Currently, more than 6 million people in the United States live with Alzheimer’s disease, a number projected to increase to nearly 13 million by 2050. Seniors, who make up 12.5% of Visalia’s population of nearly 143,000, are especially at risk. Dementia care is designed to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s and similar cognitive decline. In Visalia, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s appears to be rising, with a nearly 60% increase in Alzheimer’s-related deaths from 186 in 2016 to 296 in 2020. According to the CDC, in 2016, Alzheimer’s contributed to 9.13% of all deaths in Visalia, whereas in 2020, that number grew to 10.73%.
As cognitive decline advances and seniors need more support to stay safe, many families seek memory care as a solution. Memory care provides residents with around-the-clock assistance and higher levels of supervision than assisted living does. It often features secure premises to prevent wandering and access to therapies to slow the progression of the disease.
This guide addresses memory care in Visalia for seniors considering it as a retirement location. It includes information about what to consider, benefits and drawbacks, paying for care and how to access numerous resources to assist with costs and other areas.