Memory Care Facilities in Gardnerville, NV

The Alzheimer’s Association predicts that the number of diagnosed cases of Alzheimer's, a disease that primarily affects seniors, will increase by 31% in Nevada between 2020 and 2025. Fortunately, not all cities face this crisis to the same degree. Gardnerville, a community in dementia-friendly Douglas County with a senior population that accounts for 27% of residents, has seen a significant drop in Alzheimer’s-related deaths in recent years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alzheimer’s caused 10.3% of deaths in the region in 2016, compared to just 3.5% in 2020. During this reporting period, the total number of deaths from all causes went up by 36% in the region, but Alzheimer’s-related deaths decreased by 54%.

For seniors and families seeking dementia care, Gardnerville has several high-quality memory care facilities. These communities have highly trained caregivers and administer individualized care plans in a secured environment. Additionally, residents receive around-the-clock supervision and can participate in dementia-friendly recreational activities and therapies. 

This guide features more information on memory care in Gardnerville, including details on how residents pay for care. 

In Gardnerville, all memory care facilities obtain licensure through the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public and Behavioral Health. This department enforces regulations for service planning, nutrition and medication services and staffing, as well as additional rules for memory care facilities related to building security, the types of staff facilities must have and training requirements.

• Gardnerville’s location in Douglas County, a dementia-friendly community, gives residents access to a range of informational and educational resources and community activities. Through the county, seniors and families can connect with the Nevada Dementia Support Toolbox, which features programs that educate and support those living with memory loss.
• Over the course of the year, temperatures in Gardnerville range from lows of 23 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter to highs of 89 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, although temperatures may occasionally dip as low as 12 degrees Fahrenheit or reach highs of 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The city’s dry climate means no noticeable humidity, regardless of the season, which may appeal to prospective memory care residents who enjoy spending time outdoors.
• Nevada doesn’t have a state income tax, meaning seniors only pay federal taxes on their retirement income, no matter the type of income or where the individual relocated from. The state also has relatively low property taxes, which may promote affordable residential memory care costs.
• Carson Valley Health Hospital, located in Gardnerville proper, is a 23-bed state-accredited hospital that offers a variety of outpatient and community services. While this hospital doesn’t provide neurological services, it can provide referrals to area providers who treat conditions such as Alzheimer’s.
• Gardnerville ranks among the more expensive cities in Nevada, with an overall cost of living that exceeds the national norm by 29% and the state norm by about 20 percentage points. In general, housing costs significantly more here than in a typical Nevada or U.S. city, which may result in increased residential memory care costs. To help qualified individuals obtain the care they need, Nevada funds the Assisted Living Waiver.
• Douglas County, where Gardnerville resides, has subpar air quality that may affect some seniors’ health and comfort. The American Lung Association gives the city a failing grade for 24-hour particle pollution, indicating a relatively high concentration of irritants, such as mold spores or pollen. Fortunately, many memory care facilities have indoor air purification systems to reduce allergy symptoms and the spread of bacteria.

 

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.

Dementia care residents living in facilities in Gardnerville pay approximately $4,775 per month for housing and care.

In Gardnerville, memory care facilities charge $4,775 per month for specialized services, which exceeds the Nevada norm of $4,688 but comes in well below the national average of $5,625. Local care costs are economical compared to rates in most nearby cities, including Reno, where seniors pay 11% more for services. Similarly, in the nearby California cities of Yuba City and Sacramento, care costs exceed Gardnerville’s norm by 22% and 37%, respectively. Even so, Nevada seniors may save about 4% on monthly care expenses by opting for facilities in Las Vegas instead of Gardnerville.

Gardnerville seniors pay $4,775 monthly for memory care, which is modest compared to most other local senior care options. For example, this option costs 22% less than what seniors pay for basic custodial services via in-home care and skilled nursing services through home health care agencies. Similarly, it comes in at 49% below the cost of nursing home care, which includes 24-hour medical services. However, memory care exceeds the cost of assisted living, a residential option that features custodial services but not dementia support, by 25%.

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 Nevada page.