In Spartanburg, a city of about 40,000 residents in the northwestern corner of South Carolina, seniors make up 16% of the population. This demographic is the most likely to be diagnosed with dementia and has seen a drastic increase in Alzheimer’s-related deaths over time. The CDC reports that in 2014, about 6% of deaths, or 126 fatalities, in the Spartanburg region were linked to Alzheimer’s. In 2018, the number of occurrences increased by 45% to 183 deaths, which is equal to over 8% of fatalities. By comparison, the total number of deaths in the Spartanburg region increased by about 10% during that time frame.
For older adults with Alzheimer’s, residential memory services support access to around-the-clock monitoring, dementia-informed programming and compassionate care. These facilities are staffed with highly trained caregivers and have robust programming that incorporates failure-free activities, brain games and open floor plans to promote independence. This guide covers the benefits and drawbacks of obtaining residential care in Spartanburg, the cost of memory care and other senior care options and some resources that help older adults and families navigate local dementia services.