Memory Care Facilities in Cheyenne, WY

 

Approximately 65,000 people call Cheyenne, WY, home, and seniors 65 and older make up around 16.5% of the city’s population. Research from the Alzheimer’s Association indicates that roughly 1 in 9 Americans from this age group have Alzheimer’s disease, with risk increasing with age. Unfortunately, CDC data shows that Alzheimer’s-related deaths in Cheyenne jumped from 27 in 2016 to 83 in 2020, a substantial 207.4% increase. Furthermore, Alzheimer’s accounted for 4.8% of all Cheyenne deaths in 2016, rising to 11.2% in 2020.

Specialized dementia care communities can provide hope for seniors affected by Alzheimer’s, offering science-based programs that delay cognitive decline, maintain life skills and enhance quality of life. They also typically feature easy-to-navigate layouts, soothing lighting and shadow boxes to reduce confusion and help residents feel at ease. Trained staff provides compassionate support and practical care for seniors at all stages of disease progression.

This guide discusses how favorable Cheyenne is for retirees and details relevant laws and regulatory agencies. It also compares memory care costs in nearby cities and provides information about financial assistance and support organizations.          

The Healthcare Licensing and Surveys office, part of the Wyoming Department of Health’s Aging Division, licenses and regulates memory care facilities in Cheyenne and elsewhere in the state. The team conducts regular inspections and investigates complaints to ensure resident health and safety. 

 

• Although Cheyenne’s living costs are about 2.5% higher than the Wyoming average, overall costs are similar to the national average. However, the lack of state income tax and lower-than-average local sales tax might help seniors balance their funds. The Wyoming Department of Health also offers several programs, such as Home and Community Based Services waivers, that may cover some memory care costs.
• Health care costs in Cheyenne run almost 28% higher than the national average. On the plus side, the area offers easy access to medical care, with 219 physicians per capita compared with the U.S. average of 210. Moreover, in addition to providing routine, emergency and diagnostic services, Cheyenne Regional Medical Center runs a dedicated Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care program.
• As part of Laramie County, Cheyenne is a member of the AARP Age-Friendly Network, demonstrating that the city is committed to being comfortable for people of all ages. Seniors with mild cognitive decline may enjoy social activities and attractive outdoor spaces, while age-focused housing initiatives benefit all older adults.
• Cheyenne provides a relatively safe environment for seniors, with a violent crime rate of 15.3, which is lower than the national average. Although the property crime rate is higher than in many other U.S. cities, memory care communities provide 24/7 staffing and tightened security, promoting safety and peace of mind.
• As with nearby destinations, Cheyenne has a semi-arid continental climate, with warm summers and cold winters. Summer temperatures can reach about 84 degrees Fahrenheit, and the city welcomes around 236 sunny days each year, 31 more than the national average. Winter brings low temperatures of around 16 degrees Fahrenheit and an average of 58 inches of snowfall, 30 inches more than in many parts of the nation. The four distinct seasons may suit seniors who enjoy watching changing landscapes and experiencing seasonal variations, and dementia care facilities host diverse indoor and outdoor activities throughout the year.

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.

Cheyenne’s memory care communities typically charge around $6,923 per month, although precise costs vary according to factors such as amenities, services and staff-to-resident ratios. 

Averaging $6,923 monthly, memory care in Cheyenne is 20.7% more expensive than the national average. Indeed, running $1,712 higher than Wyoming’s average monthly price, Cheyenne is among the costliest places in the state for memory care. Casper offers a more cost-effective location, where the average rate of $6,055 is 13.4% lower than in Cheyenne. Prices drop even more across state lines in Colorado, with average monthly fees of $5,500 in Greeley and $5,000 in Fort Collins.  

Cheyenne’s seniors with mild memory loss may find assisted living an affordable alternative to specialized memory care, with average monthly savings of $1,385. Assisted living communities help with daily activities and personal care and provide daily enrichment activities. Those who prefer to age at home pay around $5,625 for in-home and home health care services, almost $1,300 cheaper than memory care; in-home care aides assist seniors with everyday tasks, while home health care includes medical services from nurses or therapists. For 24/7 medical care and monitoring, seniors can expect to pay around $8,783 monthly for a semi-private room in a nursing home, marking a 23.7% increase compared to residential 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 Wyoming page.