The 5 Best Memory Care Facilities in Santa Rosa County, FL for 2024

Santa Rosa County is on Florida's Gulf Coast, near Pensacola, and has 174,272 residents, including 27,000 people who are age 65 and older. From that group, the Alzheimer's Association estimates 2,800 may be living with dementia and would benefit from the care of an Extended Congregate Care facility (ECC), which is an assisted living unit that specializes in treating and supervising those with cognitive ailments. The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration licenses and governs these ECCs. All four facilities in Santa Rosa County are in the city of Gulf Breeze.

• The violent crime rate in Santa Rosa is 38.5 compared to the national average of 31.1, based on a 100 point scale with 100 being the most dangerous. The U.S. average for property crime is 38.1, while Santa Rosa County's is slightly lower at 37.8. Families may want to ask about the security measures an ECC uses to keep residents safe.
  
• Santa Rosa County never receives snowfall, but it sees 67 inches of rain per year, which is more than an average U.S. city at 39. The national average of 205 sunny days annually is lower than Santa Rosa County's average of 228. Seniors' health could benefit from the balmy weather. Summer highs climb to 91, and winter lows only dip to 41 degrees. Santa Rosa County received 71 out of 100 in Sperling's Comfort Index.
  
• Cost of living ratings are estimated based on a national median figure of 100 across all categories. Santa Rosa County's overall cost of living is 105, with a housing expense of 106 and healthcare costs that are almost equal to the national average at 102. This may help families budget more money to care for a loved one in an ECC.
  
• Santa Rosa County is home to world-class medical facilities, including those specializing in brain health and dementia care, such as Santa Rosa Medical Center and Baptist Hospital, in the event of a medical emergency or illness.

Memory Care costs in Santa Rosa County start around $5,275 per month on average, while the nationwide average cost of memory care is $5,743 per month.

It’s important to note that memory care rates in Santa Rosa County and the surrounding suburbs can vary widely based on factors such as location, the level of care needed, apartment size and the types of amenities offered at each community.

Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Memory Care in Florida page.

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.

Santa Rosa County-area memory care communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all memory care communities in Florida are required to follow. Visit our Memory Care in Florida page for more information about these laws.