The 5 Best Memory Care Facilities in Salinas, CA for 2023

Salinas offers a supportive environment for seniors requiring dementia care, making it a preferred option for many families. While those aged 65 and over account for less than a tenth of its 164,000 residents, there are numerous agencies and programs that provide specialized services. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may indicate that these resources have a positive impact on the quality of life of those with Alzheimer’s. Between 2016 and 2020, the number of Alzheimer’s-related deaths in the region declined by 3%, even though the total number of deaths increased by 17%.

Residential memory care provides a solution for dementia-related challenges, offering high-quality care for seniors and peace of mind for their loved ones. These communities are staffed with caregivers who’ve completed dementia-specific training, and they provide housing, daily meals and failure-free social and recreational programming. Through this guide, readers can learn about dementia care in Salinas, including how much care costs, options for paying for services and resources that help them make informed decisions regarding long-term care.

Dementia care facilities in Salinas are licensed and regulated by the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division. This agency publishes public information and policies relevant to residential memory care and links individuals to the state’s long-term care ombudsman program. It also investigates reports of abuse or neglect.

• While the cost of living in Salinas is about 40% higher than the typical U.S. city, it’s about 10 percentage points lower than the California norm. Memory care facilities in this city may offer private and semiprivate housing options, letting seniors and families select the option that best fits their budgets.
• California has some of the highest income tax rates in the country, which may affect how much money seniors and families can put toward memory care expenses. Most types of retirement income, including pensions and withdrawals from retirement accounts, are fully taxed, but Social Security benefits are exempt.
• Thanks to Salinas’ low ozone pollution levels, the city ranks among the cleanest metropolitan regions in the nation. Out of over 200 metro areas, the city ranks 14th for 24-hour particle pollution and 154 for annual particle pollution levels. Many memory care facilities have air filtration systems to keep vulnerable residents healthy.
• On a 100-point crime index, Salinas scores 37.7 for violent crime and 44.6 for property-related crimes. Each category is about 10 points higher than national norms, indicating that crime is slightly more prevalent here than in a typical U.S. city. Memory care facilities in the city keep vulnerable seniors safe through escorted transportation services and features such as surveillance cameras and high-security locks.
• Monterey-Salinas Transit has a taxi voucher program, which can help supplement paid transportation services seniors have access to through their memory care facilities. This program is open to those aged 65 and over, and ADA accommodations are available.
• Salinas has very mild weather, with daytime temperatures ranging from 60 to 70 degrees year-round. The city gets no snow and about 15 inches of annual rainfall. This offers a therapeutic environment for older adults who enjoy spending time outdoors.
• Two high-performing hospitals, including Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital and Natividad Medical Center, are located in Salinas, offering specialized care for seniors with memory-related disorders. Health care costs trend about 5% below national norms, which may benefit seniors and families considering long-term care in this city.

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.

In Salinas, memory care communities charge $7,500 per month for housing and services.

Seniors in Salinas pay $7,500 per month for memory care services, which is about $1,000 higher than the California norm of $6,563 and nearly $2,000 over the national average of $5,625. Rates are typically more affordable in surrounding cities, including San Luis Obispo, where facilities charge an estimated $6,625. In Hanford, rates are over $2,000 less than in Salinas at $5,438. Monthly care costs in Fresno and Visalia are even lower at $4,875 and $4,313, respectively.

Memory care is one of the most expensive long-term care options within Salinas at $7,500 per month, but rates are over $2,000 less than the cost of nursing home care, which comes in at $9,733 for shared rooms. Seniors who live in their own homes pay $6,673 for nonmedical in-home care and skilled home health care, for a potential monthly savings of about $800. Those who live in assisted living facilities pay monthly rates of $6,000, $1,500 less than seniors in memory care facilities.

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.