The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Murrieta, CA for 2024

In Murrieta, where seniors make up 12% of the 111,000 residents, Alzheimer’s is increasingly becoming a public health concern. In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 1,162 fatalities in the county that year were linked to Alzheimer’s. In 2020, that number increased by 27% to 1,478. This is comparable to the increase of 33% in the total number of deaths in the county during that reporting period. In 2020, Alzheimer’s was the underlying cause of about 9.4% of all deaths in the region, which is down slightly from 9.8% in 2016.

While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, many seniors with this disease experience a fulfilling lifestyle with the help of dementia care. Memory care facilities provide specialized services for those with dementia, including individualized care plans, meals, housekeeping and social and recreational programming that enhances engagement. They’re staffed with caregivers who’ve completed dementia-specific training and have secured indoor and outdoor common areas that promote independence while preventing unsafe wandering. This guide provides more information on memory care in Murrieta, including options for financial assistance.

The California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division, licenses memory care facilities in Murrieta and the rest of California. It outlines the three types of residential facilities for seniors in the state and highlights licensing requirements and information on residents’ rights. It also publishes information relevant to public health and safety.

• Murrieta’s overall cost of living is high compared to the national average, coming in about 34% above that of a typical U.S. city, but it’s in line with other cities in Southern California. Seniors with limited incomes may qualify for the Medi-Cal Assisted Living Waiver, which pays for some services in dementia facilities.
• Murrieta seniors pay state income taxes on nearly all forms of retirement income, and rates in the state are among the highest in the nation. However, California doesn’t tax Social Security benefits, providing significant monthly savings that can help some seniors and families with local memory care expenses.
• The American Lung Association gives Riverside County, where Murrieta is located, failing scores for ozone pollution and 24-hour and annual particle pollution levels, which may be a consideration for those with breathing or heart conditions. To reduce their exposure to harmful pollutants while staying engaged, memory care residents may participate in indoor recreational activities.
• Crime in Murrieta is uncommon, which may provide peace of mind to seniors and families considering local memory care services. On a 100-point index, the city rates 14 points lower than the national average at 8.5 for violent crime, and it scores about 10 points lower than the nation for property crime with a rating of 23.7.
• Murrieta seniors can obtain curb-to-curb transportation services through Riverside Transit Authority’s Dial-A-Ride program. These buses, which are wheelchair-accessible, can take older adults to medical offices within the service area. To schedule services, individuals can call (800) 795-7887.
• Murrieta’s weather tends to be warm with year-round high temperatures ranging from 67-96 degrees. To keep residents comfortable, many memory care communities offer individual climate control in residents’ rooms.
• Murrieta residents have easy access to two local hospitals, including Rancho Springs Medical Center and Loma Linda University Medical Center. While there is fewer than half the number of doctors per capita here than in a typical U.S. city, health care expenses such as dental services, hospital stays and doctor’s office visits cost about 16% less than the national average. This may make care accessible to those managing chronic conditions.

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.

Memory care facilities in Murrieta charge $6,844 per month for housing and care.

Murrietta is one of the more expensive cities in Southern California for memory care, with seniors paying $6,844 for services. This exceeds the Los Angeles norm of $6,563 by about $300, and it’s over $1,800 higher than Riverside’s average of $5,000. Even so, Murrieta may be an affordable alternative to El Centro, where respective care costs come in at $7,688. Murrieta’s rates are also about $300 higher than the California average of $6,563 and over $1,200 higher than the national norm of $5,625.

Memory care in Murrieta costs about triple the rate of adult day care, which is the most affordable long-term care option in the city at $2,058 per month. Seniors without dementia spend about $1,400 less per month in assisted living, which averages $5,475. Individuals may save money by opting for in-home care or home health care, which average $6,387 and $6,473, respectively, but memory care costs around $2,500 less than nursing home care, which averages $9,384.

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.