Memory Care Communities in Bellevue, Washington

Seniors in Bellevue pay $8,438 per month for memory care services, which is nearly $1,000 higher than the state median of $7,500 and about $2,800 higher than the national average of $5,625. Bellevue is the costliest place in Washington and among the most expensive places in the United States for care. In Wenatchee, memory care facilities charge $7,188, and in Longview, seniors pay $6,625. In the Spokane region, rates are over $2,000 lower than in Bellevue at $6,110, and in Walla Walla, rates are considerably more competitive at $4,014.  

In Bellevue, as in the rest of Washington, memory care is available in licensed assisted living facilities. Specialized care costs 20-30% more for specialized dementia services than for standard assisted living. There are no reliable nationwide cost databases that include memory care rates, so we calculated the following memory care rates by adding 25% to the Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey’s assisted living costs. 

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 Washington page.

Seniors have several care options in Bellevue ranging in monthly costs from less than $3,000 to nearly $12,000. Nursing homes charge the highest monthly rates of $9,916 for shared rooms and $11,984 for private rooms. Memory care facilities have lower costs that average $8,438, and older adults who don’t need dementia services pay $6,750 for assisted living. Basic home care and specialized home health care costs $6,769, and adult day health care is the cheapest option at $2,600.  

Memory care facilities in Bellevue are licensed as assisted living facilities, and they follow guidelines and regulations set by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. The department publishes up-to-date information on disease and infection control measures, licensing requirements for facilities and rules regarding background checks for employees. 

• The affluent city of Bellevue has a high cost of living, which may be a consideration for those with tight long-term care budgets. On a cost-of-living index based on a national score of 100, Bellevue scores 196.5 versus the state score of 118.7. This is mainly due to very high housing costs, but seniors may be able to minimize this expense by living in memory care facilities.  
• The property crime rate in Bellevue exceeds the national rate, but violent crime is very uncommon in this city. According to recent data from the FBI, violent crime occurred at a rate of 123.2 incidents per 100,000 people compared to respective state and national rates of 379.4 and 293.9. This may provide peace of mind to families moving loved ones to local memory care communities.  
• With daytime temperatures ranging from 46 degrees in the winter to 76 degrees in the summer, Bellevue is one of the cooler cities in Washington. The city gets about 42 inches of rain and just 5 inches of annual snowfall, which may make travel easy for those visiting loved ones in local memory care facilities  
• Older adults managing chronic conditions such as dementia have access to a range of affordable health care options. Overlake Medical Center and Clinics, a 349-bed hospital and network of primary care, specialty care and urgent care clinics, is located within the city, and several major hospitals are in nearby Seattle. There are about 308 doctors per capita, 50% higher than the national norm, and health care costs are about 18% cheaper here than in the typical U.S. city. 
• Washington doesn’t have a state income tax, so seniors in Bellevue only pay federal taxes on their retirement income. Property taxes are consistent with the national average, which may make it financially feasible for some seniors to retain ownership of their homes after moving to memory care.  
• According to data from the American Lung Association, the air quality in the Bellevue region is poor and may impact the health of those with lung or cardiovascular conditions. Memory care facilities have inside activities year-round, providing enrichment for those who are sensitive to environmental pollutants.