The 3 Best Memory Care Facilities in Arlington County, VA for 2023

Arlington County is Virginia’s ninth largest county with 234,965 people. Over 10 percent of these residents are are seniors aged 65 and older, the age group for Alzheimer's disease and other dementia to set in. To support these people, there are 18 memory care facilities in the area. 

Memory care facilities in Arlington County and throughout the rest of Virginia are known as Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs). They are licensed by the Virginia Department of Social Services.

• The taxes in Arlington County, like elsewhere in Virginia, are friendly for seniors. The state does not tax social security retirement benefits and only partially-taxes retirement accounts and public and private pension incomes. Residents are also not charged tax on inheritances or estates. Seniors living in Arlington may find that these tax breaks result in more money to put toward memory care.
  
• Virginia is not a particularly warm state, with an average high of 69.5 degrees. It does, however, escape the worst of winter with an average low of 48 degrees and an average of only 14.5 inches of snow per year. Seniors who prefer dryer climates should be aware that Virginia receives a good amount of precipitation year round, with 43.2 inches of rainfall annually.   
  
• The cost of living in Arlington County is very high at 92 percent above the national average. This does not make it a good choice for seniors who are concerned about keeping a tight budget in their memory care plans. The median home cost is $684,400 compared to the Virginian median cost of $252,700. The area's unemployment rate is 2 percent, which is significantly lower than the national average of 3.8 percent. This may be encouraging to working family members of seniors with dementia.   
  
• Arlington County is home to world-class medical facilities, including those specializing in brain health and dementia care such as the Virginia Health Center, in the event of medical emergencies or illness. 

Memory Care costs in Arlington County start around $7,419 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 Arlington 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 Virginia 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 Virginia page.

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