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

Stockton, CA, has a population of more than 322,000 residents, and 12.2% of them are at least 65 years of age. That means there are nearly 40,000 seniors in Stockton. Because Alzheimer’s disease and similar conditions are most prevalent among older adults, a significant number of Stockton’s seniors may need dementia care now or in the future. But data from the CDC paints a promising picture: From 2016 to 2020, Alzheimer’s-related deaths in Stockton declined by just over 7%.

For those seniors who do develop dementia, memory care communities may be the best living option. In these facilities, residents gain access to caregivers able to ease life for individuals with dementia. Generally, residents can expect 24-hour staffing along with cognitively engaging activities and security features. This guide looks at what living in such facilities costs, assesses retirement living in Stockton and describes several local aid sources for older adults.

The Community Care Licensing Division is part of the California Department of Social Services. Its Senior Care Licensing Program licenses and regulates memory care communities and other senior living facilities in Stockton and around the state. It has local field offices that ensure communities adhere to state standards.

• Seniors in Stockton have access to world-class health care from facilities such as St. Joseph’s Medical Center Stockton. This hospital has a primary stroke center as well as a heart and vascular institute and a cancer institute.
• Stockton offers seniors warm weather throughout the year, with 257 sunny days annually, compared to the national average of 205. It generally gets no snow, and there are only 17 inches of rain each year, less than the U.S. average of 38 inches.
• The overall cost of living in Stockton is around 15% higher than the national average. Despite this, it’s lower than California’s average cost of living. Seniors in memory care generally have fixed costs, which can help people manage their budgets. Health care in the city is also equal to the national average, so costs may be more reasonable than in other areas.
• The crime rate in Stockton of 46 crimes per 1,000 residents is higher than both the national and state averages. Memory care facilities tend to be very secure to help protect residents, and seniors concerned with safety should ask about the security measures in any communities they visit. 
• Access San Joaquin provides transport for seniors throughout San Joaquin County. Seniors must be assessed and deemed eligible for the services. Eligible residents receive discounted fares, and there’s a reimbursement program for seniors who receive rides from friends and family.
• Although seniors in Stockton encounter high sales taxes, some exemptions benefit older residents. These include exemptions for prescription drugs and most types of groceries. Social Security isn’t taxed, but other forms of retirement income are. However, California offers an extra benefit to seniors that allows them to double their 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.

Memory care in Stockton costs an average of $4,561 per month.

• Seniors in Stockton have access to world-class health care from facilities such as St. Joseph’s Medical Center Stockton. This hospital has a primary stroke center as well as a heart and vascular institute and a cancer institute.
• Stockton offers seniors warm weather throughout the year, with 257 sunny days annually, compared to the national average of 205. It generally gets no snow, and there are only 17 inches of rain each year, less than the U.S. average of 38 inches.
• The overall cost of living in Stockton is around 15% higher than the national average. Despite this, it’s lower than California’s average cost of living. Seniors in memory care generally have fixed costs, which can help people manage their budgets. Health care in the city is also equal to the national average, so costs may be more reasonable than in other areas.
• The crime rate in Stockton of 46 crimes per 1,000 residents is higher than both the national and state averages. Memory care facilities tend to be very secure to help protect residents, and seniors concerned with safety should ask about the security measures in any communities they visit. 
• Access San Joaquin provides transport for seniors throughout San Joaquin County. Seniors must be assessed and deemed eligible for the services. Eligible residents receive discounted fares, and there’s a reimbursement program for seniors who receive rides from friends and family.
• Although seniors in Stockton encounter high sales taxes, some exemptions benefit older residents. These include exemptions for prescription drugs and most types of groceries. Social Security isn’t taxed, but other forms of retirement income are. However, California offers an extra benefit to seniors that allows them to double their personal exemption.

Stockton’s memory care costs are very affordable compared to national and state averages. The U.S. average is $5,625, while California’s average is $6,562. Stockton is also affordable when compared to nearby cities. Of surveyed cities in the vicinity, Modesto’s costs are closest to Stockton’s. Seniors there pay $5,000 each month. Costs in Vallejo and Sacramento are higher, with prices of $6,187 and $6,531, respectively. San Jose is the most expensive of nearby cities, with a cost of $7,500 monthly.

Memory care costs are in the middle of the range compared to other senior living options in Stockton. Adult day care is the most affordable at $2,058. Assisted living is also more affordable than memory care at $3,649 and offers personal care services in a residential setting. Seniors who wish to receive care in the home will pay $5,482 for both in-home care and home health care. Nursing home care is the most expensive option at $10,015 per month for a semiprivate room. These high costs are due to the level of medical care provided.

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.