The 3 Best Memory Care Facilities in Cape Girardeau, MO for 2024

The Alzheimer’s Association indicates that around 6.7 million older Americans had Alzheimer’s disease in 2023, and estimates suggest up to 12 million individuals will experience dementia by 2040. These figures are particularly relevant in cities such as Cape Girardeau, where seniors 65+ comprise approximately 18.6% of the population of around 40,000. CDC data shows that Alzheimer’s resulted in 63 of 651 deaths in 2016, 9.7% of the total mortality rate, and this increased to 11.8% in 2020. Fortunately, Cape Girardeau has several dementia care communities that support individuals experiencing cognitive decline.

Memory care facilities provide 24/7 supervision and practical support from trained caregivers in a secure setting. Communities typically offer science-backed therapies and activities, such as intergenerational visits and sensory stimulation, that may help ease symptoms of dementia, boost brain function and enhance quality of life.  

This guide discusses the pros and cons of aging in Cape Girardeau and lists valuable support agencies in the area. It also explains ways of paying for care and compares regional memory care fees and prices of alternative care types in the city.   

Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services, Section for Long-Term Care Regulation licenses statewide memory care facilities through its Licensure and Certification Unit. The department also monitors regulatory compliance in over 1,100 long-term care facilities, including about 500 that are Medicaid- or Medicare-certified.

• Regarding health care, Cape Girardeau has two 24/7 hospitals: Saint Francis Medical Center and Southeast Hospital. The ratio of registered nurses to local residents is 1:44. Several specialized clinics and pharmacies are also in the city.   
• Primary care doctors in Cape Girardeau County see an average of 1,127 patients annually. This is 278 fewer than the statewide average of 1,405. Patient-to-dentist ratios are also lower, with 1,325 individuals per dentist in Cape Girardeau County and 1,650:1 across Missouri. Over 90% of the local community has health coverage, including MO HealthNet — the state Medicaid program —, Medicare and VA health benefits.
• Health care costs in Cape Girardeau are higher than state and national norms, the area’s relatively high rate of health care coverage mitigates out-of-pocket expenses. However, when it comes to daily living expenses, the overall cost of living in Cape Girardeau is 83.8 on a 100-point scale, which is 16.2 points lower than the U.S. average and 1.8 points below the state average.
• Statistically, Cape Girardeau has 6.76 violent crimes per 1,000 people, higher than the corresponding state and national averages of 5.35 and 4. Property crime figures are also higher than the state and national medians, with 31.47 crimes per 1,000 individuals compared to 23.78 statewide and 19 across the United States. However, most memory care communities have heightened security and safety systems, including on-site staff at all times, gated grounds and window locks.
• Cape Girardeau has a humid subtropical climate characterized by hot summers and mild winters. Annual temperatures range between a summer high of about 90 degrees Fahrenheit and a winter low of around 24 degrees Fahrenheit. The area experiences an average of 48 inches of rain yearly, 10 more than the U.S. average, and has roughly 213 sunny days per year compared with 205 nationally.   

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 costs an average of $3,173 per month in Cape Girardeau.

Cape Girardeau’s monthly memory care average of $3,173 is $577 lower than the state average and a substantial $2,452 lower than the national average. Memory care communities in Cape Girardeau typically charge $579 more monthly than Jefferson City communities. However, median rates in Cape Girardeau are more affordable than in Springfield, St. Louis and Kansas City, where seniors generally pay $890, $1,952 and $2,558 more for monthly care services.  

In Cape Girardeau, specialized memory care offers a monthly saving of $2,059 compared to a semi-private room in a nursing home and the 24/7 clinical services such facilities provide. In-home care, which includes help with everyday activities, and home health care, which provides intermittent skilled nursing and therapies, cost $3,756 monthly, $583 more than memory care. Adult day health care offers daytime support outside the home and stands at $356 less than memory care. Assisted living offers a more affordable care solution, costing $635 less than memory care for personal care assistance in a communal setting.  

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 Missouri page.