The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Dunwoody, GA for 2024

Of the 50,901 residents of Dunwoody, GA, 13.7% are aged 65 years and older. The percentage of the city’s senior population is only slightly less than the state average and 3.1% less than the national average. Seniors are prone to a variety of cognitive issues, but easy access to good Alzheimer’s and dementia care ensures better health and less stress for those afflicted. Having the right programs in place for seniors is a priority in Dunwoody and the state of Georgia overall, and this shows in the numbers. According to the CDC, between 2016 and 2020, deaths directly related to Alzheimer’s rose only 3.77%, while overall deaths rose 30.75%.

Memory care communities provide many of the same services as assisted living and nursing homes, such as around-the-clock supervision, skilled specialists, nutritious meals and basic health care. What makes them different is that everything is designed to minimize confusion, health issues, agitation and depression that many people who have Alzheimer’s experience.

This guide provides information on the pros and cons of living in Dunwoody for those who have cognitive issues. It also covers the types of programs and care available in the area, along with typical monthly costs.

In Georgia, memory care facilities are often dedicated units in other types of senior communities. The Georgia Department of Community Health licenses all types of senior facilities, though it has additional requirements that memory care facilities must meet. It ensures that each follows its provisions, including those around the services provided, the medication administered, dietary services, staffing, training and admissions. 

• Although Dunwoody’s cost of living is almost 30% higher than that of the state and the nation as a whole, that number is driven primarily by high food and housing costs. For seniors who live in memory care facilities, those two types of costs wouldn’t affect them. 
• Health care costs in Dunwoody are slightly lower than the state and national averages. On a scale of 1 to 100, Dunwoody comes in at 98, with Georgia and the nation coming in at 99.8 and 100 respectively. This includes costs for things such as hospital visits/stays, doctor visits and dental checkups.
• There are five hospitals within 10 miles of Dunwoody, making health care very accessible. One of those hospitals is Emory University Hospital, which is regarded as the top hospital in Georgia and ranks nationally in five specific categories — cardiac surgery, cardiology, oncology, transplantation and neurosciences.
• For those who love warm, sunny weather, Dunwoody is a great place to settle. Expect sun about 221 days out of the year and a maximum of 1.1 inches of snow throughout the winter months. Georgia is known for its very hot weather, but Dunwoody’s climate is a bit more moderate. Expect only 23 days per year when temperatures will exceed 90 degrees and approximately five months when the temperature range is between 70 and 85 degrees.
• Regarding state taxes, Georgia is friendly to seniors. Its income and sales taxes are average, but it doesn’t tax Social Security benefits, and it offers tax breaks on property and retirement income for seniors.

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 Dunwoody on average costs $4,806 per month.

Dunwoody is slightly more expensive than the Georgia average of $4,418; however, it’s $819 per month less than the national average, making Dunwoody an affordable option for seniors seeking memory care. Costs in nearby cities are typically more expensive than in Dunwoody, with Gainesville, Athens and Rome being $60, $424 and $560 more per month, respectively.

Memory care facilities are one of the most expensive care options, with only nursing home facilities being $2,722 more expensive per month for a semiprivate room. Fortunately, there are less expensive alternatives. In-home care and home health care is $230 to $516 cheaper than memory care, and adult day health care is the least expensive, at $3,480 less per month. However, these options don’t provide the same tailored services as memory care communities. Assisted living is similar in terms of the services provided, but the cost is $961 less per month on average, and it’s better suited for seniors who don’t require close monitoring. 

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.