The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in San Bernardino, CA for 2024

The large city of San Bernardino has over 222,000 residents, about 9% of whom are seniors. Despite the city’s relatively young population, it has a broad range of resources for those affected by Alzheimer’s, including support groups, free helplines and early-stage engagement activities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides insight into the impact Alzheimer’s has had on this community, showing that between 2016 and 2020, the number of Alzheimer’s-related deaths went up by nearly 11%. While this is modest compared to the increase of 35% among all deaths, it showcases the need for comprehensive dementia care.

Memory care facilities provide housing and services for seniors living with dementia. Residents live in comfortable private and semiprivate suites and apartments and receive personal care services, housekeeping and daily meals. Along with supportive services, memory care facilities use innovative dementia programming to engage residents and encourage as much independence and self-direction as possible.

Through this guide, readers can learn more about memory care in San Bernardino, including how much facilities charge for services and the regulations they follow. This guide also includes links to some of the top free dementia resources in the region.

In San Bernardino, as well as in the rest of California, memory care facilities are licensed and regulated through the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division. This division promotes a high standard of care for all residents through rules related to care planning, security measures, nutrition services and staffing.

• San Bernardino is an affordable option for seniors and families seeking memory care services in Southern California. On a cost of living index based on a national norm of 100, the city rates 109.5. While this indicates that living costs are about 10% higher here than in a typical U.S. city, this score is low compared to the state rating of 149.9. This may result in competitive memory care rates.
• Social Security benefits are exempt from taxation in California, which may be beneficial for seniors who rely primarily on this form of retirement income. However, all other types of retirement income are fully taxed at some of the highest rates in the nation. Organizations such as the Area Agency on Aging provide annual tax filing assistance to help seniors apply for exemptions and deductions.
• The air quality in San Bernardino is poor and may pose a hazard to those with heart or breathing conditions. The American Lung Association gives the community the lowest marks possible across its three metrics, including ozone pollution, 24-hour particle pollution and annual particle pollution. Participating in indoor activities may help seniors sensitive to pollution stay safe and comfortable throughout the year.
• Property and violent crime rates are high in San Bernardino, which may be a consideration for those considering this city for retirement. On a 100-point crime index, the city scores 56.9 for violent crime and 60.5 for property crime. This is higher than the national respective scores of 22.7 and 35.4, which may make residential memory care a preferred option for seniors with dementia.
• Health care costs in San Bernardino are about 17% below national norms, which may be beneficial for those managing chronic conditions, such as dementia. While there are only 135 doctors per capita, 35% below the national norm, there are two hospitals serving the city, including St. Bernardine Medical Center and Community Hospital of San Bernardino.
• San Bernardino has warm weather throughout the year, with daytime temperatures ranging from 67 to 96 degrees. Residents in memory care facilities typically have thermostats in their rooms, helping them stay comfortable year-round.

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, seniors in San Bernardino pay $6,563 monthly for memory care.

Memory care facilities in San Bernardino charge $6,563 per month for care, which is equal to the California norm but hundreds of dollars over the national rate of $5,625. Even so, San Bernardino is a budget-friendly alternative to many cities in Southern California, including San Diego, where rates come in at $6,844, and Oxnard, where care costs exceed San Bernardino’s average by $625. In El Centro, rates are higher than in San Bernardino at $7,688, but in Riverside, rates are lower at $5,000.

Memory care residents in San Bernardino pay $6,563 per month for services. The only local long-term care option that is more expensive is nursing home care, which starts at $9,125 for semiprivate accommodations. Seniors who live in their own homes pay $5,911 for in-home care and home health care, and assisted living residents pay $650 less per month than those living in memory care units. Adult day health care is the most economical option at $1,652 per month.  

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.