The 5 Best Memory Care Facilities in Columbia, MO for 2023

Columbia is a city in the northern-central region of Missouri and home to nearly 122,000 people. Approximately 9 percent of residents are at least 65, the age at which the Alzheimer's Association reports that a majority of dementia cases are diagnosed. According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, more than 110,000 people in Missouri have Alzheimer's disease. 

The Columbia area has five memory care facilities, with four located within the city limits and an additional facility in the neighboring city of Holts Summit. In Columbia, as in the rest of the state, any assisted living facility that provides memory care must provide orientation for all staff members, and dementia-specific training must be a part of ongoing curricula. 

• Summers in Columbia are hot and muggy, with highs near 90 degrees and lows near 70. Winters are chilly, with January highs near 40 and lows in the low 20s. The area receives just 15 inches of snowfall annually, which may appeal to families who travel locally to visit loved ones in memory care.
  
• Crime is slightly more prevalent in Columbia than in the average U.S. city. On a scale of one to 100, with one representing the lowest crime, the property crime rate is 49.2, compared to the state average of 46.0 and the national average of 38.1. The violent crime rate is 36.5, versus Missouri's average of 38.1 and the national average of 31.1. To protect residents, memory care facilities utilize a variety of security features.
• Columbia seniors who make under $85,000 and are single filers do not pay income tax on Social Security earnings, while those who file jointly can earn up to $100,000 and not pay taxes on Social Security benefits. Public pensions are eligible for a significant deduction. Income from retirement accounts is subject to income tax.
• The Columbia area is home to world-class medical facilities, including those specializing in brain health and dementia care such as University Hospital and Boone Hospital Center, in the event of medical emergencies or illness.

Financial Assistance for Memory Care in Columbia

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

Columbia 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 Columbia, please visit our Memory Care in Missouri page.

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