7 Memory Care Facilities near Worcester, MA

In the state of Massachusetts, 130,000 people have dementia. Massachusetts passed legislation recently that enhances efforts to train medical professionals to care for patients with Alzheimer's and dementia more effectively and provide assistance to families of loved ones in memory care. 

Because of these efforts, Massachusetts is considered an Alzheimer's-friendly state, and Worcester, a city in the central part of the state, has 16 memory care facilities in the area to accommodate this population of residents. Three of these are located in the city, and 13 are located near the city limits.

In Worcester as in the rest of Massachusetts, memory care facilities are known as "Dementia Special Care Units" (DSCUs). Some assisted living facilities in Worcester have specialized memory care wings, officially called "Special Care Residences" or SCR, for residents with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia.

• Since Worcester is a part of Massachusetts and New England, it experiences four distinct seasons, during which seniors can enjoy the outdoors. On average, there are 197 sunny days in Worcester, and the average high during the middle of the summer in July is 81 degrees, which is pleasant. However, winters are typically cold and snowy — Worcester receives an average of 55 inches of snow a year. During the winter months, seniors may enjoy spending time doing favorite activities indoors.
• The cost of living in Worcester is slightly more expensive than the U.S. average. In a cost of living index where the U.S. average is 100, the cost of living in Worcester is 109. However, this is less than the Massachusetts state average of 139, making Worcester one of the more affordable places to live in Massachusetts.
• Massachusetts fully exempts Social Security retirement benefits, but the state does tax other forms of retirement income. The state's estate tax has an exemption of just $1 million, among the lowest in the country. Seniors considering a move to Massachusetts would be wise to keep these tax drawbacks in mind, as their retirement income might be affected.
• Violent crime in Worcester is much higher than the national average. On a scale of one (low crime) to 100 (high crime), Worcester is at 88.1, while the U.S. average is 31.1. Incidents of property crime are also higher in Worcester compared to the rest of the U.S. at 45.8, more than the country's average of 38.1. It is also slightly higher compared to the nearby urban areas of Marlborough and Leominster.

Financial Assistance for Memory Care in Worcester

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

More Ways to Pay for Memory 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 Massachusetts page.

Worcester and the surrounding area are home to numerous government agencies and non-profit organizations offering help for seniors searching for or currently residing in a memory care community. These organizations can also provide assistance in a number of other eldercare services such as geriatric care management, elder law advice, estate planning, finding home care and health and wellness programs.

To see a list of free memory care resources in Worcester, please visit our Memory Care in Massachusetts page.

Worcester-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.