The 5 Best Memory Care Facilities in Vero Beach, FL for 2023

 

Located along Florida's Atlantic Coast, Vero Beach is a city of around 17,000 people. It has a very large senior population, with adults aged 65 and older accounting for nearly 29% of its residents. This means that many of the city's residents will be at risk of developing a cognitive condition such as Alzheimer's — a disease that impacts one in every nine seniors in America. Fortunately, Vero Beach has been quite successful in its prevention and awareness efforts. Data from the CDC shows that the number of Alzheimer's deaths dropped by nearly 14% between the years of 2016 and 2020, while the number of all deaths rose by 14% during that same period.

For individuals who do require dementia care, memory care communities offer a safe and comfortable environment where they have access to the support they need. They feature specially trained, 24-hour staff, evidence-based therapies and dementia-focused programming. This guide offers information about memory care in Vero Beach, including the cost of these services, options for financial assistance and resources that families can turn to for support.

Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration, Bureau of Health Facility Regulation is responsible for the licensing and regulation of memory care facilities in Vero Beach. Communities are subject to biennial inspections to ensure they are compliant with state and federal regulations for safe operation. The agency's online public record database can provide families with information about facility operations and violations.

 

• Vero Beach is an affordable option for seniors compared to the average city in Florida. Based on the national median of 100, the city's cost of living is assigned an index score of 95.2, which is lower than the state average of 103.1. Seniors can save on health, housing and transportation costs, though these are all typically covered in memory care facilities' monthly rates.
• The state also offers many tax benefits. All forms of retirement income, including Social Security benefits, pensions, IRAs and 401(k)s, are exempt from taxation. There is also no estate or inheritance tax in Florida.
• While rates of violent crime fall below the national average, property crime is more prevalent. Measured on a scale to 100, the city receives an index rating of 45.8, which is ten points higher than the U.S. average of 35.4. Fortunately, memory care communities are designed to keep residents safe and are typically outfitted with enhanced security systems and 24-hour surveillance.
• The air in Vero Beach is clean and healthy for seniors to breathe. The American Lung Association awards the city with an A grade in regard to the number of high ozone days it sees on an annual basis.
• Health care is very accessible in Vero Beach. Not only are health costs lower than the national median, but the city has 234 physicians for every 100,000 residents, which is higher than the U.S. average of 210.
• As it's a smaller community, there's only one hospital in Vero Beach. However, the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital is one of the top hospitals in the state. Its specialties include geriatrics and brain health, offering neurological care for Parkinson’s disease, strokes, brain tumors and dementia.
• Seniors in Vero Beach can enjoy warm and sunny weather throughout the year, though the area is prone to stormy weather during hurricane season. While summer can be hot and muggy, winters are particularly pleasant, with an average low of 51 degrees and no chance of snowfall. The city typically sees 232 sunny days each year, which gives seniors plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.

 

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 Vero Beach costs an average of $4,188 per month.

Seniors in Vero Beach pay about $800 less than in the average Florida city. Local costs are also $1,400 lower than the national average. While rates in Lakeland are slightly less expensive, other nearby communities, such as Miami, are costlier. Rates in Palm Bay are nearly $1,400 higher than in Vero Beach. Costs in Naples, which sees the state's highest rates, are over $2,400 higher than costs in Vero Beach.

There are other long-term care options to consider. Adult day care is a less expensive alternative at $1,300 per month, though it only covers daytime assistance. For seniors not needing specialized medical care, assisted living is an option over $800 less expensive per month. In-home care and home health care are suitable options for seniors who wish to age in place, though both of these options are $900 more expensive than memory care. For those who require a higher level of supervision, nursing homes are ideal, though costs are nearly double that of memory care communities.

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.