The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Madison, WI for 2024

Madison, WI, is home to 269,196 people, with a senior population of 12.1%. It’s estimated that nationwide, 10.7% of seniors have Alzheimer’s or related dementia. Deaths due to Alzheimer’s have more than doubled between 2000 and 2019 and are expected to double again by 2050. However, in Madison, Alzheimer’s-related deaths decreased by 2.09% between 2016 and 2020. There are many factors that could contribute to this anomaly, including Madison’s low senior population compared to national averages and its range of high-quality dementia care providers.

Madison’s memory care communities provide calm, enriching environments for people experiencing neurological decline. These communities are designed to be comfortable and easy-to-navigate while also being secure enough to protect residents who wander. Memory care staff provide 24/7 supervision and are trained to recognize and manage the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

This guide helps seniors find the best place to settle into long-term care by talking about the pros and cons of living in Madison, the cost of care in the city and some resources that can help seniors transition.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Bureau of Assisted Living Southern Regional Office regulates residential memory care facilities in the city of Madison. The state and regional offices develop policy, handle licensing and registration and ensure state standards are met for resident care, food service, physical plant management and more.

• The health care network in Madison is well-established. The University of Wisconsin Hospital has a highly regarded geriatrics department and is a leader in aging research. The UW-Madison School of Nursing is also a leader in dementia care. There is a wide selection of Memory Care communities and facilities in the city.
• Many top lists include Madison as a great place to retire. Part of its attraction for retirees is a reasonable cost of living. But for seniors in a residential memory care facility it costs an average of $6,000 each month. This is both more expensive than elsewhere in the state and much more expensive than the national monthly average of $5,625.
• Retirees laud Madison’s senior-friendly tax profile. Wisconsin’s sales tax is just around 5% — among the lowest in the country — and the state provides a property tax deferral loan program for older residents with a household income below $20,000. Social security income is not taxed and neither are many federal pension benefits.
• Although it is often cold and rainy, Madison is still considered temperate. Air quality can be less than optimal throughout the state, depending on weather patterns and wildfires. However, summers in Madison, which run from June to September, are generally pleasant and sunny with a few humid days scattered in.
• Although post-pandemic, crime rates in Madison are higher than normal, it is still considered a relatively safe place to live. Both the violent crime and property crime rates are lower than the national average.
• Madison became a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities late in 2019. This international network is dedicated to developing policies and programs that make cities and communities friendlier for seniors through design, social engagement and innovation.

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.

The average monthly cost of Memory Care in Madison is $6,000. This is higher than both the state average of $5,750, and the national average of $5,625.

Memory Care is relatively expensive in Madison, although both Milwaukee and nearby Minneapolis, MN are more expensive at $6,655 and $6,454 respectively. Elsewhere in the north end of the Badger State, monthly costs average $5,562 in Green Bay and $5,469 in Eau Claire, both a bit less pricey.

Memory Care, which involves specialized support for seniors with cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s and dementia is costly at an average of $6,000 per month. Nursing Home Care is more expensive at $8,851 per month in a semiprivate room.

For seniors who are able to live independently, in-home care and non-medical assistance with activities of daily life like food preparation and grooming, averages $5,339. Home Health Care, which involves some degree of medical attention like medication management or wound dressing, costs the same as more basic In-home Care. Assisted living in a care community costs an average of $4,800 per month. The most affordable form of professional support, Adult Day Care, averages $2,019 a month in Madison, WI.

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 Wisconsin page.