The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Monterey County, CA for 2024

In 2017, Monterey County's estimated population was 437,907, up from 415,057 in the 2010 Census. Over 13 percent of residents were 65 or older, and of these, 9.7 percent had Alzheimer's. As the disease progresses, affected seniors often require more intensive care than families can provide in the home. As an alternative, Monterey County's five memory care facilities offer long-term care that is specifically designed to meet the changing needs of seniors with dementia. 

The state of California licenses all facilities providing memory care in Monterey County as Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs), and requires them to meet special requirements for security and staff training.

• Memory care facilities in Monterey County may provide secure outdoor areas for their residents to use when the weather is fair, which is often. The county's climate is typically sunny and dry, with mild winters and hot summers. On average, the county receives 205 days of sunshine and only 28 days with precipitation each year. It has average winters lows of 35 degrees, and average summer highs of 95 degrees. 
  
• While the high price of housing in Monterey County drives the area's overall cost of living up to 59 percent above the national average, not everything is so expensive, especially in categories that may matter most to seniors. Healthcare costs in Monterey County, for example, are about 5 percent lower than the U.S. median.
  
• Monterey County is home to world-class medical facilities, including those specializing in palliative care for dementia such as Salinas Valley Medical Clinic, in the event of medical emergencies or illness.
  
• Seniors in memory care facilities often spend most of their time indoors, but they may also venture outside, where the air they breathe can impact their health. Monterey County gets a mixed report card for air quality, but the area's short-term particle pollution alone is high enough that it may put seniors' health at risk. 
  

Memory Care costs in Monterey County start around $4,835 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 Monterey 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 California 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 California page.

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