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

The Alzheimer’s Association indicates that over six million Americans have this disorder — a figure projected to rise to almost 13 million by 2050. The condition primarily affects adults aged 65 and older, and this age group comprises 10.3% of Oxnard’s 202,000 residents. Considering the projections from the Alzheimer’s Association, it’s reasonable to assume deaths from the disorder will increase. In fact, CDC data for Oxnard shows a 32.41% rise in Alzheimer’s-related deaths between 2016 and 2020.

Memory care facilities specialize in providing dementia care services for seniors dealing with cognitive decline. The facilities are homelike environments, typically painted in calming colors and sometimes piping soothing music through common rooms and corridors. The staff delivers programs to support residents and mitigate the advance of dementia. Security features prevent residents from wandering and include controlled access/egress doors and enclosed courtyards. This guide reviews the pros and cons of living in Oxnard, compares its memory care costs with other cities and types of care and lists some free resources for seniors and their families.

From its 14 regional offices statewide, the California Senior Care Licensing Program issues licenses to residential care facilities. Qualifying criteria include financial stability, staff training and qualifications, building regulations and adherence to rules governing fire safety and health and safety. The authority can revoke licenses from underperforming facilities.

• Seniors in Oxnard have three hospitals to choose from, all of which have good reputations for patient care. There are also several more in the surrounding area. Oxnard’s facilities include St. John’s Regional Medical Center, which has an emergency room and is known for its stroke victim treatments, and Community Memorial Healthcare, which has a respected orthopedics department. 
• GO ACCESS is an ADA-certified curb-to-curb paratransit program for Oxnard adults with disabilities and seniors aged 65+ unable to use the fixed-route system. It’s a shared-ride service with wheelchair-accessible vehicles and fares of $3 per one-way ride. Seniors aged 65 to 74 qualify for reduced fares on Gold Coast Transit’s fixed-route services, while those 75 and older can ride free.
• The average cost of living in Oxnard is below average for California, although health care typically costs more in Oxnard. However, the lower cost of living may offset the higher health care costs for some seniors.
• Oxnard is one of California’s safer cities. Violent crime is below the national average and significantly lower than the norm for the state. Property crime is above the U.S. average, but memory care facilities have substantial security and surveillance systems as part of their license conditions. The primary purpose of the systems is to ensure the safety of residents, but the systems can also deter criminals.
• Sperling’s BestPlaces gives Oxnard an overall health cost index of 93.2, which is better than the U.S. average of 100. Oxnard’s air quality is above average, and the city is cleaning up contaminated land as part of the EPA’s Superfund program.
• California’s climate draws many people to the state, and Oxnard’s is particularly pleasant. In January, temperatures below 46 degrees Fahrenheit are rare, while summer highs rarely exceed 73 degrees. That means seniors can enjoy relatively stable temperatures. Rainfall is about 15 inches annually, which is enough to keep the surrounding landscape green.

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 median monthly cost of memory care in Oxnard is $7,188, although various factors such as location and the staff-to-resident ratio affect the costs at specific facilities.

Due to a median monthly fee of $7,188, a typical senior in Oxnard memory care pays more than most people do. Oxnard’s monthly cost is about $625 more per month than the median in California and $1,563 for the U.S. Many nearby cities are also at the costlier end of the spectrum, although not as much as Oxnard. Relocating to Santa Maria could save an Oxnard senior $563 per month while a move to Los Angeles could see savings of $625. Families looking for lower costs might consider Bakersfield, where it’s possible to save $2,500 per month.

Except for nursing home care at $11,254 per month, memory care is the most expensive senior care option in Oxnard at $7,188. There are other choices, such as assisted living ($5,750), home health care ($6,054) and home care ($5,815). However, none of these are designed for seniors with mid to late-stage dementia. While savings are possible, the compromise will likely be inadequate care.

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.