The Best Communities in Allegheny County, PA

Allegheny County is home to 1,223,048 people, and 18.4 percent of the population is aged 65 and older, which is the most likely demographic to be living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. About 13.6 percent of the state's population have cognitive ailments and may benefit from an Alzheimer's Special Care Unit (SCU), as they're known across Pennsylvania. The Office of Long-Term Living is responsible for licensing and governing the operation of these SKUs, such as the 30 scattered throughout Allegheny County.

• Allegheny County's temperate climate is similar to the national average with 39 inches of rain, 31 inches of snow and 162 sunny days as compared to 39, 26 and 205, respectively. Summertime highs climb to the low 80s, and January lows fall to 22 degrees. The county's Sperling's Comfort Index is 51, which is three points lower than the national average.
• The violent crime rate of 37.6 in Allegheny County's is not far above the U.S. average of 31.1, and the property crime rate is less than two points lower than the national norm of 38.1 at 36.8. SCUs are required to have extra safeguards in place to keep occupants from wandering away from the SCU and to stop strangers from entering, which should help families feel that their loved ones are safe.
• The air quality in Allegheny County is poor, according to the American Lung Association, which gives the area "F" grades for particle pollution and for high ozone levels. Seniors who have a respiratory ailment may find the air detrimental to their health.
• Allegheny County is home to world-class medical facilities, including those specializing in brain health and dementia care, such as St. Clair Hospital and UPMC Mercy Hospital, in the event of medical emergencies or illness.

Memory Care costs in Allegheny County start around $5,893 per month on average, while the nationwide average cost of memory care is $5,743 per month.

It’s important to note that memory care rates in Allegheny 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania page.

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