Memory Care Facilities in Ithaca, NY

 

While Ithaca has a comparatively small senior community that makes up less than 8% of the 33,000 residents, data from the Alzheimer’s Association indicates that about 1 in 9 of these individuals have Alzheimer’s. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the uptick in Alzheimer’s deaths outpaced the 3% increase among deaths of all causes in the Ithaca region between 2016 and 2020. Although Alzheimer’s accounts for a relatively low number of deaths in the county, with just 3.1% of deaths linked to this disease in 2016 and 3.7% in 2020, the 24% surge in Alzheimer’s-related deaths highlights the need for dementia care and support.

Fortunately, Ithaca has several memory care facilities that serve seniors living with dementia. These facilities have specially trained caregivers and use evidence-based therapies to foster a supportive environment for residents. Many facilities have apartment-style housing with private bathrooms, and all have secured indoor and outdoor common areas.

Through this guide, readers can learn about memory care costs in Ithaca, along with some of the most common ways residents pay for their care.

The New York Department of Health officially recognizes memory care facilities in Ithaca as enhanced or special needs assisted living facilities, and it imposes licensing requirements for care planning, nutrition services and move-in and move-out procedures. In addition to standard licensing requirements, memory care facilities must meet additional criteria for staffing, dementia-specific training and facility features.

 

• Ithaca ranks as a member of the AARP Age-Friendly Network, meaning that its leaders have put policies in place to serve seniors, including those with dementia. Its livability score puts it in the top half of U.S. communities and reflects its diverse housing options for seniors, the accessibility of grocery stores and parks and the low rate of preventable hospitalizations.

 

• Tompkins County, which houses Ithaca, is a dementia-friendly community with a variety of resources for those with memory loss. Through county resources, area seniors and families can access support groups, one-on-one options counseling and a full selection of workshops and classes.

 

• Cayuga Medical Center, located in the city proper, has a full range of services for area residents, including telehealth services, cancer care and occupational medicine. This hospital also has a state-of-the-art neurology department where experienced health care providers diagnose and treat memory loss.

 

• Ithaca residents experience distinct seasons, including warm summers and chilly, snowy winters, providing changing scenery for memory care residents. The warm season spans late May to mid-September and has a daily high temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit. The winter season runs slightly short, beginning in early December and lasting until mid-March. During this period, the average daytime temperature comes in at 42 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

• The American Lung Association discloses just 1 day annually in which ozone pollution may pose a problem for memory care residents with comorbidities, such as heart or lung disease, earning the region a B for this pollution category. Fortunately, many memory care facilities have air filtration and purification systems to improve indoor air quality.

 

• Ithaca ranks among the most cost-effective places to live in New York, which may benefit those seeking affordable memory care accommodations. On a cost of living index based on a national rating of 100, the city scores 93.6. This comes in 28 points lower than New York’s norm and reflects comparatively affordable transportation services and housing.

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 Ithaca charge $10,094 per month for care.

Ithaca ranks among the costliest places in the state and nation for memory care, with seniors in this city paying approximately $10,094 per month for services. This comes in thousands of dollars higher than the respective state and national norms of $5,725 and $5,625, and it outpaces care costs in nearby communities. For example, in Elmira, rates come in 31% below the average in Ithaca. In Syracuse and Binghamton, respective care costs fall about 42% and 43% below Ithaca’s norm, and in Rochester, care costs come in 53% lower than the local average.

In the Ithaca region, memory care facilities have the highest senior care rates, with monthly charges averaging $10,094. These rates are 2% higher than those of nursing homes, which offer extensive round-the-clock care. Memory care is also 25% more expensive than assisted living, which provides less intensive support in a residential setting. Compared to in-home care and home health care, offering personal and medical assistance in the comfort of one's home, memory care costs are 65% higher. Furthermore, these rates are substantially more than adult day health care, the most economical option at $1,625, which offers daytime support and activities.

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 York page.