The 5 Best Memory Care Facilities in Boulder, CO for 2023

Research conducted by the Alzheimer’s Association notes the occurrence of Alzheimer’s and dementia is on the rise. It reports 1 in 11 seniors aged 65 and over in Colorado experience dementia-related disease, projecting a 21% rise by 2025. Boulder’s at-risk senior population comprises nearly 12% of the city’s 104,175 residents. Figures compiled by the CDC reveal that Alzheimer’s-related deaths in Boulder made up approximately 8% of the total mortalities, with a 27% rise between 2016 and 2020.

For seniors with cognitive impairments, the benefits of living in a community setting designed to accommodate their specific needs are numerous. Memory care facilities provide a safe environment with tailored dementia care and 24-hour staffing. These communities are secured by electronic monitoring to discourage wandering and have emergency systems for quick response times. Caregivers are trained to minimize conflict and ease stress while providing engaging therapies and comforting familiarity.

In this guide, readers can explore the benefits and drawbacks of living in Boulder, along with some points to consider about memory care, including an overview of the service it provides, costs for senior care in the area and financial assistance programs available.

The Colorado Department of Human Services administers the State Unit on Aging, which provides a network of resources and programs designed to support senior living and health care with dignity and respect. The Department of Public Health maintains an online database of licensed health care facilities within Colorado, where readers can view inspection reports filed within the last 5 years.

• Boulder County is part of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. The head office located in Boulder administers a regional four-part action plan focused on fulfilling housing and transit needs, encouraging social connections and community involvement, improving access to affordable health care and enabling seniors to age in place with a higher quality of life.
• Seniors in Boulder can take advantage of top-notch health care services at Boulder Community Health. Its Foothills Hospital location provides 24-hour emergency medical care and access to expert physicians and advanced diagnostics. The hospital is designated as a Level 2 trauma center and a nationally certified primary stroke center. 
• Boulder boasts a high number of physicians per capita, and its proximity to Denver offers seniors more advanced health care options. Denver’s UC Health University of Colorado Hospital is ranked best in the state, receiving high marks for its geriatrics department, neurology and cancer care.
• The cost of living in Boulder is very high compared to elsewhere in the state, and it’s over 67% more than the national average. Seniors can find some budgetary relief in lower health care, utilities and transportation prices. Colorado’s low sales tax rate of 4.63% may also help ease financial concerns.
• Boulder’s crime rate is relatively low, with most offenses falling in the category of property crimes. Local law enforcement is active throughout the city, ensuring resident safety and fostering good relations within the community.
• Located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder is bathed in sunshine for 245 days per year but also experiences a tremendous amount of snow. The city receives considerable snow accumulation 9 months out of the year, and the arid climate produces below-average rainfall in the remaining months.

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 Boulder, the cost of memory care averages $7,844 per month, the highest in Colorado for this level of care and significantly more than both state and national averages.

Seniors in Boulder pay the highest cost for memory care at $7,844 per month. Choosing to live in Denver can save $969 monthly, while farther south in Colorado Springs, even more savings of over $2,000 each month can be found for similar care. Opting to live in Pueblo may be a consideration for budget-minded individuals, where costs are the lowest in the state at $4,750 per month.

Other types of senior care in Boulder offer cost savings but may not provide memory care and dementia-related services. Seniors living at home pay $6,769 monthly for in-home health care and assistance. Adult day health care offers daytime supervision and the lowest cost at $4,333. In contrast, the highest price is found at nursing home facilities, which charge an average of $12,167 monthly for a semiprivate room with 24-hour skilled nursing services.

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 Colorado page.