The 5 Best Memory Care Facilities in Olympia, WA for 2024

Nearly 66,000 people live in Washington’s state capital of Olympia. About 10,000 of these residents are senior citizens, and it’s this population that is most likely to need dementia care because older adults have the highest risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease. The fatality rate from this disease in Olympia rose by 59.18% from 2016 to 2020 and contributed to 12.01% of all deaths in 2020.

Seniors can live with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias for many years, and memory care can enhance their quality of life during this time. Not only do memory care communities provide room, board and assistance with activities of daily living, they also coordinate programs stimulating the brain, such as music therapy, art classes and gardening. With this guide, families can learn about the cost of memory care in Olympia and find links to resources to help them through all phases of Alzheimer’s disease.

The Aging and Long-Term Support Administration team, within the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, monitors and regulates memory care communities throughout the state, including Olympia. The department ensures facilities abide with relevant legislative provisions as well as carrying out background checks on caregivers, approving some staff training curriculums and inspecting facilities.      

• The overall cost of living in Olympia is about 6% higher than the national average. It’s around 12% cheaper than the state’s average, meaning it could be a good financial option for lower income seniors in Washington. Average costs for health and transportation are lower than the state average, and higher-than-average housing costs may help to make residential memory care a more affordable option when compared to care at home.
• While Olympia’s sales tax rate is slightly above the U.S. average, a lack of income tax in Washington can help seniors in Olympia to stretch their retirement funds further. Several Medicaid programs and the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly are among funding options that may help seniors to pay for memory care.
• There are several hospitals in and around Olympia, including Providence St. Peter Hospital, which ranks as one of the best hospitals in the state and features on the top 40 list of hospitals nationwide for common care. Other highly rated hospitals near Olympia include MultiCare Capital Medical Center and St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood. 
• Property crime is substantially higher in Olympia as compared to national figures; on a 100-point crime scale, Olympia scores 61.2 while the U.S. average is 35.4. Residential memory care may, therefore, provide more peace of mind to seniors and their loved ones as opposed to living alone. On a positive note, violent crime figures in Olympia are slightly lower than the nationwide average.
• All Intercity Transit’s bus routes are free for everyone, and all vehicles have ramps or lifts along with other accessibility features. Buses connect various destinations around Olympia and beyond, including transit hubs to connect with other services. Seniors over the age of 65 and people with disabilities can obtain a Regional Reduced Fare Permit for discounted fares on partner transport agencies throughout the Puget Sound region. Seniors aged 60 or above who have no other transportation options for medical appointments or essential errands around Thurston and Mason Counties can use Senior Services for South Sound’s Transportation Program.       

Memory care is typically provided as an additional service within assisted living communities and rates are usually 20-30% higher than standard assisted living residential care. As there is no comprehensive nationwide data for costs of dementia care, we have estimated costs by adding 25% to the rates for assisted living care per Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey. Memory care in Olympia costs, on average, $6,006 per month.

While the average monthly memory care rate of $6,006 in Olympia is more expensive than the nationwide average of $5,625, seniors in the state capital of Olympia pay almost $1,500 less per month than the state average of $7,500. Costs are higher in nearby Seattle and Bremerton, where the respective prices for memory care are around $8,438 and $7,188. While the price difference lessens in Longview and Yakima, where average rates are $6,625 and $6,219 respectively, seniors in Olympia still pay less per month for dementia care.  

With an average monthly cost of $6,006, residential memory care is a mid-range senior care choice in Olympia. Nursing home care is the priciest option, at $9,764 for a semiprivate room and $10,707 for a private room, while seniors who wish to remain at home will also pay more for home care or home health care, both of which cost $6,673 each month. At $4,805, assisted living is more than $1,000 cheaper per month than memory care. The most affordable option is adult day health care, with an average monthly cost of $1,625.  

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 Washington page.