According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 39,000 seniors in West Virginia are living with the disease, and an additional 5,000 diagnoses are expected by 2025. This represents an increase of nearly 13%. Additionally, Alzheimer’s is the state’s seventh leading cause of death after conditions like heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. Dementia and age-related memory loss are serious concerns since West Virginia has an above-average population of older adults. More than one in five residents is aged 65 or older, and the state’s senior population is more than 365,500 strong. Since dementia is most common in this age group, there’s increasing demand for memory care and geriatric services such as those provided by the University of West Virginia Hospitals. On average, residents pay $5,200 for assisted living services provided in special care units, which is slightly lower than the U.S. median.
Memory care can be offered on its own in a community designed especially for those with dementia or Alzheimer’s, but it’s more commonly provided as a service in a separate wing of an assisted living facility. Memory care programs are designed specifically for those with memory impairment, and the facilities often coordinate social activities and schedules specifically for the needs of those living with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
This guide provides helpful information about memory care in West Virginia with a focus on average prices, state regulations, Medicaid benefits and free resources for dementia patients and their families.