New Mexico is home to more than 380,000 seniors, and adults aged 60 and older are expected to represent 30% of the population by 2030. This growing population of older adults means that the number of Alzheimer’s cases is expected to rise more than 20%, from 43,000 in 2020 to 53,000 in 2025, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Dementia is an increasing concern for the public and cognitive health professionals at facilities such as the Memory & Aging Center at the University of New Mexico Health System, which sponsors research and offers opportunities to participate in clinical trials. The state also has a number of assisted living facilities that offer memory care. The median cost for these services is $5,623 per month, which is comparable to the national average.
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 compares the cost of memory care and other long-term supports in New Mexico and across the Southwest. It also provides an overview of the state’s financial assistance programs and various community-based organizations that help families who have been affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia.