The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Oceanside, CA for 2024

Oceanside, CA, is a popular city for older adults, as 15% of its 172,199 residents are over age 65. Compared to the general population, this age group has a high risk of having cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Fortunately, dementia care can help reduce the risk of complications. According to CDC data, Alzheimer's-related deaths decreased 7.95% from 2016 to 2020 in Oceanside. The overall mortality rate, meanwhile, increased by 16.88% in that same time frame.  

Those with cognitive disorders may benefit from memory care communities, which provide safe environments designed to reduce confusion and wandering. Most dementia care communities provide 24/7 supervision and care, as well as memory-related activities such as sensory stimulation and music therapy. 

This guide takes a closer look at memory care in Oceanside, including the pros and cons of receiving care here and how to cover costs. Seniors can also find free and low-cost resources in this guide. 

The Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division is responsible for overseeing memory care homes throughout Oceanside and California. It aims to boost the health and safety of older adults by overseeing factors such as staff availability, resident capacity and levels of care. 

 

• Oceanside has a high cost of living compared to the rest of the United States. On a 100-point index, with 100 representing the national average, the city rates 146.1. One of the highest costs residents face is housing, which rates 239.7. Older adults on a budget, however, may benefit from living in memory care communities that have fixed monthly rates. 
• The cost of health care in Oceanside rates 85.4/100, making it lower than the national average. These lower costs are paired with an above-average number of physicians; It also has 233 physicians per 100,000 people, which is higher than the national average of 210. 
• Residents enjoy easy access to an abundance of medical facilities, including hospitals, specialty clinics and pharmacies. The Tri-City Medical Center is an acute-care public hospital that offers many primary care and medical services, including mental health care and telemedicine. 
• Oceanside offers an enjoyable year-round climate, with temperatures rarely dropping below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. While the summers can get hot, it's not very humid, and there are few heat waves. Overall, residents can expect about 262 sunny days a year, with little precipitation. The pleasant weather earns Oceanside a 9.8/10 on a comfort index, making it more comfortable than most places in California. 
• On a 100-point crime index, Oceanside rates 19.9 for violent crime, which is lower than the national average of 22.7. Meanwhile, property crime rates 36.6., which is similar to the national average of 35.4. Secure, gated facilities offered in memory care communities can help minimize crime risks. 
• California residents may be able to access financial assistance for long-term care through Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program. As a public health insurance program, Medi-Cal provides free or low-cost medical assistance based on income level. 

• Oceanside has a climate that senior citizens will find highly favorable, like most of southern California. Its rating on the Sperling Comfort Index is 77, compared to the U.S. average of 54. This index is based on a scale of one to 100, with higher numbers indicating a more comfortable climate. The primary factors for determining a location’s Sperling rating include the average number of days with temperatures in the 70s and the average humidity for that location.
• The cost of living in Oceanside is typical for southern California, meaning it’s much higher than many other parts of the country. The overall cost of living in this city is about 60 percent above the national average, and housing is particularly expensive at 2.86 times the average for the U.S. Transportation is also expensive at 21 percent above average, but health care is 15 percent below average. Developing a budget for someone in memory care in Oceanside should take the higher cost of living into account.
• Oceanside’s crime rate isn’t a cause for special concern for memory care residents. The rate of violent crime is 32.7 compared to the national average of 31.1, as measured on a relative scale of one to 100 with a higher score indicating a higher crime rate. The rate of property crime in Oceanside is 34.6, lower than the national average of 38.1.
• The air quality in Oceanside is comparable to the overall air quality in the U.S., so senior citizens with respiratory conditions should be comfortable when going outside most days. Oceanside has a rating of 61 on the EPA’s National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA), compared to the national average of 58. The NATA measures the risk of respiratory disease and cancer on a scale of one to 100, with a higher number indicating greater risk.

 

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.

Seniors in Oceanside pay approximately $6,844 per month for memory care. 

 

While the cost of memory care in Oceanside is about $1,219 more per month than the national average, it's on par with the California monthly rate of $6,563. It's costlier than cities such as Fresno, where care is 28% less expensive per month. However, Oceanside residents spend less than seniors in San Francisco, where the monthly rate of memory care is $7,899. Santa Rosa, meanwhile, has one of the highest monthly rates in California at $8,810.

 

The monthly cost of memory care is similar to that of in-home and home health care, which cost $6,387 and $6,473, respectively. However, it's over 230% more expensive than adult day health care and 25% more expensive than assisted living. This is because memory care provides additional services designed to support the unique needs of seniors with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. While memory care is one of the state's more expensive services, it's not the costliest. Skilled nursing care is the most expensive option, with a semiprivate room averaging $9,384 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 California page.