Memory Care in Washington
Approximately 120,000 Washington seniors aged 65 and older have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease as of 2020, and this estimate is expected to increase by 20,000, or 16.7%, in 2025. The disease ranks third among the leading causes of death in Washington and sixth throughout the United States. With a substantial percentage of hospice admissions and hospital readmissions associated with dementia patients in the Evergreen State, the number of geriatricians needs to triple by 2050 to meet the growing demand for medical care.
To help older Washingtonians and their families deal with the challenges of dementia, memory care facilities offer a specialized option for long-term care. These facilities generally provide round-the-clock expert care and holistic wellness programs in secured homelike settings. Memory care residents may benefit from brain-healthy meals, medication assistance and personalized activities that support their cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being. Compared to the U.S. average of $5,064 per month, Washington has an average memory care cost of $6,875.
This comprehensive guide helps families learn more about memory care in Washington. It describes the state’s SeniorScore, estimated memory care costs, financial assistance programs and important government regulations. A list of free resources is included for further information on how to access Washington’s dementia care-related programs.
SeniorAdvice's Guide to Memory Care in Washington
A state’s SeniorScore is calculated using over 100 variables sourced from government and private organizations to provide an unbiased, data-driven evaluation of the area’s suitability for aging. The final SeniorScore for Washington is 70, a satisfactory rating slightly lower than the U.S. average of 72. This senior livability index is broken down into four general categories to determine which factors make the Evergreen State a favorable location for memory care.
Washington’s General Quality of Life gets its highest SeniorScore ranking of 66. Given the variety of weather patterns in Western and Eastern Washington, the state’s general climate is considered mild with an average low temperature not lower than the freezing point. Health & Safety has the second-highest SeniorScore of 65 for the state’s large number of senior care providers and Medicare-enrolled health care facilities as well as its above-average life expectancy of approximately 80 years.
Recreation & Leisure in Washington receives a satisfactory SeniorScore of 64. The state’s abundance of municipal parks, in addition to three national parks and over 100 state parks, offer seniors ADA-accessible recreation options and calming nature views. Washington’s Finances is rated with a SeniorScore of 56 primarily due to high senior care costs and the above average cost of living that’s mainly driven by expensive housing. However, the state has high income levels and benefits retirees with tax exemption on Social Security benefits, pensions and retirement account withdrawals.
The Cost of Memory Care in Washington
While no authoritative data on memory care costs is available for any state, these amounts are estimated to be 20 to 30% higher than assisted living averages. The higher pricing is typically accounted for by the higher levels of care provided with a higher caregiver to resident ratio as well as the enhanced security systems and specialized programs in memory care facilities. In Washington, memory care may be provided in adult family homes, assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities and nursing homes with specialty care designations. Actual rates for each facility normally vary by location and pricing structure.
With an estimated average cost of $6,875 per month, memory care in Washington is more expensive than most areas throughout the United States. Based on Genworth Financial’s Cost of Care Survey for 2019, the Evergreen State is also the most expensive area in the country’s Northwest region. It’s about $1,250 higher than Oregon and California, which have similar average costs. The more affordable neighboring states are Idaho and Montana with respective average memory care costs of $4,660 and $4,775, saving seniors around $2,100 to $2,220 compared to Washington.
- Washington: $6,875
- National: $5,064
- Idaho: $4,660
- Montana: $4,775
- Oregon: $5,624
- California: $5,625
The Cost of Memory Care in Washington’s Top Cities
Many parts of the Puget Sound region are among the most expensive areas for memory care in Washington. Seattle’s average cost of $8,125 per month is the steepest in the state. Olympia, the state capital, is quite expensive but considered midrange at $6,563. Bremerton, located west of Seattle, is a more affordable option at $5,904. The most affordable area in the Puget Sound region is Bellingham at $5,144. In Eastern Washington, Spokane’s average memory care cost of $5,000 makes it the most affordable major area in the state. Yakima, Central Washington’s largest city, has a midrange cost of $6,250.
- Spokane: $5,000
- Bellingham: $5,144
- Kennewick: $5,719
- Bremerton: $5,904
- Yakima: $6,250
- Olympia: $6,563
- Seattle: $8,125
Senior Care Cost Comparison in Washington
Memory care is among the most expensive senior care options in Washington with an average cost of $6,875. However, it’s largely more affordable than nursing home care, which costs $9,112, saving seniors approximately $2,200 per month. Because memory care entails higher levels of care compared to standard assisted living, which costs $5,500, it’s more costly by approximately $1,400. Senior care at home is about $1,060 to $1,160 more affordable with respective in-home care and home health care costs of $5,720 and $5,815, but these price differences do not cover the costs of accommodations, meals and specialized dementia programs. Adult day care is the most affordable senior care option at $1,441 per month, providing a limited scope of care that may not fully support those with later stages of dementia.
- Memory Care: $6,875
- Assisted Living: $5,500
- In-Home Care: $5,720
- Home Health Care: $5,815
- Adult Day Care: $1,441
- Nursing Home Care: $9,112
Top Memory Care Communities in Washington
Judson Park is located at 23620 Marine View Drive South in Des Moines, Washington. It is a 96 bed senior housing community. With a median family income of $59,070, the community is in a primarily middle class ...
Issaquah Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is a 140 bed nursing care facility located in Issaquah, Washington. With a median per-household income of $94,297, the community is in a largely well-to-do area. It is densely populated, with around 27,000 ...
Avamere Olympic Rehabilitation of Sequim is a 125 room nursing home facility situated in Sequim, Washington. The surrounding area has a dense population, with roughly 28,000 poeple living in the 98382 zip code. It is a primarily middle ...
Situated within the Bitter Lake neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, Ida Culver House Broadview Ncc is a 74 bed senior housing community. The facility is in a predominantly middle income area, with an average per-family income of $57,182. It ...
Redmond Care and Rehabilitation Center is located within the Grass Lawn neighborhood of Redmond, Washington. It is a 139 unit nursing facility. The facility is in a mostly upper class area, with an average per-family income of $93,173. ...
Manorcare Health Services - Salmon Creek is a 120 room nursing home facility situated in Vancouver, Washington. The facility is in a generally middle income area, with an average family income of $70,201. With roughly 18,000 people residing ...
Snohomish Health and Rehabilitation is a 91 bed nursing care facility located within the Northwest Snohomish area of Snohomish, Washington. The community is in a mostly middle income area, with a median per-family income of $74,068. It is ...
Canterbury House is located at 502 29th Street SE in Auburn, Washington. It is a 100 room senior care community. The community is in a mostly middle class area, with a median per-family income of $40,586. With ...
Bothell Health Care is a 99 room skilled nursing facility. It is located in the Alderwood Manor neighborhood of Bothell, Washington. With a median per-family income of $85,127, the facility is in a generally upper class area. ...
Located within the Brighton neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, Kline Galland Home is a 205 unit senior housing facility. With a median family income of $51,093, the community is in a mostly middle income area. It is heavily populated, ...
Located in the Interlake neighborhood, Overlake Terrace is a senior housing community serving Redmond, Washington. The community is in a mostly affluent area, with a median per-household income of $93,173. It is densely populated, with approximately 59,000 residents ...
Park West Skilled Nursing Center is a 139 bed nursing facility. It is located in the Admiral neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. With a median per-household income of $75,728, the facility is in a primarily upper class area. ...
Foss Home and Village is a 211 room senior housing facility. It is located within the Bitter Lake neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. The community is in a generally middle income area, with a median per-household income of $57,182. ...
Olympia Manor Rehabilitation Center is situated within the Indian Creek neighborhood of Olympia, Washington. It is a 28 room nursing home facility. With about 39,000 poeple living in the 98501 zip code, the surrounding area is heavily populated. ...
Manorcare Health Services - Lacey is a 120 room nursing care facility situated close to the The Birches neighborhood of Lacey, Washington. The community is in a generally middle income area, with an average household income of $58,777. ...
Located within the Cascade neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, Mirabella Seattle is a 42 room senior care community. With roughly 22,000 poeple living in the zip code of 98109, the neighboring area has a dense population. It is a ...
Life Care Center of Puyallup is a 202 room senior housing facility. It is located at 511 10th Avenue SE in Puyallup, Washington. The encompassing area has a dense population, with about 23,000 poeple living in the 98372 ...
Park Ridge Care Center is situated within the Olympic Hills area of Seattle, Washington. It is a 115 unit senior community. With roughly 34,000 poeple living in the 98155 zip code, the surrounding area has a dense population. ...
Burien Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is situated nearby the Arbor Heights neighborhood of Burien, Washington. It is a 140 bed nursing home facility. The encompassing area is heavily populated, with about 27,000 poeple living in the 98146 zip ...
Situated near by the Alderwood Manor neighborhood of Lynnwood, Washington, ManorCare Health Services-Lynnwood is a 113 unit nursing care facility. With approximately 28,000 individuals living in the zip code of 98037, the surrounding area is heavily populated. It ...
Financial Assistance for Memory Care in Washington
Community First Choice Option
Address: 4450 10th Avenue SE, Blake West, Lacey, WA 98503
Phone Number: (360) 725-2300
Website: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/stakeholders/community-first-choice-option
CFC is Washington’s Medicaid state plan option that covers a flexible and comprehensive range of long-term care services, including memory care, in noninstitutional settings such as private residences, adult care homes and assisted living facilities. These services may include care coordination, personal care, nurse delegation services, skilled nursing and assistive technology items.
Seniors who meet nursing facility level of care must be financially eligible based on Apple Health’s Categorically Needy or Alternate Benefit Plan criteria. A current recipient’s financial and functional eligibility is assessed at least annually. While many CFC recipients also receive services under the COPES program, those who are not eligible for CFC may be considered to qualify for COPES.
Community Options Program Entry System
Address: 4450 10th Avenue SE, Blake West, Lacey, WA 98503
Phone Number: (360) 725-2300
Website: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/home-and-community-services/long-term-care-home-community-based-services-waivers
COPES is an Apple Health (Washington Medicaid) waiver program that provides home and community-based services to seniors and disabled adults in their communities of choice, such as private homes and licensed residential care facilities. Covered services may include adult day care, skilled nursing, specialized medical equipment/supplies and transportation. A COPES participant may also benefit from individual assessments, a written plan of care and ongoing case management.
Eligible COPES recipients who are seniors 65 and older must require nursing facility level of care and meet the financial criteria for Apple Health. As of 2020, the resource limit for single elderly applicants is $2,000, while the maximum monthly income must be $7,952 after certain deductions. Qualified participants may keep specified amounts of income or personal needs allowances, and their spouses may also have spousal income allowances.
Residential Support Waiver
Address: 4450 10th Avenue SE, Blake West, Lacey, WA 98503
Phone Number: (360) 725-2300
Website: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/home-and-community-services/long-term-care-home-community-based-services-waivers
The Residential Support Waiver program provides long-term services and supports to adults in licensed residential care providers such as assisted living facilities, adult family homes and enhanced adult residential care facilities. These services include personal care, skilled nursing, nurse delegation, specialized medical equipment/supplies and behavioral support for those with cognitive impairments, traumatic brain injury and mental illness.
Seniors 65 and older and disabled adults are qualified for the waiver if they meet nursing facility level of care and SSI-based income eligibility requirements. Aside from SSI recipients, those with income levels up to 300% of the SSI federal benefit rate may also qualify. Applicants who may exceed the maximum income requirement for Medicaid eligibility may also be qualified through the Medically Needy spend down system.
Specialized Dementia Care Program
Address: 4450 10th Avenue SE, Blake West, Lacey, WA 98503
Phone Number: (360) 725-2300
Website: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/home-and-community-services/specialized-dementia-care-program-assisted-living-facilities
The Specialized Dementia Care Program benefits cognitively impaired seniors with long-term care services provided in Apple Health-contracted assisted living facilities. This service package includes personal care and supervision, intermittent nursing services and tailored activity programs.
To be eligible for this program, applicants diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of irreversible dementia must meet the financial criteria for Medicaid. An assessment is done by a DSHS-assigned case manager to establish the need for specialized dementia care.
Washington Memory Care Rules and Regulations
Community-based memory care in Washington is provided in assisted living facilities and adult family homes with specialty care designations for dementia. These ALFs and AFHs are licensed by the Department of Social and Health Services through the Residential Care Services division of the Aging and Long-Term Support Administration, and both facility types have their own regulations. The department’s Enhanced Adult Residential Care - Specialized Dementia Care program for Medicaid recipients also has its own minimum licensing requirements.
Scope of Care | Assisted living facilities must provide accommodations and take general responsibility for the residents’ safety and well-being. Basic services must include activities, housekeeping and laundry services, meals and nutritious snacks. Optional health support services offered may include dementia care, puree diets, diabetic diets and blood glucose testing as well as mental health care and developmental disabilities care. Contracted enhanced residential adult care facilities must be able to provide personal care, medication administration and intermittent nursing services at no additional cost to eligible residents. |
Care Plan Requirements | Upon a resident’s admission in an ALF, an initial resident service plan must be developed based on a preadmission assessment and discussions with the resident and/or the client’s representative. This plan identifies the resident’s immediate needs and provides care directions to staff and caregivers. Assessment information by a case manager should be integrated into the plan if care for the resident is subsidized by the state. A negotiated service agreement must be completed upon full assessment of the resident. |
Medication Management Requirements | For ALF residents requiring medication assistance or administration, their negotiated service agreements must indicate that their ALFs would provide such arrangements. ALFs may permit residents’ family members to administer medications and treatment based on written primary and alternate plans. |
Staff Screening Requirements | Applying employees, managers, volunteers and contractors for ALFs must undergo national fingerprint and Washington state name and date of birth background checks. Each staff member requires tuberculosis screening within three days of employment. |
Staff Training Requirements | All ALF administrators and caregivers are required to take long-term care worker training that should at least cover orientation and safety, basic services, CPR and first aid, continuing education and specialty care for residents with dementia, mental illness and/or developmental disabilities. While registered nurses and licensed practical nurses are exempt from these training requirements, certified nursing assistants and other similar licensed individuals must undergo continuing education. |
Medicaid Coverage | Apple Health may pay for the costs of long-term care services through home and community-based services waivers, state plan options and alternative programs. Recipients must require nursing facility level of care and the income criteria of an applicable Medicaid program. |
Reporting Abuse | Any residential care staff, who has reasonable cause to believe that an incident of neglect, abuse, abandonment or financial exploitation toward a facility resident has occurred must immediately report such incident. This may be done online or by calling the DSHS Complaint Resolution Unit at (800) 562-6078. |
Free Memory Care Resources in Washington
Washington Agencies
Aging and Long-Term Support Administration
Address: 4450 10th Avenue SE, Blake West, Lacey, WA 98503
Phone Number: (360) 725-2300
Website: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa
The Aging and Long-Term Support Administration of the Washington State Department of Health and Social Services promotes the independence and safety of seniors through state-funded home and community-based services and federal programs under the Older Americans Act. ALTSA partners with long-term care providers, Area Agencies on Aging and a network of government agencies and advocacy organizations to provide a comprehensive range of services, and its dedicated service divisions include Residential Care Services, Home and Community Services, Adult Protective Services and Tribal Affairs.
Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors
Address: 302 Sid Snyder Avenue SW, Suite 200, Olympia, WA 98504
Phone Number: (360) 586-0241
Website: https://www.insurance.wa.gov/statewide-health-insurance-benefits-advisors-shiba
SHIBA is Washington’s state health insurance program (SHIP), providing free, confidential and unbiased counseling on Medicare and health insurance benefits. Its trained volunteer advisors can assess a client’s health coverage needs, determine general eligibility, provide assistance with Medicare enrollment and make referrals to other programs and agencies. Seniors may find local advisors in various SHIBA offices throughout the state.
Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
Address: PO Box 23699, Federal Way, WA 98093-0699
Phone Number: (800) 562-6028
Website: https://www.waombudsman.org/
The Washington State LTCOP advocates for the rights and welfare of residents in adult family homes, assisted living facilities, nursing homes and veterans homes. It receives complaints and resolves issues regarding a long-term care facility’s quality of care, resident transfer and discharge, incidents of abuse and other related matters. Seniors, their families or any concerned individual may contact a local LTC Ombudsman to file a complaint or seek related advice.
Area Agencies on Aging in Washington
The 13 AAAs of Washington provide information, referrals and assistance to seniors 60 and older, connecting them to local, state and federal services and supports that enhance their quality of life. Services vary per AAA, and these may include senior center programs, Medicaid and Medicare benefits counseling, caregiver support and long-term care planning. Seniors and their loved ones can find their local AAA based on their county of residence.
Veteran Affairs Offices in Washington
The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs assists veterans and their families in obtaining applicable state and federal benefits, services and entitlements earned from military service. Its claims assistance services are offered through statewide Veterans Service Offices, staffed by qualified Service Officers that take a case management approach in addressing a veteran’s needs. Benefits such as Aid and Attendance, VA pensions and disability compensation may help veterans pay for memory care. Aside from the VA Seattle Regional Office, there are dedicated VA offices for each county.
Social Security Offices in Washington
Washington’s state supplementation program supports the aged, blind and disabled who live in congregate care group facilities and Medicaid institutions. SSI recipients may be entitled to State Supplemental Payment (SSP) benefits to augment their budget for memory care. Seniors may contact the Social Security Seattle Region Office or the nearest local field office in the state to apply for benefits.
Other Cities in Washington