Communities in Joplin, MO

Joplin’s memory care residents pay median monthly rates of $3,506 for residential services. By comparison, the state norm runs about 7% above the local cost at $3,750, and nationally, memory care facilities charge $2,119 more for care. Joplin’s rates trend lower than care costs in St. Louis and Springfield, where respective monthly rates come in at $5,125 and $4,063. However, seniors in Cape Girardeau pay about 9.5% less for this level of care than residents in Joplin, and in Jefferson City, monthly fees fall 26% below Joplin’s norm.

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 facilities in Joplin charge approximately $3,506 per month for dementia support.

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.

Memory care costs about $3,506 per month in Joplin, which is moderate compared to other local senior solutions. While seniors who don’t need dementia support pay lower rates of $2,805 for assisted living, which features housing, meals and personal care services, other alternatives tend to be costlier. For example, seniors who opt for private care at home pay about 28% more for in-home care, which includes personal care services and companionship, and home health care, which encompasses personal care along with basic skilled nursing. Additionally, nursing home residents pay comparatively high monthly rates of $5,658 for around-the-clock medical support and supervision, daily meals, housing and personal care.

The Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services licenses all memory care communities in Joplin. It officially recognizes these communities as residential care facilities or assisted living facilities, though it has increased licensing standards related to staff training for communities that provide dementia support. The department also houses the statewide Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, which provides advocacy and information services.

• Joplin is home to Freeman Hospital West, a 339-bed teaching hospital with a Level II Trauma Center, an on-site pharmacy and diagnostic and treatment services for memory loss and dementia. The city also offers Mercy Hospital Joplin, a designated Level 2 Stroke Center with a full suite of neurology services for seniors living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias.

• In general, Joplin is an affordable place to live, with an Elder Index ranging between $22,404 and $29,796 for single seniors in good health. This is 82-92% of the national norm, indicating that overall living expenses are economical compared to costs in other U.S. cities.

• The AARP assigns Joplin a livability score of 52, putting it in the top half of U.S. communities. This score reflects the relatively high hospital patient satisfaction rating of 73.3% compared to 69% nationally, though the preventable hospitalization rate surpasses the national norm at 45.2. Additionally, the city offers high access to ADA-accessible public transportation vehicles as well as amenities such as parks and grocery stores.

• Missouri seniors with annual incomes below $85,000 don’t pay state income taxes on their Social Security benefits. Although the state taxes other types of retirement income, it has a $6,000 exemption for those whose qualified income comes below $25,000, letting many seniors afford memory care in Joplin.

• Summers in Joplin tend to be rainy and hot, with daytime highs ranging from 82-91 degrees Fahrenheit. This season, which begins in early June and lasts through mid-September, brings muggy conditions about 19% of the time. Winter lasts from late November through late February and has daytime temperatures between 45-54 degrees Fahrenheit. This appeals to seniors who enjoy experiencing distinct seasons throughout the year.

• Crime is relatively prevalent in Joplin. Its violent crime rate is among the highest in the nation, though a majority of the criminal activity that takes place is property-related. Fortunately, memory care communities typically have advanced security measures such as alarm systems and surveillance cameras to promote residents’ safety.