The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Olathe, KS for 2024

Olathe, KS, is a suburban community around 20  miles from Kansas City, Missouri. It’s home to about 143,000 individuals, of whom roughly 12% are seniors aged 65 and older. Elderly individuals are at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s, a condition that the Alzheimer’s Association projects could impact nearly 12.9 million seniors by the year 2050.

Dementia is an issue of growing concern in the community of Olathe. As reported by the CDC, the number of Alzheimer’s-related deaths nearly doubled from 2016 to 2020, while the number of all deaths rose by only 28% during this period. To support those living with Alzheimer’s, Olathe offers a number of memory care communities where seniors can receive personalized dementia care services. These facilities are staffed with specially trained caregivers who are available around the clock to assist with daily tasks and offer services such as housekeeping, meals and planned recreational activities.

This guide offers information about memory care for seniors and families exploring their long-term care options. It includes some of the benefits and drawbacks of living in Olathe, how much memory care services typically cost and a list of organizations that offer dementia-focused programs and services.

In Olathe, the Kansas Department for Aging & Disability Services regulates assisted living and residential health care facilities, including memory care communities. A preliminary inspection is conducted before licensure, and at least one unannounced inspection must be within 15 months of any previous inspection to ensure a facility complies with laws and regulations.

• Johnson County Transit is a countywide public transportation service that seniors in Olathe can ride free of charge. The system also operates a Freedom On-Demand service that provides scheduled curb-to-curb transportation for the elderly and disabled for a small fee.
• Crime in Olathe is low, which may be comforting to seniors in memory care communities. Rated on a scale of 1 to 100, the city earns a score of 10.2 for violent crime and 24.5 for property crime. These scores are both lower than the U.S. national averages of 22.7 and 35.4, respectively.
• Living in Olathe is a little more expensive than in the average Kansas city. Olathe’s cost of living index is rated 103.1, based on the U.S. average of 100. This is about 24% higher than the Kansas state median of 83.1. While housing costs are noticeably higher in Olathe, transportation and health care costs are moderate.
• Seniors have direct access to world-class health care services at Olathe Medical Center. Open 24 hours a day, the hospital offers emergency care services as well as a number of specialties. In fact, it’s nationally recognized for heart attack and stroke care.
• Olathe has a humid climate characterized by hot summers and cold winters. Residents can expect winter temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit, accompanied by about 13 inches of snow throughout the season. Summer temperatures can climb to the high 80s, and the area often experiences severe thunderstorms. However, the city does see 12 more days of sunshine than the average American city.
• According to data from the American Lung Association, the air quality in Johnson County is fair. The region receives a B rating in terms of high ozone days. However, it receives a C rating when observing levels of 24-hour particle pollution.
• Kansas offers a moderately tax-friendly climate for retirees. Social Security benefits and public pension income are exempt from taxation, and the state does not have an estate or inheritance tax. However, other forms of retirement income, such as IRAs and 401(k)s, are subject to taxation.

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.

While costs often depend on a facility’s location, amenities and services, the average rate for memory care in Olathe is $5,731 per month.

While costs in Olathe are a bit higher than the U.S. national average ($5,625), they’re on par with the Kansas state median. Other cities in the state, such as Topeka and Lawrence, see rates that are similar to the national average. Seniors in these cities pay about $100 less per month for memory care than in Olathe. However, Olathe is much more affordable than Manhattan and Wichita, where average memory care costs exceed $6,700. These cities are over $1,000 more expensive than Olathe.

Adult day health care is about $4,000 less than memory care but covers only part-time assistance during the day. Assisted living rates are also less expensive, at $4,585 per month. For seniors looking to age in place, both in-home care and home health care costs are more than $770 lower than memory care. Nursing homes are about $730 more expensive than memory care facilities, though they offer a higher level of specialized 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 Kansas page.