The 3 Best Memory Care Facilities in Bangor, ME for 2024

 

Bangor is home to around 31,500 people, with individuals aged 65 and older constituting approximately 17.1% of the city’s population. Per the Alzheimer’s Association, this is the age group most at risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative cognitive conditions. CDC data shows that Alzheimer’s prevalence is remaining fairly steady in Bangor, with the condition leading to 4.25% of all deaths in 2020 compared to 4.28% in 2016. In 2020, 58 people in Bangor died from the disease. However, the city has several dementia care facilities to support those with Alzheimer’s disease.  

Memory care communities provide a safe and nurturing environment where seniors can benefit from specialized support and programming. Layouts are easy to navigate and commonly include shadow boxes, color coding or other signposting measures. Caregivers are trained to help seniors with common issues, such as sundowning and shuffling, and in science-backed therapeutic techniques, such as validation therapy.

This guide considers the pros and cons of living in Bangor and compares regional costs of memory care. It also details financial assistance options and lists low-cost and free support resources.  

Maine Department of Health and Human Services licenses memory care communities in Bangor and elsewhere in the state. Memory care services may be provided by appropriately licensed assisted living facilities, residential care facilities or private nonmedical institutions. The department periodically inspects facilities and investigates complaints from residents and their families.

 

• Bangor joined the AARP Age-Friendly Network in 2016. This means the city is committed to becoming more livable for people of all ages. Initiatives include those related to health care advocacy, senior isolation, nutrition and caregiver support. Projects have increased the availability of outdoor exercise equipment and improved winter road safety.
• At 16.2, the violent crime rate in Maine is lower than the national average of 22.7. However, the property crime rate is higher at 63.3 compared to the nationwide average of 35.4. Fortunately, memory care communities offer a secure living environment for vulnerable seniors concerned about safety.
• Bangor’s warm summers typically see temperatures between the high 60s and mid-70s, helping to balance the colder winter months. The city gets around 69 inches of snow each year, which is 41 inches more than the U.S. average. It also has more rain than the national norm.
• The cost of living in Bangor is around 15% lower than the national average, and it is also lower than the Maine average. Transportation costs are particularly affordable in the area. Additionally, memory care residents may qualify for financial assistance through MaineCare’s Elderly and Adults with Disabilities Waiver to cover partial care costs.  
• Bangor has a high number of physicians per capita, with 331 doctors per 100,000 people, while the U.S. average is 210. Within city limits, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Hospital provide a full range of medical services. Residents also have easy access to specialty clinics and pharmacies. 

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.

Although precise costs depend on the services required, memory care averages $5,938 per month in Bangor.

Although dementia care in Bangor is a little costlier than the national average of $5,625, it’s significantly cheaper than the statewide median monthly rate of $7,331. Indeed, Bangor is among the most affordable places in Maine for this type of care. Older adults usually pay around $6,855 in Lewiston and the substantially higher fee of $8,156 in Portland. It’s also more cost-effective to obtain memory care services in Bangor than in Manchester, NH, where average rates run $10,076 per month. 

Although not cheap, specialized memory care in Bangor costs about $4,647 less each month than nursing home care. However, dementia care is around $1,188 costlier than assisted living and $5,071 more expensive than adult day health care. The price gap reduces when looking at in-home care and home health care, both of which cost around $5,720 per month.  

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 Maine page.