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

Pasadena sits about 10 miles north of downtown Los Angeles and serves as the cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Seniors and families seeking residential memory care services in this region have 16 facilities to choose from, including 6 within Pasadena. Facilities charge a median monthly rate of $6,563 for specialized residential care, surpassing the national average but corresponding with rates in California as a whole.

In our directory, we average the rating of memory care communities in Pasadena at 4.66 out of 5 stars stars and publish 362 reviews impartial reviews, helping you know what to expect of the city's quality of care.

 

The California Department of Social Services, Senior Care Licensing Program licenses and oversees the operation of all memory care communities in Pasadena. This department sets regulations for the scope of services facilities provide, including specialized care, and it establishes standards for building security and staff training. It also publishes information on residents’ rights and public policies that impact long-term care.

 

• While a typical U.S. city scores 48 out of 100 points on the AARP Livability Index, Pasadena has a comparatively high rating of 55, indicating that it has a high number of resources and benefits for its senior population. The city doesn’t report a shortage in clinicians, promoting access to dementia-informed medical care, and about 75% of hospital patients report satisfaction with their care compared to 69% nationally.
• Pasadena’s lack of affordability limits access to memory care services for many prospective residents, but fortunately, some facilities in the region accept the state’s Assisted Living Waiver. Overall, living costs in this city run 44% above the national average, with high housing and utility costs driving up the cost of living. However, in many cases, memory care communities have all-inclusive pricing, reducing incidents of unexpected bills.
• Pasadena residents have access to a range of educational resources and support through Alzheimer’s Los Angeles, the county’s dementia-friendly initiative that works to create a welcoming environment for those living with memory loss. The organization operates a helpline with specialists who provide up-to-date information and support and has a team of care counselors who help families evaluate long-term care options. It also hosts The Memory Club, an eight-week program that has weekly meetings for seniors and their families.
• Summers in Pasadena run just under 3 months in length and bring daytime temperatures of around 86 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool season lasts about 4 months, spanning late November to mid-March, and it has slightly lower temperatures of between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. To let residents safely enjoy the weather while reducing the risk of off-site wandering, memory care facilities in this region have fully enclosed outdoor living areas.
• In Pasadena, seniors pay state income taxes at rates of between 1% and 13.3%, which is high compared to most other states in the nation. However, the state exempts Social Security benefits and has a senior income tax exemption for those aged 65 and over, letting memory care residents double the standard personal exemption.

 

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.

In Pasadena, seniors pay a baseline monthly rate of $6,563 for residential memory care.

 

Pasadena seniors pay $6,563 per month for memory care services. Although this exceeds the national norm of $5,625, it lines up with the median monthly rate in California, as well as care costs in nearby communities. In San Diego, rates run slightly higher than in Pasadena at $6,844, and in El Centro, memory care communities charge $1,125 more than facilities in Pasadena. However, in Riverside, rates run competitively at $5,000 per month.

 

Memory care communities in Pasadena charge $6,563 for care, with rates running $1,313 higher than what assisted living facilities charge for personal care and housing without dementia support. Additionally, memory care exceeds the $5,911 that seniors pay for private in-home care services, such as help with housekeeping and personal grooming, as well as home health care services, such as wound care and disease monitoring. Seniors who attend adult day health care facilities pay even lower rates of $1,652 for personal care and basic skilled nursing in a nonresidential environment. On the other hand, nursing home rates exceed memory care costs at $9,125 and accommodate seniors who need intensive daily medical and custodial services.

 

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.