The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in The Woodlands, TX for 2023

The Woodlands, TX, is a community of around 114,000 residents, of whom 13.3% are seniors aged 65 and older. Rates of Alzheimer’s disease are on the rise across America, impacting more seniors every year. While around 6.5 million seniors are currently affected by a memory disorder, the Alzheimer’s Association projects that number could grow to 12.9 million by 2050.

Reports from the CDC show that the number of Alzheimer’s-related deaths in The Woodlands has increased by more than 31% in recent years. Fortunately, communities are increasing their dementia care efforts to minimize the impact of Alzheimer’s, raise awareness and prevent future cases. There are a number of memory care facilities in The Woodlands that provide safe, welcoming environments for seniors experiencing varying degrees of memory loss. At these communities, trained staff members are available around the clock to assist with personal care needs and provide specialized dementia programming.

The following guide offers an overview of what it’s like to live in The Woodlands, information about memory care costs and a list of local organizations that seniors can contact for support.

Memory care facilities in The Woodlands are regulated by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. It issues licenses to those that satisfy strict rules relating to resident care and fire safety. The department also conducts unannounced inspections and investigates complaints to ensure licensed facilities continue to uphold standards. It can revoke licenses from underperforming facilities.

• Based on the U.S. average of 100, the cost of living index for The Woodlands is 111.9. That suggests residents don’t get as much for their dollars. However, the index is greatly skewed by the high cost of housing, which probably won’t be an issue for most memory care residents. More-relevant costs such as health care and transportation are either average or below average.
• Crime in The Woodlands is lower than the U.S. averages. Violent crime ranks at 16.2 (U.S.: 22.7) and property crime ranks at 34.5 (U.S.: 35.4). Consequently, seniors may be a little bit safer in The Woodlands. Those in memory care may be safer still, as one of the license conditions is strict security measures such as controlled-entry doors.
• Seniors in The Woodlands may appreciate its subtropical climate despite high humidity levels between June and August. Winter lows are a comfortably cool 41 degrees, while summer highs can reach 93 degrees. Although high rainfall can create stifling humidity in certain months, older residents shouldn’t experience temperature extremes. 
• The Woodlands scores an above-average health cost index of 97.3 out of 100, suggesting its environment is healthier than normal. The region is working with the EPA’s Superfund program to clean contaminated land, its air quality is a little below average but not unhealthy and the quality of its water is better than most. There aren’t as many physicians per capita but the standard of medical care is high.
• There are three hospitals in The Woodlands, so residents are never far from medical care. Among them is Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital, a facility rated high-performing in five procedures/conditions by U.S. News and World Report. The Woodlands is only 35 minutes from downtown Houston and is easily within range of some of the state’s finest hospitals. Several are considered among the country’s best.

Note: Residential memory care is usually offered in assisted living facilities, and in general, memory care rates tend to be 20-30% higher than assisted living rates. No national database currently tracks memory care costs in the United States, so we’ve estimated the monthly memory care costs listed below by adding 25% to the rates listed in Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey.

The median fee for memory care in The Woodlands is $5,306 per month, although each facility has unique price points.

At $5,306, memory care in The Woodlands costs an additional $308 per month when compared with the median for Texas. However, it is $319 cheaper than the U.S. median per month. Comparisons with nearby cities reveal The Woodlands to be mid-range for the region. More affordable cities include San Antonio at $4,266 and College Station at $4,998, while costlier ones include Beaumont at $5,465 and Austin at $6,681. 

The $5,306 median for memory care makes it the costliest care option in The Woodlands, slightly ahead of the $5,262 that is typical for a semiprivate room in a nursing home. Assisted living costs $4,245 but is not suitable for seniors with dementia. In-home care and home health care share the same median fee of $4,576, but both tend to be suitable only for seniors with early-stage dementia. The same is true of adult day care, which is the most affordable option at $1,099.

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 Texas page.