The Best Memory Care Communities in Island County, WA

Island County, Washington, has a population of 78,506 residents, more than 18 percent of whom are seniors aged 65 and older. Some of these seniors are among the 110,000 Washington residents who are living with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or other cognitive impairments. There are two memory care facilities in Island County to support these seniors, both located in Oak Harbor.

Assisted Living Facilities — as memory care facilities in Island County and the rest of Washington are known — are regulated by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Aging and Long-term Support Administration Division.

• Island County seniors enjoy good air quality. On a 100-point scale where 100 represents areas with the best air quality, the county ranks 77, more than 20 points higher than the national average of 58. Seniors with respiratory ailments like COPD might find that they can breathe easier in the county.
  
• Seniors in Island County may find that they have more money available to allocate to facility expenses thanks to Washington’s tax laws. Washington does not apply any taxes to pensions, retirement savings account income or social security benefits.
  
• Island County has a low crime rate. On a scale from one to 100 where one represents the safest areas, the county has a violent crime rank of 32.7 and a property crime rank of 36.2 compared to the national averages of 31.1 and 38.1, respectively. Families can rest assured that their loved ones in care in the county are safe.
  
• The cost of living in Island County is high, ranking 125.7 on a scale where 100 represents the U.S. average. Healthcare and transportation expenses are also lower than the average. Housing expenses, however, rank higher at 204, over double the average. Seniors’ families looking to relocate to the area might want to take the higher housing costs into consideration.

Memory Care costs in Island County start around $5,910 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 Island 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 Washington 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 Washington page.

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