The Best Memory Care Communities in Bristol County, MA

An estimated 130,000 residents in Massachusetts have Alzheimer's disease, and this number is expected to grow to 150,000 by 2025, an increase of 15.4 percent. Bristol County, Massachusetts has a population of 561,483 residents, and 16.7 percent of them are 65 or over. For residents who have Alzheimer's disease or dementia in Bristol County, there are nine memory care facilities to choose from.

In all of Massachusetts, including Bristol County, memory care facilities are known as Dementia Special Care Units (DSCUs). Special Care Residences, or SLRs, may be part of some assisted living facilities in Bristol County that are designed specifically for residents with dementia, Huntington's disease or other memory impairments. 

• Since Bristol County is part of New England, the area experiences four distinct seasons each year. Spring, summer and fall are considered to be the most comfortable and suitable for outdoor activities, including supervised walks on the grounds of memory care facilities. The average high in July is 83 degrees, and the area features beautiful foliage in the fall. Winters may be challenging for memory care residents in Bristol County, as the area receives about 42 inches of snow each year.
• The cost of living in Bristol County is relatively affordable -- on a cost of living index where 100 is the national average, Bristol County sits at 118, which is much less than the state average of 139. Housing is the biggest factor in the cost of living difference, although it is one of the more affordable places to live in Massachusetts, as housing costs are at 158 on the same index, whereas the state average is 210.
• Crime rate is an important consideration for families searching for memory care for their loved ones in Bristol County. On a scale of one (low crime) to 100 (high crime), this region of Massachusetts falls at 43.9 for violent crime and 42.2 for property crime. These numbers are both higher than the overall state and national averages and higher than the crime rates in the nearby Providence-Warwick Metro area in Rhode Island. Families may want to inquire about security measures at memory care facilities in this area.
• Massachusetts is considered to be moderately tax friendly towards retirees. Income from Social Security and public pension funds are fully tax exempt, but other forms of retirement income are taxed at the state rate of 5.1 percent. These include private pensions and income from a 401k, IRA or other retirement savings account.

Memory Care costs in Bristol County start around $7,579 per month on average, while the nationwide average cost of memory care is $5,743 per month.

It’s important to note that memory care rates in Bristol 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts page.

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