The 5 Best Memory Care Facilities in Athens, GA for 2024

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alzheimer’s ranks as the fifth leading cause of death in Georgia, and data from the Alzheimer’s Association predicts a continued increase in the number of diagnoses statewide. While Athens has a relatively small senior community that accounts for 11% of the 129,000 residents, data from the CDC highlights the need for comprehensive dementia care and treatment. According to the organization, the number of Alzheimer’s-related deaths in the Athens region increased by 12.5% between 2016 and 2020. This was lower than the 21% increase in the number of deaths from all causes, but it represents dozens of families seeking memory care support.

For many families, residential memory care is a practical solution for dementia-related security, nutrition and engagement concerns. Memory care facilities have fully secured environments with features such as life skills stations and open floor plans to encourage independence and confidence, and they have trained staff members who provide compassionate care.

This guide offers ways to cover memory care costs in Athens and highlights helpful resources for seniors and families. 

The Georgia Department of Community Health oversees memory care facilities in Georgia, including communities in Athens. The department conducts criminal background checks on all prospective employees and requires facilities to follow basic standards for the scope of services they provide, intake and discharge procedures and care planning. It also requires compliance with dementia-specific rules regarding security, staffing and building amenities.

 

• Georgia doesn’t tax Social Security benefits, promoting seniors’ financial stability throughout retirement, and it has a $65,000 deduction seniors can claim to reduce their tax burden on other forms of retirement income. This may make memory care in Athens more accessible for some seniors.
• Athens ranks as a member of the AARP Age-Friendly Network, a distinction that highlights its leaders’ commitment to creating a welcoming environment for older residents, including those with memory loss. The community has a livability score of 45 for features such as access to parks and grocery stores and high hospital patient satisfaction scores.
• The air quality in Athens earns the city grades of A for ozone pollution and B for 24-hour particle pollution from the American Lung Association. The organization reports that the typical year has 1 day in which particle pollution levels may affect vulnerable individuals, but ozone pollution levels don’t present a concern. This may support the health of local memory care residents.  
• Athens’ hot season runs from late May until mid-September and has average daily highs around 83 degrees Fahrenheit, although temperatures may climb as high as 97 degrees Fahrenheit. The cooler season lasts from November 28 until February 26, with temperatures ranging from 54 to 61 degrees Fahrenheit. To let residents make the most of the city’s comfortable climate, many memory care facilities organize outdoor activities and supervised outings throughout the year.
• Athens offers affordability for prospective memory care residents, with an overall cost of living that falls 12% below the national norm and seven points below the state average. To further make care accessible to seniors seeking budget-friendly residential services, many memory care facilities have all-inclusive pricing and accept the state’s Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program.

 

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.

On average, memory care residents in Athens pay $5,230 per month for housing and care, although rates may be higher or lower, depending on a facility’s size, amenities and pricing structure.

In Athens, seniors pay $5,230 per month for residential memory support. This exceeds the state norm of $4,419 and rates in most other cities in the region, but it's 7% below the national average. In Gainesville, monthly care costs run about 7% lower than in Athens, and in Augusta, care costs average 14% less. Monthly rates in Macon are even more competitive at $3,575, but in Rome, fees slightly exceed Athens’ norm at $5,366.

Memory care in Athens costs $5,230 per month, making this one of the costlier senior care solutions in the city. While nursing home costs exceed this monthly rate by 33%, seniors who opt for nonmedical in-home care or specialized home health care pay 13% less on average for services. Assisted living rates runabout 20% below memory care costs, and seniors who attend adult day health care facilities pay approximately 75% less for 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 Georgia page.