The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Redwood City, CA for 2024

 

Alzheimer's disease is a growing problem across California, including in Redwood City, which has a population of 80,512 residents, 12.8% of whom are aged 65+. The condition affects approximately 690,000 people in this age group throughout California as of 2020, but this number may rise to 840,000 by 2025. According to CDC data, deaths caused by Alzheimer's have also increased by 22.7% from 2016 to 2020 in the state. While Redwood City experienced a comparatively smaller increase of 7.9% in dementia mortality over the same period, this is still higher than the city's all-cause mortality rate of 4.8%.

One way families can mitigate the effects of Alzheimer's is to seek quality dementia care for loved ones with the condition. Communities providing this care offer a safe environment for seniors prone to confusion and wandering while helping them lead fulfilling lives by providing services and amenities highly relevant to their unique needs.

Upon reading this guide, families can learn more about memory care in Redwood City. The guide also discusses some ways to reduce expenses.

The California Department of Social Services regulates long-term care residences providing memory care in Redwood City and other locations throughout the state. While the department inspects providers to ensure seniors live in safe, healthy environments, families can also report suspected abuse online to help ensure loved ones receive good care.

 

• Mirroring much of California, Redwood City boasts a Mediterranean climate that seniors may find very comfortable, as it offers little to no snowfall and 50 more sunny days than the U.S. average. Additionally, winter temperatures generally sit around 39.6 degrees Fahrenheit, much warmer than the national average of 21.7 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Redwood City has an incredibly high cost of living, which, when ranked on a 100-point index, scores 250, compared to a nationwide average of 100. However, much of this high overall cost is attributed to housing, with grocery prices only ranking at 117.8 and transportation at 138.9, so the city may still be relatively affordable for seniors moving into long-term care residences.
• Compared to overall expenses, health care costs are quite inexpensive in Redwood City. Average costs are 3% lower than the national norm, and the city also has a nearly 44% higher physician density, making it easier for seniors to access the medical care they need.
• Redwood City has a sales tax rate of 8.8% and an income tax rate of 9.3%, both higher than the respective national averages of 7.3% and 4.6%. While California taxes most forms of retirement income, Social Security benefits are exempt, so this may provide some relief from Redwood City's taxes.
• Redwood City can be a very safe home for seniors with Alzheimer's due to its low crime rates. Ranked on a 100-point scale, the incidence of violent crime is only 13.7 in the city vs. 22.7 nationwide. Property crime rates are also slightly lower than average at 30.7, compared to 35.4 across the country.
• Many hospitals are located within driving distance of Redwood City, with several just a few miles away, ensuring seniors have access to prompt emergency care. Stanford Hospital, situated less than 5 miles away, is an award-winning medical provider considered to be in the nation's top 1% of hospitals.

 

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.

On average, memory care costs $7,899 per month in Redwood City.

California typically has high memory care costs, but prices are roughly 16.9% steeper than the state average in Redwood City. They also exceed the national norm by nearly 28.8%. Several nearby locations are more economical than Redwood City, providing options for seniors wishing to relocate. Care is $961 cheaper in Santa Cruz and $1,711 cheaper in Vallejo. Stockton, located farther inland, offers monthly savings of around $3,338‬. However, memory care prices rise by over 11.5% for seniors who move to Santa Rosa.

Specialized memory care costs $7,899 per month in Redwood City, so families may want to consider other options before committing to it. For seniors who need help with daily activities, assisted living costs $1,580 less per month than memory care, while home care costs $1,035 less. Adult day care is approximately 75.3% cheaper than memory care for seniors only needing light support. Those who require skilled nursing may need to spend about 46.4% more than memory care for a semi private room in a nursing home. However, home health care can also be a good option, costing $749 less than memory care.

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.