The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Santa Clarita, CA for 2023

 

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, one in three seniors experiences Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia during their final years. Santa Clarita is home to 221,345 residents, of whom 11.8% (26,118) are over the age of 65. Data obtained from CDC shows that Santa Clarita experienced a 29.40% increase in Alzheimer’s-related deaths from 2016 to 2020 and that 10.78% of all deaths in the city in 2020 were, in fact, Alzheimer’s-related.

Memory problems are often the first signs of Alzheimer’s or dementia, and having an early diagnosis and access to quality dementia care may help delay the progression of the condition. Memory care communities can be a good solution for families requiring long-term care for a loved one with an advanced memory disorder. Activities and therapies offered by these communities may benefit memory function, while specially trained staff provide round-the-clock care in a safe, secure environment.

This guide takes a closer look at memory care in the Santa Clarita area, the costs involved, alternative care options and the benefits and drawbacks of living in the area.

The California Department of Social Services oversees memory care facilities in Santa Clarita and the rest of the state through its Senior Care Licensing Program. Facilities serving people with dementia must adhere to specific requirements. All facilities registered with the CDSS are subject to occasional inspections and monitoring.

 

• The cost of living in Santa Clarita is 47.5% higher than the national average. This figure is mostly driven by high housing and transportation costs and shouldn’t greatly affect seniors living in memory care communities where they are charged a fixed monthly rate. As a bonus, the cost of health care is 8.2% lower than the national average, making this city an attractive option for seniors.
• The air quality in Santa Clarita is rated 65 on a scale from 1 to 100, seven index points higher than the national average. This means that Santa Clarita has better air quality than many other cities in the country and people living there run a lower risk of contracting cancer or respiratory illnesses due to air pollutants.
• Santa Clarita has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot summers. On the comfort index, it scores 8.9/10, indicating that it has many comfortable days per year, with temperatures of between 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit. In winter, the average lowest temperature is 46 degrees, while the summer average high is 89 degrees. Each year, the area receives 280 days of sunshine and a total rainfall of around 18 inches.
• The crime rate in Santa Clarita is relatively low. Fewer violent crimes and property crimes are committed in this city than on average in the rest of  California and nationwide. On a scale from 1 to 100, Santa Clarita scores 11.9 for violent crimes, where the national average is 22.7. The same goes for the property crime rate (22.2), which is much lower than the national average of 35.4.
• AARP, or the American Association of Retired Persons, is an organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of older persons. Los Angeles County, which includes Santa Clarita, joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities in 2016. The county’s action plan for improving life for its older residents include county employment for older workers through an older adult internship program, using dementia-friendly criteria when implementing new city programs and developing housing assistance for medium- and low-income seniors.

 

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 in Santa Clarita costs around $6,563 per month, but prices may vary depending on what each facility has to offer.

The cost of memory care in Santa Clarita is equal to the Californian average. At the same time, it’s also $938 more than the national average. Living in Santa Clarita can save seniors $2,247 per month when compared to Santa Rosa ($8,810), while seniors here pay $1,563 more than those in Riverside. In Visalia, seniors save $2,250 when compared to the costs in Santa Clarita.

The most affordable care option for seniors is adult day health care at $1,652 per month. This is followed by assisted living, which offers round-the-clock care, includes accommodation and meals and costs around $5,250 per month in Santa Clarita. In-home care and home health care are both priced at an average of $5,911 per month, but that’s only for 44 hours of care per week. The most expensive option, nursing home care, costs $2,562 more 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.