The 5 Best Memory Care Facilities in Skagit County, WA for 2024

Skagit County, nestled in northwest Washington, has a population of 116,901. Just over 16 percent of those residents are seniors aged 65 and older and may be among the 110,000 seniors in Washington living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. There are four memory care facilities in the county to house and support these seniors, with two located in Burlington, and the other two in Sedro Woolley and Anacortes.

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

• Residents of Skagit County enjoy a mild year-round climate with temperatures ranging between 35 and 74 degrees. Sperling’s Comfort Index gives the county a rank of 75 out of 100, much higher than the national average of 54, which suggests that seniors who don’t like heat and humidity will enjoy living in the county.
  
• The air quality in Skagit County is good. On a scale where 100 represents areas with the best overall air quality, the county ranks 73 compared to the national average of 58. Seniors with COPD, asthma or other respiratory issues may find that they can breathe easier in the county.
  
• Skagit County seniors enjoy tax breaks. Washington does not tax social security income, retirement savings account income or pensions. These tax savings could result in seniors living in the county having more money to spend on their facility costs.
  
• On a scale from 1 to 100 where 100 represents the most dangerous areas to live, Skagit County ranks 41.3 for violent crime and 41.4 for property crime, compared to the national averages of 31.1 and 38.1, respectively. Although these crime rates are slightly higher than the national averages, memory care facilities generally have safeguards in place like security cameras and self-locking doors to keep seniors safe.

Memory Care costs in Skagit County start around $5,066 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 Skagit 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.

Skagit 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.