The Best Memory Care Communities in Worcester County, MA

Approximately 130,000 Massachusetts residents have Alzheimer's disease. This figure includes residents from Worcester County, which is the second-most populous county in Massachusetts. Worcester County has 830,839 residents as of July 2017, and of these, 15.3 percent, or approximately 127,118 residents, are age 65 or over. To accommodate seniors who may require memory care services, there are 12 memory care facilities in Worcester County. 

In Worcester County as in the rest of Massachusetts, memory care facilities are officially known as "Dementia Special Care Units" or DSCUs. Some assisted living facilities in Massachusetts include a Special Care Residence (SCR) for residents with dementia or other mental health issues.

• Worcester County has a relatively comfortable climate, with its warmest seasons being spring and summer. The average high in July is 81 degrees, and there are an average of 197 sunny days a year. For seniors who find winters challenging, living in Worcester County may be difficult as the area receives an average of 52 inches of snow a year.
• Seniors can feel safe living in Worcester County, as both property and violent crime are infrequent. Property and violent crime levels in Worcester County are lower on average than the Worcester Metro area and Massachusetts as a whole.
• Massachusetts is moderately tax-friendly for retirees. While Social Security income and withdrawals from public pension funds are not taxed, withdrawals from retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s, IRAs and private pensions are fully taxed at the state income tax rate of 5.1 percent.
• Worcester County is home to world-class medical facilities, including those specializing in brain health and dementia care such as the Neurology Department at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester, in the event of medical emergencies or illness.

Memory Care costs in Worcester County start around $8,001 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 Worcester 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.

Worcester 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.