The 5 Best Memory Care Facilities in Saint Augustine, FL for 2024

Set along the northeast coast of Florida, Saint Augustine is home to around 14,500 residents. Over 26% of the population are seniors aged 65 and older, and many of these individuals could be at risk of developing a cognitive impairment. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the leading causes of death among elderly individuals. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that one in every three American seniors dies with dementia.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rates of Alzheimer’s in Saint Augustine have risen dramatically in recent years. From 2016 to 2020, the number of Alzheimer’s-related deaths increased by more than 115%. This is significant, as the number of deaths from all causes only rose 27% during this period.

Fortunately, Saint Augustine seniors have access to numerous dementia care resources, including memory care facilities. These communities offer around-the-clock supervision and personalized memory support in a secure environment. This guide outlines the cost of care at these communities, a list of local support resources and an overview of what senior living is like in Saint Augustine.

Florida Agency for Health Care Administration’s Long-Term Care Service Unit is responsible for regulating and licensing memory care facilities in the state of Florida, including those located in Saint Augustine. It ensures regulation compliance by conducting annual and surprise inspections on a regular basis.

• There are numerous health care services in the greater Saint Augustine area, including the Flagler Hospital and the Leo C. Chase Jr. VA Clinic. Additionally, nearby Jacksonville is home to one of the state’s top medical facilities, the Mayo Clinic – Florida.
• Seniors living in Saint Augustine can expect to experience an average of 223 sunny days, which is well above the national average of 205 days. While summer temperatures can peak above 90° Fahrenheit, the area has pleasant winters with 45° Fahrenheit as the average high.
• While the sales tax in St. Johns County is 6.5%, Florida is one of the few states that collects no income tax on its residents.
• The cost of living score in Saint Augustine is 104.8, which is slightly higher than the national average of 100 and the state average of 103.1. However, in categories that are important to seniors, such as health care costs, the rates are below the state and national levels.  
• Memory care senior living facilities in Florida must adhere to robust guidelines and regulations pertaining to factors such as staff ratios, specialized training requirements and security features. These regulations ensure senior living facilities in Saint Augustine are safe and secure for seniors living with dementia-related issues.

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.

While costs can vary based on location, services and amenities, the median cost for memory care in Saint Augustine is $5,825 per month.

The monthly cost of memory care in Saint Augustine is higher than the national average of $5,625 and the state average of $5,000. Its costs align with the monthly memory care costs in the state capital of Tallahassee, which is just $15 lower. Cities further south, such as Naples, and west, such as Panama City, have some of the highest memory care rates in the state, at $6,625 and $6,351 per month, respectively. Gainesville has some of the most affordable monthly memory care costs at $2,938.

Adult day health care offers the most affordable senior care option at $1,625 per month. Seniors wishing to remain in their homes may consider in-home or home health care services, averaging $4,481 and $4,767 per month respectively. Assisted living provides 24/7 support and averages $4,660 per month. Seniors requiring around-the-clock supervision can expect to pay an average of $8,213 per month for a semiprivate nursing home room.

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.