The Best Memory Care Communities in King County, WA

King County, situated on the east shore of Puget Sound in west-central Washington has a population of 1,931,249 people. More than 10 percent of these residents are seniors aged 65 and older, some of whom may be among the 110,000 Washington seniors who are living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. There are more than 30 memory care facilities in King County to support these seniors.

In King County and the rest of Washington, memory care facilities are referred to as Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs) and are governed by the Aging and Long-term Support Administration Department of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.

• King County has poor air quality. On a scale where 100 represents areas with the best air quality, the county has a rank of 29, almost 30 points lower than the national average of 58. Families of seniors with respiratory ailments might want to consider facility options in one of the smaller counties in Washington.
  
• Seniors living in King County can benefit from Washington’s tax laws since the state does not levy taxes on Social Security income, pensions, or retirement savings account withdraws. Seniors living in the county might find that they have more money to contribute to their facility costs.
  
• The cost of living in King County is quite high. The county ranks 183.1, more than 80 points higher than the national average of 100. Although groceries and healthcare costs are slightly lower than the national average, housing ranks much higher at 340. Seniors’ families might want to keep the county’s cost of living in mind when preparing their memory care budget.
  
• On a scale where 100 represents the most dangerous areas in which to live, King County has a violent crime rating of 34.5, only slightly higher than the U.S. average of 31.1, and a property crime rating of 38.1, on par with the national average. The lower crime rates in the county might give seniors’ families peace of mind knowing that their loved one's in care are safe; however, it's still a good idea to ask the staff at prospective facilities about the security measures they take to keep their residents safe.
  

Memory Care costs in King County start around $5,862 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 King 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.

King 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.