5 Memory Care Facilities near Olympia, WA

The capital city of Washington, Olympia, is located on the southern edge of the Puget Sound and has 51,600 citizens, including 6,640 seniors, totaling 15.2 percent of the population. 106,644 seniors in Washington have dementia, Alzheimer's or other cognitive medical conditions. The staff at Olympia's seven memory care facilities helps to support seniors with cognitive impairments who are living in the city.

Assisted living facilities in Washington that have residents with dementia and related conditions are called dementia care facilities. For an assisted living facility to offer dementia care, they must earn an Enhanced Adult Residential Care – Specialized Dementia Care contract. State law requires additional training for staff and administrators so they can better care for seniors with memory care conditions. Also, seniors must be given activities and coordinated care that allows them to continue practicing hobbies and interests while receiving care. Loved ones are included in coordinating individual care plans.

• Olympia has a very high crime rate, as 95 percent of the cities in the U.S. are safer. Violent crime levels are equal to the national average, and property crime levels are twice that. Loved ones seeking care for a loved one with dementia should take into account the level of security offered at a memory care facility.

• The cost of living in Olympia is 14 percent higher than the national average, with housing costs contributing the most to increased costs. Housing is 60 percent more expensive than other cities, but health care is 22 percent less expensive in the city. Grocery, transportation and miscellaneous costs are all very near the national average.

• The tax situation in Washington is positive for seniors living in a memory care facility. Retirement benefits and Social Security income are both untaxed in the state. So, seniors will receive their full benefit amount. The downside is that sales tax in the state is high, so purchases are more expensive.
  

• The weather in Olympia is generally cold and wet. There are only 136 sunny days each year. But, summers are mild with average highs in the seventies, so seniors can enjoy the weather in the summer.
  

Financial Assistance for Memory Care in Olympia

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

Olympia 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 Olympia, please visit our Memory Care in Washington page.

Olympia-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.