The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities Facilities in Madison, WI for 2023
Madison, WI, is home to 269,196 people, with a senior population of 12.1%. It’s estimated that nationwide, 10.7% of seniors have Alzheimer’s or related dementia. Deaths due to Alzheimer’s have more than doubled between 2000 and 2019 and are expected to double again by 2050. However, in Madison, Alzheimer’s-related deaths decreased by 2.09% between 2016 and 2020. There are many factors that could contribute to this anomaly, including Madison’s low senior population compared to national averages and its range of high-quality dementia care providers.
Madison’s memory care communities provide calm, enriching environments for people experiencing neurological decline. These communities are designed to be comfortable and easy-to-navigate while also being secure enough to protect residents who wander. Memory care staff provide 24/7 supervision and are trained to recognize and manage the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
This guide helps seniors find the best place to settle into long-term care by talking about the pros and cons of living in Madison, the cost of care in the city and some resources that can help seniors transition.
Directory of Memory Care Facilities in Madison, WI
Oak Park Place Madison
718 Jupiter Drive, Madison, WI, 53718
Oak Park Place Madison is a popular senior community off I-90 near Lake Monona. Family members appreciate that their loved ones can participate in a variety of activities like choirs, daily exercise g
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Oak Park Place Madison is a popular senior community off I-90 near Lake Monona. Family members appreciate that their loved ones can participate in a variety of activities like choirs, daily exercise groups, book clubs and field trips. Residents praise the nursing staff’s efforts to meet their needs in a friendly way and they like the large apartments with beautiful views. Visitors to the facility felt well informed by staff members who spent time touring the center with them and answering their questions. Oak Park Place Madison has gourmet meal services that are available for residents in multiple dining rooms.
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Oak Park Place Madison is a popular senior community off I-90 near Lake Monona. Family members appreciate that their loved ones can participate in a variety of activities like choirs, daily exercise g
… (read more)
Oak Park Place Madison is a popular senior community off I-90 near Lake Monona. Family members appreciate that their loved ones can participate in a variety of activities like choirs, daily exercise groups, book clubs and field trips. Residents praise the nursing staff’s efforts to meet their needs in a friendly way and they like the large apartments with beautiful views. Visitors to the facility felt well informed by staff members who spent time touring the center with them and answering their questions. Oak Park Place Madison has gourmet meal services that are available for residents in multiple dining rooms.
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Brookdale Madison West
413 South Yellowstone Drive, Madison, WI, 53719
Brookdale Madison West is situated near the Odana Hills Golf Course and has numerous shopping and medical facilities in close proximity. Residents and visitors consistently give the community high mar
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Brookdale Madison West is situated near the Odana Hills Golf Course and has numerous shopping and medical facilities in close proximity. Residents and visitors consistently give the community high marks for their caring, friendly and supportive staff. Brookdale Madison West gets plenty of praise for their on-site medical facilities including physical therapy, full-time nurses and specialty care for residents who need additional services. Plenty of activities are offered, and residents have said that they enjoy the field trips, arts and crafts and happy hour. Loved ones often comment on the new facilities and large gardens.
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Brookdale Madison West is situated near the Odana Hills Golf Course and has numerous shopping and medical facilities in close proximity. Residents and visitors consistently give the community high mar
… (read more)
Brookdale Madison West is situated near the Odana Hills Golf Course and has numerous shopping and medical facilities in close proximity. Residents and visitors consistently give the community high marks for their caring, friendly and supportive staff. Brookdale Madison West gets plenty of praise for their on-site medical facilities including physical therapy, full-time nurses and specialty care for residents who need additional services. Plenty of activities are offered, and residents have said that they enjoy the field trips, arts and crafts and happy hour. Loved ones often comment on the new facilities and large gardens.
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Sylvan Crossings of Fitchburg
5784 Chapel Valley Road, Madison, WI, 53711
My Dad currently lives at Sylvan Crossings and we wish we had found this facility sooner. The staff is very caring. They always treat him gently and with respect. He has dementia and is on Hospice
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My Dad currently lives at Sylvan Crossings and we wish we had found this facility sooner. The staff is very caring. They always treat him gently and with respect. He has dementia and is on Hospice, so he sleeps a lot, but they make an effort to try to get him up and around others. He can’t participate in activities, but I frequently find him propped comfortably on a couch in a common area. They have worked hard to find things that work, from adjusting his medications to giving him a relaxing bath when he fought them in the shower. The facility is clean and pleasant, the food looks appealing and the staff have made an effort to recognize family members and always greet me with a smile. I have visited my Dad at different times and on different days and it is always the same, so I don’t feel as though they are performing for my benefit. I also really like that there are levels of care with rates based on how much help he needs. Although my Dad is on the highest level of care, the rate is very reasonable compared to other similar facilities and there is a ceiling so no matter how much additional care he needs as he gets weaker, the rate will not go up beyond that level. Knowing that he is well cared-for without hidden costs is a real peace of mind.
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My Dad currently lives at Sylvan Crossings and we wish we had found this facility sooner. The staff is very caring. They always treat him gently and with respect. He has dementia and is on Hospice
… (read more)
My Dad currently lives at Sylvan Crossings and we wish we had found this facility sooner. The staff is very caring. They always treat him gently and with respect. He has dementia and is on Hospice, so he sleeps a lot, but they make an effort to try to get him up and around others. He can’t participate in activities, but I frequently find him propped comfortably on a couch in a common area. They have worked hard to find things that work, from adjusting his medications to giving him a relaxing bath when he fought them in the shower. The facility is clean and pleasant, the food looks appealing and the staff have made an effort to recognize family members and always greet me with a smile. I have visited my Dad at different times and on different days and it is always the same, so I don’t feel as though they are performing for my benefit. I also really like that there are levels of care with rates based on how much help he needs. Although my Dad is on the highest level of care, the rate is very reasonable compared to other similar facilities and there is a ceiling so no matter how much additional care he needs as he gets weaker, the rate will not go up beyond that level. Knowing that he is well cared-for without hidden costs is a real peace of mind.
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Oak Park Place Nakoma
4327 Nakoma Rd., Madison, WI, 53711
I toured Oak Park Place Nakoma. Sue, the director, was the most kind, caring, and generous with the time of any of the people. She was the most proactive in terms of follow-up and not pressuring you a
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I toured Oak Park Place Nakoma. Sue, the director, was the most kind, caring, and generous with the time of any of the people. She was the most proactive in terms of follow-up and not pressuring you at all but just really being in it for the people. It’s apparent that she cares about all the people involved and that they truly care about the residents and their families. It was a very good comprehensive tour.
In terms of the condition of the place, I would say it was really nice and well-maintained. It’s like a newer facility and it’s nice looking. They have some nice communal areas. Currently, the average age of their residents is older than my father-in-law who has early-onset dementia. A lot of the patients there were in a little further and later stages of dementia, so that was a negative for us. Part of why we’re looking at centers is so that my father-in-law can have socialization, but if you have a lot of bedridden or wheelchair-bound patients that aren’t as social with the activities, that makes it harder.
Their memory care unit isn’t on the first floor, it’s on the second floor, so their only outdoor space is a concrete balcony versus other places we toured that had memory care that had an outdoor patio with some green space. Since nature is a huge love of my father-in-law, that’s a big thing for us.
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I toured Oak Park Place Nakoma. Sue, the director, was the most kind, caring, and generous with the time of any of the people. She was the most proactive in terms of follow-up and not pressuring you a
… (read more)
I toured Oak Park Place Nakoma. Sue, the director, was the most kind, caring, and generous with the time of any of the people. She was the most proactive in terms of follow-up and not pressuring you at all but just really being in it for the people. It’s apparent that she cares about all the people involved and that they truly care about the residents and their families. It was a very good comprehensive tour.
In terms of the condition of the place, I would say it was really nice and well-maintained. It’s like a newer facility and it’s nice looking. They have some nice communal areas. Currently, the average age of their residents is older than my father-in-law who has early-onset dementia. A lot of the patients there were in a little further and later stages of dementia, so that was a negative for us. Part of why we’re looking at centers is so that my father-in-law can have socialization, but if you have a lot of bedridden or wheelchair-bound patients that aren’t as social with the activities, that makes it harder.
Their memory care unit isn’t on the first floor, it’s on the second floor, so their only outdoor space is a concrete balcony versus other places we toured that had memory care that had an outdoor patio with some green space. Since nature is a huge love of my father-in-law, that’s a big thing for us.
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Cottages of Madison
5555 Burke Road, Madison, WI, 53704
I would not recommend The Cottages because of our experience in December 2020. My brother had terminal cancer. He was placed at The Cottages of Madison’s Elmwood building for nearly the entire mont
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I would not recommend The Cottages because of our experience in December 2020. My brother had terminal cancer. He was placed at The Cottages of Madison’s Elmwood building for nearly the entire month of December, the last month of his life. Here are some of our worrisome experiences that happened last December.
My interactions with the manager and administrator were confusing, with them answering my concerns a number of times with solutions that actually never materialized. For example, we complained about there being no call buttons. My brother was not mobile, and was bedridden for most of his stay. The plan was for residents to yell for staff. He had nights when help never came all night long, though he would yell loudly and often. In fact, one night he had to sit on the edge of his bed the entire night because no one answered his shouting all night for the help he needed to lie down. The administration said he would get a monitor twice, but one was never placed in his room.
My brother said there were staff that were mean to him. The staff bickered loudly among themselves. The bickering and swearing was so loud I could hear it in the background of phone calls with my brother. It was disturbing.
In Dec. 2020, there were no activities at all, nor an activities director.
Most alarming were mistakes and neglect when administering medicine. One day, as my brother was deteriorating, an aid judged he could not swallow his pills anymore, so that aid just skipped administering two doses in a row of all my brother’s meds (that means at least 8 hours when dozens of medicines were simply skipped.) Even worse, our family and my brother’s physician were not notified. I only learned about the missed meds afterwards. I immediately expressed my alarm, but the aid and manager claimed there had been no orders to crush medicine. I looked into it — I discovered that there had always been orders to crush his medicine if necessary, from the day he arrived. Twice my brother went to the ER because of medicine not administered while in the care of this facility.
My husband and I were told that, because of COVID, residents could only have window visits. On our Christmas visit, for which we’d called ahead for an appointment, the kind staff member on duty went to a lot of trouble, getting my brother to the window, using a lift, dressing him etc. This took 45 min. while we waited outside. We thanked her and didn’t complain but she volunteered that the delay was due to her being the only staff member on duty for the entire building (the Elmwood building usually had many aids per shift).
Privacy locks on patient’s doors had been turned around so patients could be locked in their rooms. When challenged on this, the manager said she thought it was an allowable"form of restraint".
I am sad my brother had to spend his last days in such a chaotic sometimes dangerous facility. I recommend staying away from this facility at least until county inspections find that The Cottages are meeting the minimum standards. (note: reports and citations on residential care facilities in Dane County are public records you can view as part of your research when making choices for care)
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I would not recommend The Cottages because of our experience in December 2020. My brother had terminal cancer. He was placed at The Cottages of Madison’s Elmwood building for nearly the entire mont
… (read more)
I would not recommend The Cottages because of our experience in December 2020. My brother had terminal cancer. He was placed at The Cottages of Madison’s Elmwood building for nearly the entire month of December, the last month of his life. Here are some of our worrisome experiences that happened last December.
My interactions with the manager and administrator were confusing, with them answering my concerns a number of times with solutions that actually never materialized. For example, we complained about there being no call buttons. My brother was not mobile, and was bedridden for most of his stay. The plan was for residents to yell for staff. He had nights when help never came all night long, though he would yell loudly and often. In fact, one night he had to sit on the edge of his bed the entire night because no one answered his shouting all night for the help he needed to lie down. The administration said he would get a monitor twice, but one was never placed in his room.
My brother said there were staff that were mean to him. The staff bickered loudly among themselves. The bickering and swearing was so loud I could hear it in the background of phone calls with my brother. It was disturbing.
In Dec. 2020, there were no activities at all, nor an activities director.
Most alarming were mistakes and neglect when administering medicine. One day, as my brother was deteriorating, an aid judged he could not swallow his pills anymore, so that aid just skipped administering two doses in a row of all my brother’s meds (that means at least 8 hours when dozens of medicines were simply skipped.) Even worse, our family and my brother’s physician were not notified. I only learned about the missed meds afterwards. I immediately expressed my alarm, but the aid and manager claimed there had been no orders to crush medicine. I looked into it — I discovered that there had always been orders to crush his medicine if necessary, from the day he arrived. Twice my brother went to the ER because of medicine not administered while in the care of this facility.
My husband and I were told that, because of COVID, residents could only have window visits. On our Christmas visit, for which we’d called ahead for an appointment, the kind staff member on duty went to a lot of trouble, getting my brother to the window, using a lift, dressing him etc. This took 45 min. while we waited outside. We thanked her and didn’t complain but she volunteered that the delay was due to her being the only staff member on duty for the entire building (the Elmwood building usually had many aids per shift).
Privacy locks on patient’s doors had been turned around so patients could be locked in their rooms. When challenged on this, the manager said she thought it was an allowable"form of restraint".
I am sad my brother had to spend his last days in such a chaotic sometimes dangerous facility. I recommend staying away from this facility at least until county inspections find that The Cottages are meeting the minimum standards. (note: reports and citations on residential care facilities in Dane County are public records you can view as part of your research when making choices for care)
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Vista West
150 Bella Vista Drive, Madison, WI, 53717
We went to Vista West. It was a good tour. Jackie, the community relations manager, was very nice and helpful. She asked a lot of questions about my father-in-law as a person to get to know him and hi
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We went to Vista West. It was a good tour. Jackie, the community relations manager, was very nice and helpful. She asked a lot of questions about my father-in-law as a person to get to know him and his interest before we went and toured the facility, so that was nice. The condition of the place was very nice. It’s pretty much a brand-new facility, so it’s very spacious and clean, and there weren’t any smells or anything. We were able to meet Dawn, the activity director, and she was willing to answer any questions we had. They had a nice outdoor area.
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We went to Vista West. It was a good tour. Jackie, the community relations manager, was very nice and helpful. She asked a lot of questions about my father-in-law as a person to get to know him and hi
… (read more)
We went to Vista West. It was a good tour. Jackie, the community relations manager, was very nice and helpful. She asked a lot of questions about my father-in-law as a person to get to know him and his interest before we went and toured the facility, so that was nice. The condition of the place was very nice. It’s pretty much a brand-new facility, so it’s very spacious and clean, and there weren’t any smells or anything. We were able to meet Dawn, the activity director, and she was willing to answer any questions we had. They had a nice outdoor area.
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All Saints Memory Care
8210 Highview Dr, Madison, WI, 53719
All Saints Memory Care is located in South Central Madison, Wisconsin, and has received high marks for its clean and inviting environment, as well as the knowledgeable and engaging staff. Residents at
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All Saints Memory Care is located in South Central Madison, Wisconsin, and has received high marks for its clean and inviting environment, as well as the knowledgeable and engaging staff. Residents at All Saints Memory Care enjoy movie nights in the lobby area along with a community room where they can engage in board games and ice cream socials. Healthy meals are prepared daily for residents who also enjoy the many safety features this senior living facility has to offer. A beautiful chapel is also open to residents and their families.
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All Saints Memory Care is located in South Central Madison, Wisconsin, and has received high marks for its clean and inviting environment, as well as the knowledgeable and engaging staff. Residents at
… (read more)
All Saints Memory Care is located in South Central Madison, Wisconsin, and has received high marks for its clean and inviting environment, as well as the knowledgeable and engaging staff. Residents at All Saints Memory Care enjoy movie nights in the lobby area along with a community room where they can engage in board games and ice cream socials. Healthy meals are prepared daily for residents who also enjoy the many safety features this senior living facility has to offer. A beautiful chapel is also open to residents and their families.
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Brookdale Middleton Stonefield
6701 Stonefield Road, Middleton, WI, 53562
I liked Brookdale Middleton Stonefield best. I liked the layout of the facility and I liked the staff members that I met. It’s all on one floor and the person that’s staying there can walk around. It’
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I liked Brookdale Middleton Stonefield best. I liked the layout of the facility and I liked the staff members that I met. It’s all on one floor and the person that’s staying there can walk around. It’s sort of a circular, flat, one-story area which I think is nice. The staff members were helpful and seemed friendly and I liked especially the woman in charge of the activities. She’s very enthusiastic. There’s a nice enclosed garden space in their centrally located courtyard.
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I liked Brookdale Middleton Stonefield best. I liked the layout of the facility and I liked the staff members that I met. It’s all on one floor and the person that’s staying there can walk around. It’
… (read more)
I liked Brookdale Middleton Stonefield best. I liked the layout of the facility and I liked the staff members that I met. It’s all on one floor and the person that’s staying there can walk around. It’s sort of a circular, flat, one-story area which I think is nice. The staff members were helpful and seemed friendly and I liked especially the woman in charge of the activities. She’s very enthusiastic. There’s a nice enclosed garden space in their centrally located courtyard.
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Homestead Living
1040 Quinn Drive, Waunakee, WI, 53597
My father recently moved to Homestead Living after a short stay at a different and much larger facility.
What a huge difference in facilities! Homestead Living has a "Homelike" atmosphere. Homestead
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My father recently moved to Homestead Living after a short stay at a different and much larger facility.
What a huge difference in facilities! Homestead Living has a "Homelike" atmosphere. Homestead Living is a small, 16-bed facility that does not seem "Institutional." All staff are excellent with the residents and truly seem to care about their wellbeing. Staff are well trained in dealing with residents with memory issues and are kind and genuinely care about the residents.
Carol, the Activity Director engages each resident personally in a way that interests them. Her smile and personality toward the residents is heart warming.
The meals are homemade and delicious. Each meal comes out of the kitchen fresh and warm.
Residents rooms are small but adequate.
You are able to personalize their rooms to suit their interests and make it homey.
Most residents spend little time in their rooms unlike other facilities.
Do your homework when choosing a memory care facility for your loved one.
I have personally seen the difference that Homestead Living has to offer!
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My father recently moved to Homestead Living after a short stay at a different and much larger facility.
What a huge difference in facilities! Homestead Living has a "Homelike" atmosphere. Homestead
… (read more)
My father recently moved to Homestead Living after a short stay at a different and much larger facility.
What a huge difference in facilities! Homestead Living has a "Homelike" atmosphere. Homestead Living is a small, 16-bed facility that does not seem "Institutional." All staff are excellent with the residents and truly seem to care about their wellbeing. Staff are well trained in dealing with residents with memory issues and are kind and genuinely care about the residents.
Carol, the Activity Director engages each resident personally in a way that interests them. Her smile and personality toward the residents is heart warming.
The meals are homemade and delicious. Each meal comes out of the kitchen fresh and warm.
Residents rooms are small but adequate.
You are able to personalize their rooms to suit their interests and make it homey.
Most residents spend little time in their rooms unlike other facilities.
Do your homework when choosing a memory care facility for your loved one.
I have personally seen the difference that Homestead Living has to offer!
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Sage Meadow of Middleton
5330 Century Avenue, Middleton, WI, 53562
My husband is a resident at Sage Meadows in the Memory Care Facility. He has only been there for about two months, but I am very impressed by the staff. Everyone that I have met so far has been very
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My husband is a resident at Sage Meadows in the Memory Care Facility. He has only been there for about two months, but I am very impressed by the staff. Everyone that I have met so far has been very polite and appears to know and genuinely like working with the residents. My husbands room has a nice big window to let in the sunlight, it is sufficiently provided with everything he needs. My only issue so far is that some of his clothes have gone missing, but am now putting names in/on everything so hopefully that issue will go away. Staff has been very accommodating and friendly. The one review by someone indicating they did not trust the Director should be removed. There is a new Director and I think he is doing a really hard job to the very best of his ability. He appears to really enjoy his job and is very involved with everything that goes on. The residents appear to be happy in their environment. My only thought is that they need more activities for the residents to participate in. I think that would make a huge improvement. The overall appearance of Sage Meadow is homey and clean. I would recommend Sage Meadow to someone looking for a place for their loved ones. The other area that I gave a lower rating was for the food. I asked if there was ever any milk given to the residents because traditionally they are given a Crystal Light Raspberry Lemonade which my husband likes, and a glass of water. I just would like to see him given more milk and maybe orange juice once in a while. Maybe he gets that in the morning when I am not there.
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My husband is a resident at Sage Meadows in the Memory Care Facility. He has only been there for about two months, but I am very impressed by the staff. Everyone that I have met so far has been very
… (read more)
My husband is a resident at Sage Meadows in the Memory Care Facility. He has only been there for about two months, but I am very impressed by the staff. Everyone that I have met so far has been very polite and appears to know and genuinely like working with the residents. My husbands room has a nice big window to let in the sunlight, it is sufficiently provided with everything he needs. My only issue so far is that some of his clothes have gone missing, but am now putting names in/on everything so hopefully that issue will go away. Staff has been very accommodating and friendly. The one review by someone indicating they did not trust the Director should be removed. There is a new Director and I think he is doing a really hard job to the very best of his ability. He appears to really enjoy his job and is very involved with everything that goes on. The residents appear to be happy in their environment. My only thought is that they need more activities for the residents to participate in. I think that would make a huge improvement. The overall appearance of Sage Meadow is homey and clean. I would recommend Sage Meadow to someone looking for a place for their loved ones. The other area that I gave a lower rating was for the food. I asked if there was ever any milk given to the residents because traditionally they are given a Crystal Light Raspberry Lemonade which my husband likes, and a glass of water. I just would like to see him given more milk and maybe orange juice once in a while. Maybe he gets that in the morning when I am not there.
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Cardinal View Senior Living
3820 Tribeca Dr, Middleton, WI, 53562
We went to Cardinal View Senior Living. It is a new facility, so it was very nice and spacious and clean, and there weren’t any smells. All of the bedrooms seemed to be closer to the common areas, so
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We went to Cardinal View Senior Living. It is a new facility, so it was very nice and spacious and clean, and there weren’t any smells. All of the bedrooms seemed to be closer to the common areas, so that was nice. However, they did not have a separate entrance like some of the other places we toured. That’s not necessarily a negative, but we tend to like some of the facilities that had a separate entrance.
The condition of the place was very nice though. The staff we met was nice. One con for me is that we didn’t see staff interacting with the patients on the memory care floor at the time we were there compared to how many staff we found interacting with patients at other places. I usually meet with the director of sales or marketing who leads the tour at most places. They took a lot of notes about my father-in-law. The person we met at Cardinal View was nice and asked a bunch of questions, but he didn’t take any notes. And so, for us, that was like a little bit of a negative.
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We went to Cardinal View Senior Living. It is a new facility, so it was very nice and spacious and clean, and there weren’t any smells. All of the bedrooms seemed to be closer to the common areas, so
… (read more)
We went to Cardinal View Senior Living. It is a new facility, so it was very nice and spacious and clean, and there weren’t any smells. All of the bedrooms seemed to be closer to the common areas, so that was nice. However, they did not have a separate entrance like some of the other places we toured. That’s not necessarily a negative, but we tend to like some of the facilities that had a separate entrance.
The condition of the place was very nice though. The staff we met was nice. One con for me is that we didn’t see staff interacting with the patients on the memory care floor at the time we were there compared to how many staff we found interacting with patients at other places. I usually meet with the director of sales or marketing who leads the tour at most places. They took a lot of notes about my father-in-law. The person we met at Cardinal View was nice and asked a bunch of questions, but he didn’t take any notes. And so, for us, that was like a little bit of a negative.
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NOEL MANOR RETIREMENT LIVING
471 Prairie Way Blvd, Verona, WI, 53593
My mother has moved into Noel Manor Retirement Living. I have always liked it. I’ve had several relatives there and they have always done a really good job. My mother seems to have adjusted to it pret
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My mother has moved into Noel Manor Retirement Living. I have always liked it. I’ve had several relatives there and they have always done a really good job. My mother seems to have adjusted to it pretty well, and she has accepted it as much as she possibly can in her state. She has been doing pretty well. The facility is fairly new and up to date. They seem to have enough personnel on hand. I didn’t hear of any shortages. It’s a pretty unique or pretty nice layout they’ve got. They have pretty good activities, and the food is fairly good. The staff members are very respectful, very polite, and very caring. I have not tried the food, but I have seen the menu and it seemed to be pretty good.
The place is just one straight line basically, so you don’t have a lot of confusion going on, and you should be able to find your room pretty easily, and very seldom I would think, they would get lost. It’s pretty well laid out. They got an exercise program first thing in the morning. They’ve got bingo. They’ve had like music. One day we were there, they had a harpist who was playing the harp. They have music entertainment, and they’ll take tours every now and then. My mom can go out of the facility whenever she wants to as far as if she’s with somebody and they don’t give her any hassle with that. The only thing they ask is how long they’re going to be gone, so they know what to watch for. They’re pretty good that way.
They’re all pretty high priced, but Noel Manor Retirement Living has really probably the most bang for your buck. They have a patio, and because they’re in a straight line pretty much all your windows face outside. One half of the building faces the woods, and the other part faces the parking lot. My mom went to the side that faces the woods, so it’s a really nice view.
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My mother has moved into Noel Manor Retirement Living. I have always liked it. I’ve had several relatives there and they have always done a really good job. My mother seems to have adjusted to it pret
… (read more)
My mother has moved into Noel Manor Retirement Living. I have always liked it. I’ve had several relatives there and they have always done a really good job. My mother seems to have adjusted to it pretty well, and she has accepted it as much as she possibly can in her state. She has been doing pretty well. The facility is fairly new and up to date. They seem to have enough personnel on hand. I didn’t hear of any shortages. It’s a pretty unique or pretty nice layout they’ve got. They have pretty good activities, and the food is fairly good. The staff members are very respectful, very polite, and very caring. I have not tried the food, but I have seen the menu and it seemed to be pretty good.
The place is just one straight line basically, so you don’t have a lot of confusion going on, and you should be able to find your room pretty easily, and very seldom I would think, they would get lost. It’s pretty well laid out. They got an exercise program first thing in the morning. They’ve got bingo. They’ve had like music. One day we were there, they had a harpist who was playing the harp. They have music entertainment, and they’ll take tours every now and then. My mom can go out of the facility whenever she wants to as far as if she’s with somebody and they don’t give her any hassle with that. The only thing they ask is how long they’re going to be gone, so they know what to watch for. They’re pretty good that way.
They’re all pretty high priced, but Noel Manor Retirement Living has really probably the most bang for your buck. They have a patio, and because they’re in a straight line pretty much all your windows face outside. One half of the building faces the woods, and the other part faces the parking lot. My mom went to the side that faces the woods, so it’s a really nice view.
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is a Caring Star Community
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COVID-19 Rules for Memory Care in Madison
Since most COVID-19 rules for Memory Care Communities and other Senior Living Facilities are set at the state level, you can view the specific rules for your state on our Guide to Memory Care in Wisconsin. Keep in mind that every community has specific policies that they put in place to protect their residents, so you should contact your local community for more information. Additionally, you can contact your local Area Agency on Aging to learn more – find contact information here.
What to Consider About Memory Care in Madison
The Wisconsin Department of Health Bureau of Assisted Living Southern Regional Office regulates residential memory care facilities in the city of Madison. The state and regional offices develop policy, handle licensing and registration and ensure state standards are met for resident care, food service, physical plant management and more.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Memory Care in Madison
- The health care network in Madison is well-established. The University of Wisconsin Hospital has a highly regarded geriatrics department and is a leader in aging research. The UW-Madison School of Nursing is also a leader in dementia care. There is a wide selection of Memory Care communities and facilities in the city.
- Many top lists include Madison as a great place to retire. Part of its attraction for retirees is a reasonable cost of living. But for seniors in a residential memory care facility it costs an average of $6,000 each month. This is both more expensive than elsewhere in the state and much more expensive than the national monthly average of $5,625.
- Retirees laud Madison’s senior-friendly tax profile. Wisconsin’s sales tax is just around 5% — among the lowest in the country — and the state provides a property tax deferral loan program for older residents with a household income below $20,000. Social security income is not taxed and neither are many federal pension benefits.
- Although it is often cold and rainy, Madison is still considered temperate. Air quality can be less than optimal throughout the state, depending on weather patterns and wildfires. However, summers in Madison, which run from June to September, are generally pleasant and sunny with a few humid days scattered in.
- Although post-pandemic, crime rates in Madison are higher than normal, it is still considered a relatively safe place to live. Both the violent crime and property crime rates are lower than the national average.
- Madison became a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities late in 2019. This international network is dedicated to developing policies and programs that make cities and communities friendlier for seniors through design, social engagement and innovation.
Paying for Memory Care in Madison
Note: Residential memory care is usually offered in assisted living facilities, and in general, memory care rates tend to be 20-30% higher than assisted living rates. No national database currently tracks memory care costs in the United States, so we’ve estimated the monthly memory care costs listed below by adding 25% to the rates listed in Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey.
The average monthly cost of Memory Care in Madison is $6,000. This is higher than both the state average of $5,750, and the national average of $5,625.
The Cost of Memory Care in Nearby Cities
Memory Care is relatively expensive in Madison, although both Milwaukee and nearby Minneapolis, MN are more expensive at $6,655 and $6,454 respectively. Elsewhere in the north end of the Badger State, monthly costs average $5,562 in Green Bay and $5,469 in Eau Claire, both a bit less pricey.
The Cost of Other Types of Senior Care
Memory Care, which involves specialized support for seniors with cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s and dementia is costly at an average of $6,000 per month. Nursing Home Care is more expensive at $8,851 per month in a semiprivate room.
For seniors who are able to live independently, in-home care and non-medical assistance with activities of daily life like food preparation and grooming, averages $5,339. Home Health Care, which involves some degree of medical attention like medication management or wound dressing, costs the same as more basic In-home Care. Assisted living in a care community costs an average of $4,800 per month. The most affordable form of professional support, Adult Day Care, averages $2,019 a month in Madison, WI.
Financial Assistance for Memory Care in Madison
In Madison, there are options for seniors who need financial assistance paying for Memory Care. For more information about other options, who qualifies, and how to apply, Memory Care in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin page.
Free Memory Care Resources in Madison
Free and easy to access resources are available to seniors living in Madison who are at-risk or currently dealing with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other cognitive disorders. Many of these resources are also directed at family members and caregivers who are lending support. Some of the following resources are educational as the research landscape of cognitive disorders and how to treat them most effectively is developing rapidly.
Resource
Contact
Service
(608) 232-3400
Based in Madison, this state-wide program provides support, services and education to seniors with cognitive decline, their families and caregivers. Their programs include workshops and Memory Cafés, where seniors can meet socially and experience peer support and discussion on new developments in cognitive care.
(608) 262-1818
A major research center, the Institute takes a multi-disciplinary approach to improve the lives of aging populations, including those living with cognitive disorders. Information and resource links are shared online, during clinical studies and at an annual conference on aging.
(608)
265-4330
CARE at the UW-Madison School of Nursing offers a series of training videos as a Dementia Friendly Toolkit, developed to build communication and respectfully engage people living with dementia.
(800)
438-4380
A program of the National Institute on Aging, this site compiles current information on Alzheimer's disease for health professionals, seniors with cognitive disorders, and their families. They also publish a downloadable Community Resource Guide for Dementia Patients and Caregivers.
(800)
272-3900
The Madison AA chapter provides information and care consultation and support services for families and works on policy change. Their ALZConnected® is a free online forum where people living with Alzheimer’s, caregivers, families and friends can connect and exchange information.
(608)
256-6445 ext. 156
Free and led by Alzheimer's professionals, SPARK programs at the Madison Art Center are designed for seniors with mid-level memory loss and their caregivers.
Memory Care Laws and Regulations in Madison
Madison Memory Care Communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all Memory Care Facilities in Wisconsin are required to follow. Visit our Memory Care in Wisconsin page for more information about these laws.
