Memory Care Communities in Grand Rapids, MI

Grand Rapids is one of Michigan’s most expensive cities for memory care. The nearby city of Ann Arbor is the most costly overall at $7,616 per month. The state capital, Lansing, costs $5,391 per month, and Detroit costs $5,269 per month. At the end of the list, Battle Creek ranks as the cheapest city for memory care, with average costs of $4,250 per month. 

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.

Memory care in Grand Rapids costs an average of $6,035 per month. This is higher than Michigan’s average of $5,313 and the national average of $5,625.

Seniors have several options for covering memory care expenses in Grand Rapids, including public and private payment solutions.

• Medicaid: Michigan Medicaid houses the MI Choice Waiver Program, which pays for services such as meals, personal emergency response systems and personal care. It also offers the Community Transition Services program for seniors transitioning to memory care from a nursing home.
• Medicare: While the federal health insurance program for seniors doesn’t cover nonmedical long-term care, meaning it doesn’t apply to memory care, seniors can use this insurance to pay for skilled nursing services or durable medical equipment.
• VA Benefits: Qualified veterans may pay for memory care services through two VA programs, helping them cover the cost of housing, personal care and transportation. These programs include Aid and Attendance, which increases their monthly pension, and the Geriatrics and Extended Care program, which is part of the VA Health Care for Elderly Veterans program.
• Private Payments: Memory care facilities accept cash payments for all services and fees, including room and board, custodial care, housekeeping and meals. Depending on an individual’s resources, these payments may come from monthly income, retirement savings, pensions or money from renting out or selling their home. 

Several types of senior care in the Grand Rapids area are less expensive than memory care. Adult day care services cost an average of $2,221 per month, while an assisted living facility costs $4,828. Home care and home health care average $5,529 per month, and a semiprivate room in a nursing home is the most expensive option at $9,405.

The Michigan Department of Human Services Bureau of Children and Adult Licensing licenses memory care facilities as either Homes for the Aged (HFA) or Adult Foster Care Homes (AFC). Both must adhere to services and accommodations to maintain their licenses.  

In Michigan, the difference between Adult Foster Care Homes and Homes for the Aged comes down to the number of residents in the facility. Adult Foster Care Homes usually have 20 or fewer residents, while Homes for the Aged have 21 or more. 

Benefits

• Grand Rapids has a large health network, providing access to cutting-edge care for seniors with dementia. 
• Older adults with memory loss find tailored support in this city at hospitals such as Spectrum Health Blodgett Hospital, Butterworth Hospital and Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital.
• Grand Rapids joined the AARP Age-Friendly Network in 2018 and has several initiatives to create a welcoming environment for seniors, including housing stability programs and easy-to-use public transportation.
• Seniors in Grand Rapids don’t pay state income taxes on Social Security income, and the state provides deductions to reduce the tax burden on other retirement income. This helps many seniors afford memory care costs.

Drawbacks

• The overall cost of living in Grand Rapids runs slightly higher than the national norm. However, health care costs run about 24% below the national average, and housing expenses come in roughly 5% below the national norm, making the city financially feasible for those seeking memory care.  
• Crime occurs at a higher rate in Grand Rapids than in a typical U.S. city. Annually, the city reports around 40 crimes per 1,000 residents, including 10 violent offenses and 30 property-related infractions. Fortunately, memory care facilities offer safe environments with features such as alarm systems and locked exterior doors.