The 5 Best Memory Care Facilities in Novato, CA for 2024

Novato is located in the Bay Area, so it offers beautiful views and many conveniences. The city is home to about 52,000 people, with a large senior community that comprises 23.4% of the population. This group is often at risk for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Fortunately, according to the CDC, Alzheimer's-related deaths are actually dropping in Novato, from 206 in 2016 to 198 in 2020, a 3.88% decline. 

Still, access to quality dementia care is important to Novato’s seniors. This specialized service provides security, support and guidance to people suffering from memory loss. Trained caregivers offer help with daily living activities and medication along with the emotional encouragement seniors with memory impairment may need. In a memory care community, seniors also participate in activities designed to keep their minds and bodies as healthy and active as possible.

This guide provides more information about memory care in Novato. Seniors and their families can examine cost comparisons, learn more about the city, discover ways to help pay for memory care and explore free and low-cost resources.

 

The California Department of Social Services handles the licensing and supervision of the state’s memory care communities. Such oversight ensures that seniors receive quality care in a clean, safe environment. It also provides for proper training for staff members, especially those helping seniors with memory loss. Seniors and their families can use the department’s website to find information about communities.

 

• Novato’s cost of living is definitely on the high side. The overall cost of living stands at 189.5 compared to the national average of 100. While this may be a concern for some seniors, the California Department of Aging and the Institute on Aging both offer many financial resources that can help seniors balance their budgets more easily.
• Novato is a relatively safe city with below-average crime rates. The violent crime rate stands at 15.0 with the U.S. average at 22.7, and the property crime rate is 26.3, compared to the national average of 35.4. Memory care communities offer further security and 24/7 supervision to give seniors and their families even greater peace of mind.
• Seniors may enjoy Novato’s beautiful climate. Summers are especially pleasant, with a 9.6 out of 10 on the comfort index and July highs coming in about 81 degrees. Winters, too, are relatively comfortable at 7.1 on the comfort index. January’s lows drop to about 41 degrees, but there is rarely any snow. Of course, in memory care communities, the climate is always controlled, so seniors need not worry about the weather.
• Novato’s residents benefit from below-average health care costs. The health cost index shows a rating of 91.9 out of 100 for the city, meaning that people in Novato pay about 8.1% less for health care than the average U.S. resident.
• The Novato Community Hospital serves the community’s medical needs. This medical center offers primary and emergency care as well as specialties like orthopedics, surgery and therapy.

Novato is part of Marin County and therefore belongs to the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities. This means that seniors can benefit from a county-wide action plan designed to make their lives healthier, more convenient and more active.

• Novato's location in the northern Bay Area gives it very stable temperatures and an easygoing summer season. August highs here average 82 degrees Fahrenheit, which is congenial for seniors who might be sensitive to heat. December lows average 38 degrees, which can be problematic for seniors with COPD or other respiratory issues. Novato gets a healthy 26.5 inches of rain a year, zero snow and frequent mist from the Bay Area fog that rolls over the Coastal Range.
• The cost of living in Novato is 52 percent higher than elsewhere in the United States. Apart from the generally high costs for housing, transportation and utilities, Novato's seniors can also expect to pay roughly 20 percent more for health care here than the national average.
• Novato's crime rates are less than half the national average. Property crime rates are generally low, and violent crime is especially rare here. Seniors in memory care facilities are generally safer still, but outdoor activities are likely to be very safe in this part of Marin County.
• The Novato area is home to world-class medical facilities, including those specializing in brain health and dementia care such as Novato Community Hospital and Marin General Hospital, in the event of medical emergencies or illness.

 

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 in Novato can expect to pay about $7,875 per month for memory care, but they should keep in mind that costs can vary with accommodations and care packages.

 

Memory care costs in Novato are on the high end of the cost spectrum. Prices in this city run about 28.6% higher than the national average and 16.7% higher than the California state average. Among other California cities, Santa Rosa shows more expensive rates than Novato at $8,810 per month, but most other cities offer lower prices. San Diego and Los Angeles are less expensive by $1,031 and $1,312, respectively. Stockton comes in even lower at $4,561.

 

Memory care is among the highest-priced senior care options in Novato because of the supervision and specialized services it provides. Only nursing homes are more expensive at $10,646 per month. Seniors who prefer to remain at home may save about $1,440 with home care or home health care, and assisted living costs less yet at $6,300. Adult day programming is the least expensive at $2,275 but may not be appropriate for some people.

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.