Of the almost 94,000 people living in Geauga County, nearly 20 percent are aged 65 years or older, which is the population most at risk for memory diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Across the state of Ohio, around 220,000 people are currently living with Alzheimer's, and Geauga County has two memory care facilities that provide this level of care. The Ohio Department of Health regulates and licenses memory care facilities as part of its Residential Care Facility (RCF) designation.

• Geauga County is home to world-class medical facilities, including those specializing in brain health and dementia care such as University Hospitals in the event of medical emergencies or illness.
• The air quality in Geauga County may be a concern for seniors who have respiratory issues like COPD. The American Lung Association gives the county an F ozone rating, and the air quality index is 10 percent worse than the average for the rest of the country.
• The cost of living in Geauga County is right on par with the rest of the country overall. However, healthcare costs are 1 percent higher than the national average and 6 percent higher than the state average, which may have an impact on memory care costs. However, seniors may end up paying more for groceries and goods and services, which are 11 percent and 6 percent higher than the national average.
• The overall crime rate in Geauga County is lower than the rest of the country, with the county seat of Chardon in particular being safer than 71 percent of other cities. Both violent and property crime rates come in well below the national average at 55 percent and 22 percent, respectively.

Memory Care costs in Geauga County start around $6,840 per month on average, while the nationwide average cost of memory care is $5,694 per month.

It’s important to note that memory care rates in Geauga County and the surrounding suburbs can vary widely based on factors such as location, the level of care needed, apartment size and the types of amenities offered at each community.

Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Memory Care in Ohio 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 Ohio page.

Geauga County-area memory care communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all memory care communities in Ohio are required to follow. Visit our Memory Care in Ohio page for more information about these laws.