How much does memory care cost per month in 2026?

Why memory care isn't broken out in the cost survey

The CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025 collects data for five distinct care types based on billing practices and regulatory definitions. Memory care is not listed as a separate category because it is often licensed as a specialized form of assisted living or as a distinct unit within a nursing home, and the survey's methodology does not distinguish it from those broader categories.

How memory care compares to assisted living and nursing home care

Assisted living provides help with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, and medication reminders. Memory care adds specialized supervision, secured environments to prevent wandering, and staff trained in dementia care. Because of these additional services, memory care typically costs more than standard assisted living.

Nursing home care provides 24/7 skilled nursing care and is appropriate for individuals who require medical supervision and assistance with most ADLs. Memory care does not provide the same level of medical care, so its cost is usually lower than that of a semi-private nursing home room.

Thus, while we cannot give an exact number, memory care often falls between the assisted living median ($6,200/month) and the nursing home semi-private median ($9,581/month). Always confirm pricing directly with the provider.

What Medicare pays for memory care

Medicare covers an assisted living stay only as skilled care after a hospital admission. You need a qualifying inpatient hospital stay of at least 3 days in a row — time in observation or the emergency room does not count toward it — and Part A then pays for up to 100 days in each benefit period. In 2026 you pay the $1,736 Part A deductible, then $0 a day for days 1 through 20 and $217 a day for days 21 through 100; from day 101 you pay the full cost.

Medicare does not pay for long-term custodial care, which is the help with daily living that most memory care residents need over months and years. For more details, see our Medicare assisted living guide.

What Medicaid pays for memory care

Medicaid may cover memory care services through home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers, but eligibility and coverage details are set by each state. This page does not estimate eligibility for any state — the state Medicaid agency is the authoritative source. The federal framework is explained in our Medicaid memory care guide.

How to get an accurate price for memory care

Because memory care pricing varies by provider, location, and level of care, the best approach is to request a written fee schedule from the specific communities you are considering. Ask what is included in the base monthly rate and what services incur extra charges. Our care cost calculator can help you annualize the monthly rate for comparison with savings and income.

When evaluating memory care, also consider the staff-to-resident ratio, the training staff receive in dementia care, the security measures in place to prevent wandering, and the activities offered to engage residents. These factors affect both cost and quality of care.