The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Fargo, ND for 2023

Fargo is the most populous city in North Dakota with approximately 131,000 residents, 13% of whom are aged 65 and over. In Fargo, and in the nation as a whole, seniors are at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s, a degenerative memory-related disorder. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this disease has had a marked impact on public health, increasing the need for comprehensive dementia care solutions. Between 2016 and 2020, the CDC recorded a 41.5% increase in the number of Alzheimer's-related deaths in the region. By comparison, the total number of deaths increased by only 30.8% during that time period.

Fortunately, Fargo supports seniors with Alzheimer's and related disorders through access to numerous memory care facilities. These facilities provide secured housing, daily meals and social and recreational activities that enhance engagement. Many facilities also have indoor and outdoor amenities, such as enclosed courtyards and life skills stations. 

This guide provides more information on memory care in Fargo, including details on how much seniors pay for this type of care and the licensing rules these facilities follow.

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services licenses all memory care facilities in Fargo and the rest of the state. These facilities are officially licensed as assisted living facilities, and they follow the same licensing rules related to housing, care planning and nutrition services. Some facilities also have additional rules for security and dementia-friendly recreational programming.

• Fargo is home to the Memory Café of the Red River Valley, which provides emotional support, practical advice and early-stage engagement activities for seniors with memory-related conditions. Programming is available on Mondays and Wednesdays, and all events are free and don’t require reservations. To learn more about the memory café, individuals can call (701) 404-6712.
• Seniors in North Dakota don’t pay state income taxes on their Social Security benefits. While other forms of retirement income are taxable, rates are very low and max out at 2.9% for high earners. This may help some seniors afford memory care expenses in Fargo.
• Fargo’s overall cost of living is about 10% lower than the national norm and consistent with the North Dakota average, providing potential financial benefits to those relocating from communities within and outside of the state. To further promote affordability, the state funds the Home and Community-Based Services waiver, which pays for residential care for seniors with conditions such as Alzheimer's.
• On a 100-point crime index, Fargo scores 26.5 for violent crime and 43 for property crime. These scores exceed the national respective averages of 22.7 and 35.4, indicating that crime occurs at a higher rate here than in a typical U.S. city. For seniors and families concerned about crime, memory care facilities have security features, such as alarm systems and surveillance cameras, making them a preferred alternative to living alone for vulnerable individuals.
• Fargo scores 9.3 on a 10-point comfort index, which is well above the national average score of 7.8 and indicates generally pleasant weather throughout the year. Winters tend to be very cold with January lows around 0 degrees Fahrenheit, and the city gets a total of 49 inches of snow, with 7 months out of the year seeing significant snowfall. Summers are mild, however, with minimal humidity and daytime temperatures around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Many memory care communities have individual thermostats in residents’ rooms to help them stay comfortable regardless of the season.

 

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 the Fargo region charge monthly median rates of $4,800 for care.

In Fargo, memory care facilities charge approximately $4,800 per month for services. Although this exceeds the North Dakota average of $4,239, it’s about 17% lower than the national norm. Rates in other surveyed cities in North Dakota tend to be lower. For example, seniors in Bismarck pay $4,638 for memory care services, and rates in Grand Forks are 43% lower than the local median. However, rates across state lines may be higher. In St. Cloud, MN, monthly fees exceed Fargo’s average by $325, and rates in Rapid City, SD, are $93 higher than in Fargo.

At $4,800 per month, memory care is one of the more budget-friendly senior care types in Fargo. Rates are roughly 60% less than the cost of nursing home care, which provides 24-hour medical support and monitoring in a clinical environment. Additionally, seniors pay more for in-home care and home health care, with private services coming in at $5,690. Only assisted living, which doesn’t include memory support, is more affordable at $3,840 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 North Dakota page.