Wooster has 27,000 residents and a large senior community that makes up 19% of the population. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, about 1 in 9 seniors nationwide have Alzheimer’s, a disease that comes in as the seventh leading cause of death in Ohio. This disease has had a similarly profound impact on seniors’ health in the Wooster region, with data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that between 2016 and 2020, the number of local Alzheimer’s-related deaths went up by 39%. This outpaced the 23% increase across deaths from all causes.
Fortunately, the Wooster region has several memory care facilities for seniors and families seeking dementia care and treatment. These facilities often incorporate evidence-based programming to support residents' cognitive and physical health, along with dementia-informed dining programs, fitness classes and personal care services. Most memory care facilities have enclosed courtyards, and many feature open layouts to promote self-direction.
This guide highlights the pros and cons of choosing memory care services in Wooster and lists some of the free and low-cost resources that serve local seniors and families.