The Best Memory Care Communities in Cumberland County, ME

In the state of Maine, affectionately known as Vacationland to native New Englanders and residents, it's estimated that some 28,000 residents are afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. This number is expected to grow by 25 percent to 35,000 by 2025.

In Cumberland County, Maine, which is the state's most populous county, approximately 17.8 percent of the county's 292,500 residents are aged 65 or older, making it important for Cumberland County to be able to support a growing population of seniors with Alzheimer's disease. Luckily, within Cumberland County, there are seven memory care facilities, known as Alzheimer's/dementia care units, for families to choose from. 

• In Portland, where two of the seven memory care facilities in Cumberland County are located, residents enjoy four distinct seasons. There are an average of 203 sunny days a year in Portland, and since it's located close to the ocean, residents of memory care facilities should have plenty of opportunities to enjoy supervised time outside. Winters in Portland tend to be rather cold and snowy. The city gets an average of 67 inches annually, and nearby Brunswick, also in Cumberland County, gets 62 inches. 
• Unfortunately, Maine is not considered to be tax-friendly towards retirees. Although Social Security income is not taxed, every other form of retirement is at rates as high as 7.15 percent. These include withdrawals from retirement accounts and public and private pension income. Wages are taxed at normal rates and the marginal state tax rate is currently at 5.8 percent.
• Crime in Cumberland County is relatively low. On a scale of one to 100, with one being low crime and 100 being high crime, Cumberland County sits at 32.7 for violent crime, about the same as the U.S. average of 31.1, and 33.2 for property crime, below the national average of 38.1. On a good note, it's not as high as nearby Androscoggin County, which has rates in the 50s. Seniors can feel safe living in Cumberland County, and seniors and their families may want to find out what existing security measures are in place in the memory care facilities they visit.
• Cumberland County is home to world-class medical facilities, including those specializing in brain health and dementia care such as Maine Medical Center, Mercy Hospital and the New England Rehabilitation Hospital of Portland, in the event of medical emergencies or illness.

Memory Care costs in Cumberland County start around $8,266 per month on average, while the nationwide average cost of memory care is $5,694 per month.

It’s important to note that memory care rates in Cumberland County and the surrounding suburbs can vary widely based on factors such as location, the level of care needed, apartment size and the types of amenities offered at each community.

Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Memory Care in Maine page.

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.

Cumberland County-area memory care communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all memory care communities in Maine are required to follow. Visit our Memory Care in Maine page for more information about these laws.