Memory Care in Nevada

Nevada is home to over 3.1 million residents, and seniors aged 65 and older make up 16.1% of the state’s population. Unfortunately, an estimated 49,000 Nevada seniors live with Alzheimer’s disease, and close to 15% of state residents over the age of 45 are dealing with cognitive decline. By 2025, the number of seniors in Nevada diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease is projected to grow to 64,000, which is an estimated 30.6% increase.

Thanks to the lack of state income tax and an abundance of senior-friendly recreational amenities, Nevada is a popular retirement destination for many older adults. In terms of health care services, there are a number of top-ranked regional hospitals, including the 159-bed Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center, and the Northern Nevada Medical Center, a certified Advanced Primary Stroke Center. Statewide, the average monthly cost of residential memory care services is $4,688, although actual rates vary depending on the location and facility.

Memory care can either be offered on its own in a community designed especially for those with dementia or Alzheimer’s, or, more often, it’s provided as a service in a separate wing of an assisted living facility. Memory care programs are designed specifically for those with memory impairment, and the facilities often coordinate social activities and schedules specifically for the needs of those living with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

This guide provides an overview of residential memory care services in Nevada, including the average monthly rates within Nevada and neighboring states. There is also in-depth information on financing long-term care services, a summary of Nevada’s state regulations related to residential memory care, and links to free and low-cost resources for those living with memory loss.

Note: Residential memory care is usually offered in assisted living facilities, and in general, memory care costs tend to be 20-30% higher than assisted living rates. No national database currently tracks memory care rates in the United States, so we’ve estimated the monthly costs listed below by adding 25% to the assisted living rates in Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey.

The average monthly cost of memory care in Nevada is $4,688, which is well below the rate in neighboring California, where the average is $6,563. To the east of Nevada, monthly memory care rates are lower in Utah ($4,375), while to the north in Oregon ($6,306), average costs are much higher. Just to the south of Nevada in Arizona, residential memory care services cost about $5,000 per month.

Within Nevada, local residential memory care rates range from an average of $4,563 per month in Las Vegas to $5,313 in Reno. In Carson City, the same type of care costs around $4,775 per month.

There are a number of long-term care services available across Nevada. The least-costly option is adult day health care, which runs about $1,788 per month. In-home care from either a homemaker or home health care aide costs around $5,148 per month based on 44 hours of care per week, while the statewide average assisted living rate is $3,750. Nursing home care is by far the most expensive service. The average rate for a semiprivate nursing home room is $9,216, and a private room costs about $10,007 per month.

Note: For the purposes of this guide, when we say “Memory Care” we are referring to memory care provided in a “social setting,” such as an Assisted Living Facility. This is the most common way to receive Memory Care and is the best fit for all but the frailest seniors. Sometimes the actual service of memory care can be provided in a Nursing Home (“medical setting”), so the financial assistance options will be very different. To learn more about the financial assistance options available for memory care provided in a nursing home, read our guide to Nursing Home Care in Nevada.

Although Nevada’s Medicaid program doesn’t cover residential memory care room and board costs, eligible Medicaid beneficiaries may qualify for a number of medical and nonmedical services that can be delivered to eligible participants.

In Nevada, residential memory care services are partially covered for seniors who meet the functional and financial eligibility criteria for one of two publicly funded programs, the Home and Community Based Services Waiver for the Frail Elderly (HCBS-FE) and the Community Options Program for the Elderly (COPE). 

In addition to standard Medicaid benefits, Nevada’s Medicaid program covers a number of enhanced services and supports for individuals who need memory care services through the Home and Community Based Services Waiver and the COPE program. These services include nonmedical assistance with activities of daily living, case management, adult day care and respite care. 

To apply for Medicaid coverage, seniors can call the Division of Aging’s Elder Care Help Line at (800) 307-4444 or Nevada 211.

Information You Will Need

To apply for Medicaid in Nevada, applicants must provide proof of income from all sources, including wages, investments and pensions.  Applicants must also submit:

• Government-issued documentation verifying citizenship and residency in Nevada
• Copies of the title to any real estate and vehicles held by the applicant
• Copies of all prepaid burial contracts and insurance policies
• Two professional appraisals confirming the current market value of the applicant’s principal residence (if owned by the applicant)
• Copies of income tax returns from the five years preceding the date of application
• Copies of the applicants’ will, powers of attorney and advanced medical directives