15 Memory Care Facilities near Chesapeake, VA

The sprawling city of Chesapeake is located in the southeast portion of Virginia, a state where the Alzheimer's Association reports that 140,000 people are living with Alzheimer's disease. The city is home to more than 240,000 people, with a senior community that accounts for nearly 12 percent of the total population. To support local seniors with dementia, Chesapeake has five memory care facilities, and there are an additional nine outside the city limits.

In Chesapeake, as in the rest of Virginia, memory care facilities may also be referred to as special care units, or SCUs. These facilities may have their own dedicated building, or they may be located within an assisted living facility that has secured dementia units. In addition to providing secure, self-contained SCUs, assisted living facilities that offer memory care services must also meet requirements regarding dementia care staff and staff training. To maintain a consistently high level of care, SCUs are licensed and monitored by the Virginia Department of Social Services. 

• While the cost of living in Chesapeake is high compared to the U.S. average, it is on par with the state's overall cost of living. Health-care expenses, which are about 15 percent higher than both the state and national average, may be burdensome for seniors on a tight budget.
  
  
• Chesapeake's property crime and violent crime rates fall below regional averages but surpass state and national averages. On a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 representing high crime, the city was given a 33.3 for violent crime and a 43.1 for property crime, compared to the national averages of 31.1 and 38.1. Families who are transitioning their loved ones to memory care in this city may want to review their facility's security measures.
    
• Chesapeake has a relatively comfortable climate, rating 66 out of 100 on Sperling's Comfort Index, compared to the national score of 54. Summers are hot with highs in the upper-80s, and winters are chilly with lows in the 30s. The region receives just 5 inches of annual snowfall, which may appeal to families who travel locally to visit their loved one in memory care. 
  
  
• Virginia seniors do not pay income tax on their Social Security benefits, and while withdrawals from retirement savings accounts are taxable, a deduction of up to $12,000 can offset the expense. 

Financial Assistance for Memory Care in Chesapeake

Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Memory Care in Virginia page.

More Ways to Pay for Memory Care

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.

Chesapeake and the surrounding area are home to numerous government agencies and non-profit organizations offering help for seniors searching for or currently residing in a memory care community. These organizations can also provide assistance in a number of other eldercare services such as geriatric care management, elder law advice, estate planning, finding home care and health and wellness programs.

To see a list of free memory care resources in Chesapeake, please visit our Memory Care in Virginia page.

Chesapeake-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.