The 3 Best Memory Care Facilities in Las Cruces, NM for 2024

Overlooked by the Rocky Mountains, Las Cruces, NM, has a population of just under 113,000 people; 15.1% are aged 65 or older. Data suggest that 10.7% of people in this age group have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. In Las Cruces alone, this adds up to over 1,800 people. According to the CDC, deaths related to Alzheimer’s disease in the city increased by 136.73% between 2016 and 2020. Total deaths during the same period rose by only 55.99%, highlighting the importance of dementia care in Las Cruces.

Memory care communities are designed to promote socialization, reduce confusion and be easily navigable. They’re staffed around the clock and offer assistance with personal hygiene and health care maintenance. In memory care communities, residents can also access evidence-based interventions, including specialized activities designed to improve cognition.

This guide discusses the cost of long-term care in Las Cruces, some benefits and drawbacks of living in the city and dementia-focused resources.

Memory care communities in Las Cruces are governed by the New Mexico Department of Health, Division of Health Improvement, Health Facility Licensing and Certification Bureau. This agency outlines the requirements for adult care facilities and ensures their compliance through regular inspections and training. 

• The cost of living in Las Cruces is 16.5 points lower than the national median. Compared to the New Mexico average, it’s 4.9 points lower. The city’s health care, housing and transportation costs are particularly affordable.
• Las Cruces has been a member of the AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly Communities since 2021. This means the city has created a comprehensive action plan designed to bolster the quality of life of its seniors.
• The local Mountainview Regional Medical Center is an accredited Chest Pain Center, Joint Replacement Center and Stroke Center. 
• The city has an on-demand transportation program for qualifying seniors in need, making it a good choice for people who may need help getting to appointments. 
• Las Cruces has a dry desert climate and gets 10 inches of rain per year compared to the U.S. average of 38. The city sees 294 sunny days per year, which is much more than the nation’s 205. It also gets only 2 inches of snow in the winter, compared to the average 28. 
• New Mexico taxes all types of retirement income but offers a deduction to seniors with lower incomes. 
• The violent crime rate in Las Cruces is 1.6 points lower than the nation’s 22.7. The city’s property crime rate is 64.2 points, which is higher than the country’s median of 35.4. However, residents of memory care communities can rely on advanced security measures to protect their property. 

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.

On average, memory care in Las Cruces costs $5,619 per month, although actual costs depend on the location. 

Memory care in Las Cruces is just a little cheaper than New Mexico’s average of $5,623 and the nation’s $5,625. Farmington has the lowest memory care costs in the state; it’s $620 per month more affordable than Las Cruces. In Albuquerque, room and board in a memory care community comes to $5,938, which is more expensive than Las Cruces. Santa Fe has the state’s highest memory care costs, coming in at $1,649 costlier than the same type of care in Las Cruces.

In Las Cruces, home health care offers a $1,014 per month savings when compared to memory care. Home care is also more affordable, at $4,195. The most affordable senior care option is adult day health care, which is less than half the cost of memory care at $1,950. Assisted living is also more affordable, averaging about $1,124 less. Nursing homes offer intensive care at a high price — a semiprivate room comes to $7,336 per month.

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 New Mexico page.