Columbus, GA, is a large community of about 207,000 people. While Alzheimer’s rates in this city are dropping, this disease continues to be a threat to the health of seniors, who make up about 13% of the population. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that in 2020, about 7.6% of deaths were linked to Alzheimer’s. While this is down from 8.3% in 2016, it still indicates that this disease is a significant health concern for older adults.

To meet the needs of those living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, Columbus has numerous residential dementia care facilities. These long-term care communities provide standard assisted living services, such as housing, daily meals and snacks, and individualized care plans. They also feature increased security features and protocols to prevent wandering, and they have dementia-informed programming to keep residents engaged.

This guide provides a comprehensive look at memory care in Columbus, including how local care costs compare to rates in other Georgia cities, options individuals may have for paying for services and agencies, and programs that provide support and information.

Directory of Memory Care Facilities in Columbus, OH

The Woodlands of Columbus

5380 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH, 43213

We chose The Woodlands of Columbus for dad. I met with the director, and I’ve gone on a tour. I’m taking my dad there today for an evaluation. I liked it the most because they didn’t isolate the memor … (read more)
We chose The Woodlands of Columbus for dad. I met with the director, and I’ve gone on a tour. I’m taking my dad there today for an evaluation. I liked it the most because they didn’t isolate the memor … (read more)

Westerwood

5675 Ponderosa Blvd., Columbus, OH, 43231

My father-in-law is in Westerwood. He was in the skilled nursing part first, and now he is in the memory care unit. It’s very clean and inviting. It’s really big. There are a lot of residents and ever … (read more)
My father-in-law is in Westerwood. He was in the skilled nursing part first, and now he is in the memory care unit. It’s very clean and inviting. It’s really big. There are a lot of residents and ever … (read more)

Kensington Place Retirement Community

1001 Parkview Blvd., Columbus, OH, 43219


Danbury Columbus

2870 Snouffer Road, Columbus, OH, 43235

Located in Columbus, Ohio, Danbury in Columbus is close to Interstate 270, Perry Park and the Sun Center shopping mall. Residents and visitors agree that the facility serves delicious, chef-prepared f … (read more)
Located in Columbus, Ohio, Danbury in Columbus is close to Interstate 270, Perry Park and the Sun Center shopping mall. Residents and visitors agree that the facility serves delicious, chef-prepared f … (read more)

Brookdale Westerville

6377 Cooper Road, Columbus, OH, 43231

I toured Brookdale Westerville for my mom. It’s very small and has a very home-like feeling, and very welcoming. You have to be careful though when you pull in, because there is a living facility that … (read more)
I toured Brookdale Westerville for my mom. It’s very small and has a very home-like feeling, and very welcoming. You have to be careful though when you pull in, because there is a living facility that … (read more)

Esther’s Place

5550 Sinclair Rd, Columbus, OH, 43229


Bickford of Upper Arlington

3500 Riverside Drive, Columbus, OH, 43221

My father-in-law is a resident. They have done a great job taking care of him, especially during COVID. He is showered, fed, and overseen. We can’t get in there to see him, so we do a once a week visi … (read more)
My father-in-law is a resident. They have done a great job taking care of him, especially during COVID. He is showered, fed, and overseen. We can’t get in there to see him, so we do a once a week visi … (read more)

Harrison on 5th by Senior Star

579 W 5th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43201


Cherry Blossom Senior Living

79 Blossom Field Blvd, Columbus, OH, 43213

My father moved to Cherry Blossom Senior Living. I very much like the facility. They are very communicative. We keep in touch quite often, which I very much appreciate with the lockdown; that’s a very … (read more)
My father moved to Cherry Blossom Senior Living. I very much like the facility. They are very communicative. We keep in touch quite often, which I very much appreciate with the lockdown; that’s a very … (read more)


First Community Village

1800 Riverside Drive, Columbus, OH, 43212


The Grove at Oakleaf Village

5546 Karl Road, Columbus, OH, 43229


2013

The Forum at Knightsbridge

4590 Knightsbridge Boulevard, Columbus, OH, 43214

My aunt lived in Independent Living at the Forum for several years. After a broken hip she wanted to return to the Forum and was put in the memory care area. Neither she nor the family were happy . … (read more)
My aunt lived in Independent Living at the Forum for several years. After a broken hip she wanted to return to the Forum and was put in the memory care area. Neither she nor the family were happy . … (read more)

Our Home New Albany

5055 Thompson Road, Columbus, OH, 43230

It was awesome. They had great amenities and a lot of great things at that location. I liked the design, the layout, and the rooms. The memory care section was awesome. They had a lot of staff there. … (read more)
It was awesome. They had great amenities and a lot of great things at that location. I liked the design, the layout, and the rooms. The memory care section was awesome. They had a lot of staff there. … (read more)

Eason House

5249 Rush Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43214

Wonderful! Let me start with that! Eason House came as a recommendation from the daughter of a previous resident who lived there for more that two years. We are very happy with the care provided to … (read more)
Wonderful! Let me start with that! Eason House came as a recommendation from the daughter of a previous resident who lived there for more that two years. We are very happy with the care provided to … (read more)

2013

Columbus Alzheimer Care Center

700 Jasonway Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43214

My father is at the Columbus Alzheimer Care Center. Their care is excellent, and the place is really nice. They’re allowed to go outside, they have activities, they have TV they can watch or music the … (read more)
My father is at the Columbus Alzheimer Care Center. Their care is excellent, and the place is really nice. They’re allowed to go outside, they have activities, they have TV they can watch or music the … (read more)

Forest Hills Center

2841 EAST DUBLIN-GRANVILLE ROAD, Columbus, OH, 43231

My husband is now at Forest Hills Center. I chose it because it was available and it’s nice. I like it, and he does, too. They play games and they do things with them. They listen to music, and they g … (read more)
My husband is now at Forest Hills Center. I chose it because it was available and it’s nice. I like it, and he does, too. They play games and they do things with them. They listen to music, and they g … (read more)

2022, 2023

StoryPoint Grove City

3717 Orders Rd, Grove City, OH, 43123

StoryPoint Grove City is located in Grove City, Ohio, near Interstate 71 and close to the Gardens at Gantz Farm and Trapper John’s Canoe Livery. Guests give the facility excellent reviews for its rest … (read more)
StoryPoint Grove City is located in Grove City, Ohio, near Interstate 71 and close to the Gardens at Gantz Farm and Trapper John’s Canoe Livery. Guests give the facility excellent reviews for its rest … (read more)

2014, 2016

Brookdale Lakeview Crossing

4000 Lakeview Crossing, Groveport, OH, 43125


2015

Sunrise of Gahanna

775 East Johnstown Road, Gahanna, OH, 43230

Sunrise of Gahanna is located in Gahanna, Ohio, minutes away from major thoroughfares, the Ohio State University Hospital and the Easton Town Center. Residents and their loved ones describe the facili … (read more)
Sunrise of Gahanna is located in Gahanna, Ohio, minutes away from major thoroughfares, the Ohio State University Hospital and the Easton Town Center. Residents and their loved ones describe the facili … (read more)

COVID-19 Rules for Memory Care in Columbus

Since most COVID-19 rules for Memory Care Communities and other Senior Living Facilities are set at the state level, you can view the specific rules for your state on our Guide to Memory Care in Ohio. Keep in mind that every community has specific policies that they put in place to protect their residents, so you should contact your local community for more information. Additionally, you can contact your local Area Agency on Aging to learn more – find contact information here.

What to Consider About Memory Care in Columbus

Memory care and assisted living communities are often housed together within the same building, and both are regulated and licensed by the  Ohio Department of Health (ODH), under the umbrella of “residential care facilities.” The ODH is responsible for providing initial licensure and conducting inspections on site to ensure that the community complies with state care regulations.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Memory Care in Columbus

  • Columbus is a member of the AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, which means that the elected leaders of Columbus have made a commitment to work toward making their city more senior-friendly. In the few years since it completed its strategic planning, Columbus has already improved accessibility to seniors when traveling between different neighborhoods. 
  • In Columbus, weather conditions change very quickly no matter what the season, making it difficult to plan anything in advance. With 190 cloudy days each year, Columbus is also considered one of the dreariest cities in the country, particularly during the winter, when it isn’t unusual for residents to go without sunlight for months. In the summer, consistently high humidity levels can make temperatures downright unbearable. Of course, there are always plenty of things to do around town to distract from the unpleasant weather.
  • The cost of living in Columbus averages around 11% less than the national average, making it one of the best cities for seniors who are living on a budget. The city is in the top quarter of U.S. cities for affordability. With the exception of the housing market, the cost of other commodities and services is also below the state and national average. 
  • Getting around the city is more difficult for seniors who live in Columbus than those who live in other cities. The city’s main bus service, COTA, has yet to expand its service to much of the suburbs, and in general the suburbs have a low “walkability” score, making it hard for seniors to get around without a private vehicle. The city is working on solutions to this problem through a special on-demand service called COTA//Plus designed to connect some of the less-traveled areas of Columbus. 
  • Top-notch medical care is scattered across the city, so regardless of where seniors live, they have easy access to advanced treatment facilities and hospitals. Ohio Hospital for Psychiatry is one of the state’s most comprehensive inpatient dementia care centers in the country. The Center for Cognitive and Memory Disorders through the OSU Wexner Medical Center also provides research-driven treatment for seniors throughout the state; the center has conducted more than 100 clinical trials in the field and was the first health care facility in Central Ohio to offer deep brain stimulation. 

Paying for Memory Care in Columbus

The Cost of Memory Care in Nearby Cities

The majority of seniors in Columbus who need memory care reside in secured wings of assisted living communities. The unique challenges involved in caring for those with memory impairments require a highly skilled team of caregivers, the cost of which is 20-30% more than assisted living. Since there is no report for the cost of memory care, we estimated the price by adding 25% to the cost of assisted living care in the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey.

Cost of Memory Care in Nearby Cities

Families in Columbus pay approximately $5,100 per month for memory care provided in senior communities. This is $500 less than the national average and $700 less than the state average. The smaller city of Springfield, located about an hour to the west of Columbus, offers memory care for $4,600 a month, while the city of Dayton—just thirty minutes farther southwest—averages $200 more expensive than Columbus. The average cost of memory care tends to increase as we travel north of Columbus, with the city of Mansfield averaging $6,000 per month.

$5100

Columbus

$5800

Ohio

$5600

The United States

$4600

Springfield

$5300

Dayton

$6000

Mansfield

The Cost of Other Types of Senior Care 

Within the range of care options in Columbus, memory care sits in the middle with an average cost of $5,100. The least expensive is Adult Day Health Care at $1,733 per month. Assisted living facilities cost on average $4,085 per month for a private room. Full-time Homemaker services and Home Health Aides can cost $5,625 per month, and nursing homes are the most expensive, ranging from almost $7,500 to more than $8,500 per month.  

$5100

Memory Care

$5625

Homemaker Services

$5625

Home Health Aide

$1733

Adult Day Health Care

$4085

Assisted Living Facility

$7490

Nursing Home Semi-Private Room

$8547

Nursing Home Private Room

Financial Assistance for Memory Care in Columbus

In Columbus, 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 Ohio page.

More ways to pay for memory care in OH

More Ways to Pay for Memory Care

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 Ohio page.

Free Memory Care Resources in Columbus

Central Ohio provides a supportive community for seniors and their families who are living with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. The table below provides an overview and contact information of some of the local agencies and support groups available to local memory care seniors.

Resource

Contact 

Service

(614) 566-5858

This clinic deals specifically with neurodegenerative disorders such as mild cognitive impairment or dementia due to Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. They have a neuroscience wellness center and provide exercises and learning tools to improve how seniors live with their conditions.

1-800-589-7277

COAAA takes a large role in ensuring that seniors and adults with disabilities can live independently. The organization works with area providers to help with ADL tasks, transportation, providing meals and looking for homes or assistance with utilities/prescription drugs.

1-800-272-3900

The Central Ohio chapter of the Alzheimer's Association serves fourteen counties in the Columbus area by offering educational programs, support groups and advocacy to seniors and their families in the area who are being impacted by the disease. The chapter regularly holds events and meetups for those in the early stages of Alzheimer's, although the Covid-19 has led to a temporary move to the virtual realm.

1-800-282-1206

The Ohio Long-Term Care Ombudsman serves as an advocate for seniors with dementia-related memory impairment who live in a memory care community or other social residence. The Ombudsman addresses the concerns of seniors who believe they are being treated unfairly or are being denied the care they deserve. In some cases, the Ombudsman will have to investigate charges of neglect or exploitation made by a senior client to determine the best course of action. 

Memory Care Laws and Regulations in Columbus

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

Memory Care Laws and Regulations in Ohio