A memory-care facility costs about $6,999 per month nationally, according to A Place for Mom in its cost-of-memory-care guide. Memory care means secured residential care with trained staff and daily supervision for people with dementia.
A Place for Mom's 2026 Costs of Long-Term Care report finds residents who moved in during calendar 2025 paid a median of $6,690 per month. That was up 3.7% from $6,450 and equals about $80,280 per year. Use that yearly figure for early planning, then confirm local all-in pricing.
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 do state prices vary so much?
- How does memory care compare to other options?
- What can raise your bill above the median?
- Does Medicare or Medicaid pay?
Why do state prices vary so much?
Monthly memory-care averages range from about $5,250 to $11,314 by state, based on A Place for Mom proprietary state data. Vermont ranks highest and South Dakota lowest. Families therefore face very different local markets. High-cost states often reflect higher wages, rents, and demand for secured units.
Lower-cost states can still charge more for private rooms or higher care needs. Always compare prices within driving distance, not only state averages. Ask each facility what its base rate covers. Request the current secured-unit rate in writing. Then compare two or three nearby options on the same all-in basis.
How does memory care compare to other options?
Fourth-quarter 2025 NIC MAP data, cited in a 2026 senior-housing analysis, put monthly senior-living costs at $8,612 for memory care, $6,787 for assisted living, and $4,335 for independent living, as reported by Senior Housing News in its Senior Housing News report on the ASHA analysis. The gap reflects added staffing, security, and supervision for dementia.
The industry-benchmark Genworth/CareScout 2024 survey found a national median of $5,900 per month for assisted living. Memory care is commonly estimated 20-30% higher for staffing and secured units. The Alzheimer's Association frames memory care between basic assisted living at $70,800 per year and nursing-home rooms at $111,324 semi-private and $127,750 private.
- independent living: lowest cost, no daily care
- assisted living: meals, housing, and basic help
- memory care: secured setting plus dementia supervision
- nursing home: highest cost, full nursing care
What can raise your bill above the median?
Published medians often exclude level-of-care surcharges, private rooms, and geography, according to medicareresources.org. A quoted base rate may not include higher supervision needs. A private room also adds cost.
Families budgeting $77,000 to $84,000 annually should verify all-in fees. Plan for private payment unless Medicaid-eligible. Get the total before signing.
- ask for the written fee schedule and care tiers
- confirm private-room versus shared-room pricing
- ask how needs changes trigger surcharges
- confirm what happens if funds run out
Does Medicare or Medicaid pay?
Medicare does not pay memory-care room, board, or custodial supervision, although it pays covered medical services, according to the National Council on Aging in its Medicare and memory-care guide. Families should not budget Medicare for housing costs. Use it only for eligible health care.
Medicaid pays 100% of nursing-home memory care for eligible people. It may also cover assisted-living services through state HCBS waivers. Rules and availability vary by state.
- confirm nursing-home eligibility through your state Medicaid office
- ask whether an HCBS waiver covers assisted-living memory care locally
- ask which facilities accept waiver payments now
- get covered services and waiting rules in writing
