National median memory care is $6,690 per month, or $80,280 per year, in December 2026, per A Place for Mom's 2026 cost report. Memory care is licensed residential care with secured units and dementia-trained staff for people who need daily supervision. A Place for Mom based its 2026 report on 10,474 residents who moved into partner communities in 2025. The median rose 3.7% from $6,450.
Medical information disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a physician or other qualified health professional about symptoms, medications, tests, or treatment decisions.
Table of Contents
- Why Does Memory Care Cost More?
- How Much Does Location Change the Price?
- What Does Insurance Cover?
- How Can Families Plan for These Bills?
Why Does Memory Care Cost More?
In the same A Place for Mom report, standard assisted living median was $5,419 per month, versus $6,690 for memory care. That gap makes memory care about 23% more expensive.
The difference pays for secured units, dementia-trained staff, and higher staffing ratios. Families comparing quotes should check what level of supervision and staffing the monthly fee includes.
How Much Does Location Change the Price?
A Place for Mom state averages run from $5,250 per month in South Dakota to $11,314 in Vermont, summarized in Senior Housing News coverage. Your ZIP code can matter more than the national median.
The Senior List, using 2025 private-room data, lists District of Columbia at $11,490 per month and Georgia at $3,995. It shows facilities nationally charging $3,000 to over $10,000 per month. CareScout's 2025 survey reported a higher assisted-living benchmark of $6,200 per month, based on 16,000 provider surveys from July to November 2025, which shows medians shift with methods.
What Does Insurance Cover?
Medicare does not pay for long-term custodial memory care, including room, board, and daily supervision, according to Mutual of Omaha's Medicare guidance. It covers 80% of approved medical care such as doctor visits, tests, hospital stays, and short-term skilled nursing.
Medicaid can cover memory-care health services for low-income seniors who meet income and asset limits, Care.com reported in March 2026. Coverage often comes through state-specific Home and Community-Based Services waivers. It generally does not pay room and board, and rules vary by state.
How Can Families Plan for These Bills?
The Alzheimer's Association's 2026 Facts and Figures projects U.S. health and long-term dementia costs at $409 billion in 2026. It estimates Medicare and Medicaid will cover $263 billion and families will pay $103 billion out-of-pocket.
About 70% of lifetime cost falls on families. Separate medical bills from custodial bills, then check each path. Small checks now prevent surprise bills later:.
- Ask your state Medicaid office which waiver covers dementia health services and what income and asset limits apply.
- Ask the care team which charges count as approved medical care versus room, board, and supervision.
- Build the monthly budget around custodial costs, since those usually stay out-of-pocket.
