The 3 Best Memory Care Facilities in Yuma, AZ for 2023

The Alzheimer’s Association notes 10.7% of adults age 65 and over have Alzheimer’s, a number that’s expected to more than double by the year 2050. In Yuma, AZ, statistics seem to support these estimates with 121 Alzheimer’s-related deaths noted in 2020, a 51.25% increase over totals collected by the CDC in 2016.

Alzheimer’s is more prevalent among seniors than other age groups. More than 15,000 adults aged 65 and older live in Yuma, nearly 16% of the population. Memory care communities can help these older citizens remain as healthy as possible and potentially reduce the impact of Alzheimer’s through professionally designed dementia care plans. Staffers regularly employ cognitive-rich activities and targeted therapies and are trained to recognize and manage the unique needs of individuals living with dementia.

Seniors and their families can use the information in this guide to help them understand the benefits and drawbacks of living in Yuma. Included are estimated costs for memory care and alternative types of care in the city and resources that may help reduce the financial and emotional strain often triggered by a dementia diagnosis.

The Bureau of Residential Facilities Licensing, a division of the Arizona Department of Health Services, is responsible for issuing licenses to memory care communities throughout Arizona, including those in Yuma. The bureau also ensures facilities uphold established standards of care. The public can access an online database containing incidents of care deficiencies and consequent actions taken against licensed facilities.

•  The cost of living in Yuma is less than the national average. The highest savings can be found in housing, which is nearly 25% lower than in other areas in America, and transportation, making Yuma an attractive option for retiring seniors on a fixed budget.
• Health care expenses in Yuma are more than 20% higher than national averages, and there are fewer doctors in the area to treat residents. To assist with this, the not-for-profit Yuma Regional Medical Center is located in the heart of the city, offering easy access to the extensive medical staff, practitioners and volunteers.
• Older adults considering retiring in Yuma will have to weigh the pros and cons of taxes in Arizona. Income from Social Security and pensions are either tax-free or eligible for deductions, saving seniors money, but 401(k) and IRA funds are fully taxed.
• The chances of becoming a violent-crime or property-crime victim are higher in Yuma than in towns of similar populations around the country. However, local crime rates are roughly the same as state averages. Memory care communities in the city are staffed and secured, which enhances personal safety for their senior residents.
• As one of the sunniest places on Earth, Yuma offers its residents an average of 306 sunny days annually, 100 days more than the national figure. Humidity in the region is low thanks to the desert climate. Temperatures often soar above 100 degrees in July, requiring residents to seek shelter indoors. Winters are quite comfortable with lows hovering around 46 degrees in January.
• Transportation assistance is available to eligible seniors through the WACOG Area Agency on Aging. The AAA offers free rides and a mileage reimbursement program to ensure older adults can attend medical appointments, social engagements and personal errands.

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.

Seniors can expect to pay about $4,750 monthly for memory care in Yuma, but costs can change depending on factors such as location and the type of services and amenities provided.

Memory care costs in Yuma are $250 and $875 lower than state and national figures respectively, which can help seniors save a considerable amount of their monthly budget to use on personal expenses. Monthly prices are higher in Flagstaff at $6,250 and Lake Havasu City at $5,875. The trend continues in Tucson, where rates cost $313 more than in Yuma, and in Phoenix, which sees monthly averages a few hundred dollars higher at $4,969. 

The advanced services provided by memory care translate into the cost, making it more expensive than in-home and home health care options, which both average $4,290. Assisted living is about $950 less than memory care, and prices drop even lower for adult day health care, which costs $1,625 per month. A semiprivate nursing home room with its around-the-clock skilled nursing care, however, costs more than $2,000 per month than memory care does.

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.