimer's in 2016, nearly 8% of deaths were caused by this form of dementia in 2020.
To help seniors and families address this rise in dementia diagnoses, Columbia has several residential memory care facilities. These communities provide specialized dementia care, including daily nutritious meals, personalized care services and companionship. They also organize therapeutic activities to help residents preserve life skills, motor function and cognitive abilities.
Through this guide, seniors and families in Columbia can learn more about memory care, including how much local facilities charge for services, ways to fund long-term care and regional and state dementia resources that can help them make important decisions.