The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in San Leandro, CA for 2024

Alzheimer’s presents a growing concern in California, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting it as the fifth leading cause of death in the state. In San Leandro, where those aged 65 and over account for 17% of the 87,000 residents, the CDC links about a tenth of all deaths to Alzheimer’s. While the total number of deaths linked to this disease only increased by 7% between 2016 and 2020, versus the total increase of 14% across deaths of all causes, both reporting years saw Alzheimer’s as the main cause of death in 10% of instances.

Fortunately, San Leandro has several residential dementia care communities that accommodate seniors living with memory loss. These facilities have caregivers who complete dementia-specific training to effectively administer individualized care services, recognize discomfort and redirect certain behaviors. They also have secured indoor and outdoor common areas to support residents' safety while maximizing their independence, and they incorporate evidence-based programming to enhance cognitive engagement. 

This guide outlines memory care rates in San Leandro and popular options for paying for care. 

Memory care facilities comply with the California Department of Social Services’ rules for community care facilities. Along with meeting standard benchmarks for care planning, nutrition and medication services and housing, memory care facilities must meet additional dementia-specific criteria for caregiver training and security. To report a complaint, individuals can call the department at (844) 538-8766.

• San Leandro is a member of the AARP Age-Friendly Network, which indicates that its leaders have implemented policies that foster a welcoming environment for seniors, including those with dementia. The city’s preventable hospitalization rate comes in well below the national average, and about 7 in 10 hospital patients report high levels of satisfaction with the care they receive.
• California residents pay relatively high state income taxes at rates of up to 12.3% on nearly all forms of retirement income, which may affect how much money some seniors can budget toward memory care in San Leandro. Fortunately, the state provides a small senior income tax exemption, and it doesn’t tax Social Security benefits.
• Two hospitals serve San Leandro, including Kaiser Permanente San Leandro Medical Center and San Leandro Hospital. These medical facilities provide state-of-the-art primary, surgical and rehabilitative services, as well as specialties in age-related neurological conditions, such as dementia.
• San Leandro’s Mediterranean climate brings warm summers and mild winters, with daytime temperatures ranging from 57 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity levels tend to run low throughout the year, even at the peak of summer, and residents can enjoy an average of 258 sunny days annually compared to the national norm of 205 days. To make the most of the city’s comfortable weather, many memory care facilities have fully enclosed courtyards and supervise outdoor activities, such as picnics and bird-watching.
• San Leandro’s cost of living exceeds state and national norms and may be a consideration for seniors with limited financial means. On a cost-of-living index based on a national norm of 100, the city scores 195.5 compared to California’s score of 149.9. Fortunately, San Leandro sits within Alameda County, where many memory care facilities accept the state’s Assisted Living Waiver, which can help qualified individuals pay for their care.

 

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.

San Leandro residents pay $7,899 per month for residential dementia care services.

Memory care rates in San Leandro average $7,899, exceeding the state norm by 20% and the national median by 40%. While local care costs come in 10% below monthly dementia care rates in Santa Rosa, seniors in other nearby cities generally pay competitive rates. In San Jose, for example, memory care facilities charge 5% less than communities in San Leandro, and in Santa Cruz, seniors pay 12% less for services. Similarly, prospective memory care residents may find competitive rates of $6,188 in Vallejo.

In San Leandro, memory care facilities charge a monthly median rate of $7,899. Although this comes in about 32% below the cost of nursing home care, which includes intensive medical support, it exceeds the costs of most other local senior care options. For example, seniors who obtain skilled home health care services in a private residence pay about 9% less on monthly care expenses, and those who need nonmedical support at home pay budget-friendly rates of $6,864 for in-home care. Assisted living costs about 20% less than memory care, and seniors who attend adult day health care pay $1,950 for 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.