The 5 Best Memory Care Facilities in Washington County, TN for 2024

Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northeastern Tennessee, Washington County is home to 127,000 residents, nearly 18 percent of whom are over the age of 65. The county has two memory care facilities catering to residents in that age group with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

All memory care facilities in Tennessee, including those in Washington County, operate either as assisted care living facilities or as residential homes for the aged. Both types of facilities must maintain licenses with the Tennessee Department of Health.

• Summers in Washington County are warm, with July highs averaging in the mid-80s, but the area's mountainous location shields it from the brutal heat and humidity of much of the South. In the winter, nighttime lows regularly drop below freezing, and the area gets an average of 10 inches of snow each year. With 200 annual sunny days, Washington County offers memory care residents ample opportunity to spend supervised time outdoors.
• Washington County is an affordable place to live. Its cost of living is 10 percent less than the national average. Staple purchases such as housing, groceries and utilities all cost less in Washington County than in the average U.S. city. However, memory care residents with high medical expenses may want to consider Washington County's health care costs, which are five percent higher than average.
• Retirees in Washington County do not have to pay state income taxes on their Social Security benefits or their income from private retirement plans. As a result, memory care residents have more money available to put toward their health care expenses.
• Washington County's violent and property crime rates of 41.4 and 43.6 out of 100, respectively, are lower than the state averages of 45 and 47.7 but higher than the national averages. Memory care residents who prioritize personal safety may want to keep these numbers in mind. Most memory care facilities have cameras, guards, locking exterior doors and other security features.

Memory Care costs in Washington County start around $4,066 per month on average, while the nationwide average cost of memory care is $5,694 per month.

It’s important to note that memory care rates in Washington County and the surrounding suburbs can vary widely based on factors such as location, the level of care needed, apartment size and the types of amenities offered at each community.

Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Memory Care in Tennessee page.

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 Tennessee page.

Washington County-area memory care communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all memory care communities in Tennessee are required to follow. Visit our Memory Care in Tennessee page for more information about these laws.