The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Wellington, FL for 2024

Located in the heart of Palm Beach County, Wellington, FL, is a village that’s home to over 61,000 people. Nearly 17% of its population are seniors aged 65 and older—a demographic at an increased risk of developing a memory disorder, such as Alzheimer’s. In fact, the Alzheimer’s Association projects that the number of seniors living with dementia in the U.S. could be as high as 12.7 million by 2050.

Wellington has been quite successful in minimizing the impact of this condition in recent years. Data from the CDC shows the number of Alzheimer’s deaths in the city decreased by more than 31% between 2016 and 2020. This is significant as the number of deaths from all causes rose by nearly 20% during that period. For those who are living with Alzheimer’s, dementia care facilities can be a helpful resource. These communities allow seniors to receive personalized care and attention from specially-trained, 24-hour staff, along with dementia-focused programming, meals and chore assistance.

This guide offers more information about memory care in Wellington, including how much facilities typically cost, where seniors can turn to for local support and some of the benefits and drawbacks of living in this city.

Florida’s memory care communities, including those located in Wellington, are licensed and operated by the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration, Bureau of Health Facility Regulation. Facilities must pass an inspection to ensure they are observing the state and federal laws and regulations. Licenses must be renewed every two years, at which time a follow-up inspection is to be conducted.

• Many seniors flock to Florida cities such as Wellington to enjoy warm and sunny weather across the seasons. The city offers snow-free winters with temperatures above 55 degrees, and an average of 230 days of sunshine are expected each year. It’s worth noting that the area experiences very hot summer weather, so seniors may want to be mindful of the time they spend outdoors.
• Wellington is expensive compared to the average Florida city. Its cost of living index score is 128.3, which is higher than both the state median of 103.1 and the U.S. national average of 100. While seniors may notice particularly high housing and transportation costs, health care costs are moderate.
• Fortunately, Florida is very tax-friendly toward retirees. As there is no state income tax, Florida’s seniors are not subject to taxation on any forms of retirement income or benefits, including pensions, Social Security benefits, IRAs and 401(k)s. There is also no inheritance or estate tax in Florida, and sales taxes are moderate.
• Even if a community doesn’t offer transportation services, it’s easy for seniors to get around Wellington using Palm Tran. This regional public transportation system offers both fixed route services and scheduled door-to-door paratransit. Its Seniors in Motion program offers reduced rates for adults aged 65 and older and rider assistance.
• According to the American Lung Association, seniors in the Wellington area breathe high-quality air. The region receives A ratings in terms of high ozone days and 24-hour particle pollution, as well as a passing grade for annual particle pollution.
• Locally, seniors have access to world-class health care services at the nationally-ranked Wellington Regional Medical Center. In addition to emergency care, the center features a certified comprehensive stroke center.
• Crime rates in Wellington are low compared to national rates. On a scale to 100, the city receives an index rating of 15.7 for violent crime and 28.7 in terms of property-related offenses. These numbers are lower than the national averages of 22.7 and 35.4 in the same categories, respectively, which may offer peace of mind for seniors and their family members.

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.

Seniors in Wellington typically pay $4,704 per month at memory care facilities, though prices can vary between communities.

Wellington is an affordable city in terms of care costs. Its monthly rates are not only $300 lower than the state median, but they’re also more than $900 lower than the U.S. average. While seniors can find slightly lower rates in cities such as Lakeland, costs in Wellington are less expensive than nearby cities, such as Miami and Palm Bay, where costs are between $770 and $870 higher. They’re also significantly lower than costs in Naples, which are the highest in the state at $6,625 per month.

For part-time assistance, adult day care is an affordable option at $1,517 per month. Assisted living is around $940 less than memory care, though services are less specialized. Monthly rates for both in-home care and home health care are similar to those for memory care; however, these options allow seniors to age in place. Nursing homes are the most expensive option, starting at $8,164 per month, though they offer the most comprehensive care.

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.