The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Fernandina Beach, FL for 2023

 

Fernandina Beach has about 13,000 residents and a large senior population that makes up over a third of its population. Despite the size of its older adult community, the number of Alzheimer's-related deaths has remained steady. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 people died from Alzheimer’s in the region in both 2016 and 2020. During this timeframe, the number of deaths across all causes increased by 33%, but the percentage of deaths attributed to Alzheimer’s dropped from 3.04% to 2.28%.

Residential dementia care is a key factor that can improve the quality of life for those living with Alzheimer’s and related disorders. Memory care facilities have teams of specially trained caregivers who provide care and around-the-clock monitoring, and they feature dementia-informed dining and activity programs to promote optimal health and engagement.

Through this guide, readers can learn about memory care in Fernandina Beach, including details on how much care costs and some resources available to seniors and families navigating their dementia care options.

In Fernandina Beach, memory care communities comply with licensing regulations set by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. Along with following standard assisted living requirements, memory care facilities must comply with additional rules related to staffing, dementia-specific staff training and security features.

 

• There’s no state income tax in Florida, helping seniors’ retirement income stretch further. Because seniors and families only pay federal income taxes on wages, retirement income and benefits, they may be able to afford memory care services in Fernandina Beach more easily.
• Baptist Medical Center Nassau is located in Fernandina Beach, providing access to over 2 dozen specialties, including cardiology, neurology and orthopedic surgery. The region only has about 91 doctors per 100,000 residents, less than half the national norm, but many memory care facilities have on-site medical offices and on-call physicians to promote access to care for residents.
• Fernandina Beach has daytime temperatures ranging from 63-91 degrees throughout the year, making it one of the cooler places to live in Florida. The city gets 48 inches of annual rainfall, and humidity levels tend to be very high in July and August. To keep residents safe and comfortable, particularly during hot weather, many memory care facilities have indoor amenities and activities as well as individual climate control in residents’ rooms.
• Crime occurs at a modest rate in Fernandina Beach compared to the nation as a whole, which may make local memory care services practical for families with safety concerns. On a 100-point crime index, the city rates 16.3 for property crime, several points lower than the national score of 22.7. While property crime is more prevalent, the city still has a rating that’s about three points lower than the national norm.
• The cost of living in Fernandina Beach is higher than state and national norms, which may be prohibitive for seniors and families with limited financial resources. On a 100-point index based on national living costs, the city rates 117.7. By comparison, Florida has a rating of 103.1. In particular, housing costs are well above national norms, and residents pay more for groceries and utilities here than in a typical U.S. city. However, opting for memory care may provide savings over living in a private residence.

 

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 Fernandina Beach, memory care facilities charge $5,825 per month for residential care.

Seniors in Fernandina Beach pay $5,825 per month for residential dementia care, which is $825 higher than Florida’s norm and $200 over the national average. Other cities in the northern region of Florida have more economically priced care, including Homosassa Springs, where care costs come in at $5,313. Similarly, in Deltona and Ocala, respective monthly rates average $4,969 and $4,813. Gainesville is even more affordable, with monthly rates that are about $2,900 less than in Fernandina Beach.

Memory care costs approximately $5,825 per month in Fernandina Beach, which is about $2,400 below the cost of nursing home care but costlier than other senior care options in the city. For example, seniors who obtain full-time specialized home health care pay $4,767 for services while those who don’t need memory support pay $4,660 for assisted living. In-home care costs about $1,300 less than memory care, and adult day health care is the most economically priced option at $1,625.

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 Florida page.