The 3 Best Memory Care Facilities in Sierra Vista, AZ for 2024

Known as the Hummingbird Capital of the U.S., Sierra Vista, AZ, has a population of 45,479 people. Approximately 19.5% of the population is aged 65 or over, a demographic that’s particularly at risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Nationwide, an estimated 1 in 9 people ages 65 and up have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. This figure increases with age, to 1 in every 3 people 85 or older. In Sierra Vista, Alzheimer’s-related deaths increased by 12.96% between 2016 and 2020. This rate is lower than that of total deaths, which increased by 21.85% during the same time.

Residential dementia care can help people with memory issues maintain and improve their health with minimal stress and anxiety. These communities are staffed around the clock by professionals who deliver assistance with medication, mobility and personal hygiene. Memory care communities often use extra security measures, such as enclosed courtyards and secure doors, to protect the safety of residents. This guide talks about the cost of memory care in Sierra Vista, the pros and cons of life in the area and some of the city’s dementia-focused resources.

Sierra Vista’s memory care communities are regulated by the Arizona Department of Health Services’ Division of Licensing Services. This division monitors care facilities throughout the state to ensure their compliance with Arizona law. 

• Sierra Vista’s air quality is significantly better than the national average and is 20 points above the median of 58. This makes the city a good choice for seniors with allergies, respiratory illnesses or cardiac health concerns. 
• The city’s water quality is rated 5 points better than the nationwide average of 55. This metric measures pollutants, contaminants and pH. 
• The cost of living in Sierra Vista is 88.9, which is lower than the nation’s benchmark of 100 and the state score of 106.4. Housing, grocery and transportation costs are particularly low.
• People living in Arizona pay no tax on their Social Security retirement income, making the state relatively tax-friendly toward seniors. 
• There are about 99 physicians per 100,000 people in Sierra Vista, which is less than the U.S. average of 210 per 100,000. Fortunately, residents of the city still have access to a good selection of reputable health care providers. The city’s Canyon Vista Medical Center has been recognized for excellence in joint replacement and breast health. 
• Sierra Vista’s property crime rate is higher than that of many American cities, at 43.1 compared to 35.5. However, the city’s  violent crime rate is 2.5 points lower than the national median of 22.7. 

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.

In Sierra Vista, memory care costs $5,188 on average, although actual prices vary by provider. 

Memory care in Sierra Vista costs $188 per month more than the Arizona median but $437 less than the U.S. average. Compared to the rest of the state, memory care costs in Sierra Vista fall near the middle. The lowest memory care costs in the state are in Yuma, where seniors pay $4,750. Phoenix offers a $219 per savings when compared to Sierra Vista. At $6,250 per month, Flagstaff has Arizona’s highest memory care prices. Costs in Prescott Valley are on par with the national median of $5,625.

In Sierra Vista, homemaker services and home health care aides cost $247 more per month than memory care. Assisted living, however, is more affordable at $4,150. Nursing homes provide the costliest type of senior care available in Sierra Vista. On average, a semiprivate room costs $7,361 and a private room costs $7,817. 

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 Arizona page.