The 5 Best Memory Care Facilities in Kanawha County, WV for 2024

Kanawha County, which includes West Virginia's capital and most populous city Charleston, has more than 183,000 people. Many of the 38,000 seniors in West Virginia who have Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia live in Kanawha County. There are four memory care facilities in the area that can provide care for this group.

The state of Virginia officially calls these facilities Assisted Living Residences      (ALRs), and they may or may not contain Alzheimer’s/dementia special care units (ASCUs). Kanawha County is home to world-class medical facilities, including those specializing in brain health and dementia care, such as West Virginia OrthoNeuro, in the event of medical emergencies or illness.

• Particle pollution has improved from seven to zero high pollution days in Kanawha County from 2007 to 2015, so seniors with breathing problems shouldn't be concerned that the air will worsen their condition. The county has a passing grade for annual particle pollution and a "C" for ozone.
• On average, Kanawha County is cloudier and wetter than other parts of the country. The county gets 46 inches of rain and 32 inches of snow per year. Winters are cold and summers can be hot and humid, so families should consider whether their loved ones would enjoy living in such an environment.
• For families seeking an affordable lifestyle for their loved ones with Alzheimer's or dementia, the overall cost of living in Kanawha county is 15 percent below the national average. Housing, in particular, is nearly 50 percent lower than the U.S. average.
• For seniors, Social Security income is only taxable if their total income is above $50,000 per year. For 401(k)s, IRAs, and pensions, the first $6,000 of income per year is deductible. These West Virginia tax policies may make memory care more affordable for families on limited budgets.

Memory Care costs in Kanawha County start around $5,110 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 Kanawha 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia page.

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