The Best Memory Care Communities in Philadelphia County, PA

Philadelphia County's population is 1,580,863 people, and 13.4 percent of these residents are age 65 and older. Based on statewide Medicare enrollment, around 14.1 percent of the seniors are projected to have Alzheimer's disease and related ailments that affect more than 400,000 Pennsylvania citizens, who could benefit from live-in attention at an Alzheimer's Special Care Unit (SCU), as they're called in Pennsylvania.

SCUs are licensed and governed by the Office of Long-Term Living, which requires specialized training and more security measures than an assisted living facility. There are six SCUs that seniors and their families can choose from in the county of Philadelphia.

• Philadelphia County's climate is very near the national average with 47 inches of rain, 26 inches of snow and 199 sunny days as compared to 39, 26, and 205, respectively. Summertime highs can hit 88 degrees, and wintry lows stay above 26. The county has a Sperling's Comfort Index of 57, which is three points higher than the U.S. norm.
  
• The violent crime rate in Philadelphia County is more than twice the country's rate of 31.1 at 68.2, and the property crime rate is 23 points higher than the national rate of 38.1. SCUs have extra safeguards to protect residents, which can afford their families confidence that appropriate care is being given to their loved ones.
  
• The air quality in Philadelphia County is average to poor, according to the American Lung Association, which gives the area a "C" grade for particle pollution but an "F" for high ozone levels. Seniors living with dementia and some type of respiratory ailment may find that the air here aggravates their condition.
  
• Residents who are 60 and older in Pennsylvania enjoy tax exemptions for their retirement income, including pensions, accounts, and Social Security benefits. The state sales tax is also low, which may enable families to allocate more money towards memory care.

Memory Care costs in Philadelphia County start around $7,561 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 Philadelphia 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.

Philadelphia 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.