The Best Memory Care Communities in Nassau County, NY

In Nassau County, memory care facilities comply with regulations set by the New York Department of Health. This department sets minimum standards for staffing, the scope of care and care planning. It also ensures residents’ safety by conducting criminal background checks on potential employees. 

• Health care is highly accessible in Nassau County with about 500 doctors per capita compared to the national rate of 210, providing numerous health provider options for those managing chronic conditions such as dementia, and health care costs are consistent with the national average. The county has top-performing hospitals such as St. Joseph Hospital and Plainview Hospital. 
• Seniors in Nassau County don’t pay state income taxes on their Social Security benefits, and while other types of retirement are taxed, retirees can claim deductions to minimize the expenses. Property taxes are among the highest in the nation, which may make residential care an affordable alternative to living alone.  
• Over the course of the year, daytime temperatures in Nassau County range from 39-83 degrees, making it one of the warmer places in New York. The county gets 46 inches of annual rainfall and 23 inches of snow, and while July tends to be muggy, humidity levels are low through the rest of the year. Many memory care facilities have individual climate controls in rooms and indoor activities during very warm or very cold weather, keeping residents comfortable year-round.  
• Crime is rare in Nassau County, making it a great option for long-term care services. On a 100-point index, the county’s violent crime is rated 7.6 and property crime is rated 15.9. By comparison, the national respective scores are 22.7 and 35.4. 
• As is typical of New York City, Nassau County’s cost of living is fairly high and may be a consideration for those with budgetary limitations. On a cost of living index based on a national score of 100, the county scores 162.2 versus the state score of 120.5, indicating that local living costs are about 62% higher than the national median and a little over 40% higher than the state as a whole.  

In Nassau County, seniors obtain memory care services in assisted living facilities that are licensed to provide this level of care. No authoritative data sources outline nationwide memory care costs, but because rates are typically 20-30% higher than standard assisted living, we calculate local care costs by adding 25% to assisted living rates in the Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey. 

In Nassau County, seniors pay $7,188 for residential dementia services, making this among the costlier places in the state and nation for this level of care. In New York as a whole, care costs are considerably lower at $5,725, and nationally, seniors pay $5,625. In the Utica area, monthly fees are equal to the national average at $5,625, and in Rochester, care costs are among the lowest in the state at $4,719. In the Albany area, rates average $6,586, and in Ithaca, memory care is several thousand dollars more per month at $10,094.  

Older adults who live at home and attend adult day health care facilities pay the lowest rates, with fees averaging $1,950 for services. Those who access in-home services pay $5,529 for home care and $5,720 for home health care. Seniors in assisted living pay $5,750 for services, and those in memory care facilities pay $7,188. Elders who need around-the-clock nursing services pay $12,471 per month for semiprivate rooms in nursing homes, and those with their own rooms pay $13,231.  

In Nassau County, there are options for seniors who need financial assistance paying for Memory Care. For more information about other options, who qualifies, and how to apply, Memory Care in New York page.

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.

Nassau County Memory Care Communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all Memory Care Facilities in New York are required to follow. Visit our Memory Care in New York page for more information about these laws.