Sources checked June 2026.
Cost is often the first and most stressful question families ask. The honest answer is that it varies widely, and the figures you see online are national medians that can be far from what you will actually pay in your area. This guide gives you the most reliable independent figures we can find, is clear about where the data stops, explains what drives the price, and walks through how families typically pay.
Before the numbers: the figures below are national medians from independent surveys, updated periodically. Local prices differ a great deal, and the best number is always a current written quote from a specific facility. Treat these as a starting point for budgeting, not a promise.
What independent data shows
One widely used source for senior care prices is the Genworth and CareScout Cost of Care Survey, which collects tens of thousands of rates from providers nationwide. In its 2025 survey, the national median cost of assisted living was about $6,200 per month, or roughly $74,400 a year.[1] The Alzheimer's Association cites the same survey figure for assisted living.[2] For comparison, the same survey put a private room in a nursing home at a national median of about $129,575 a year.[1]
An honest gap worth knowing. No neutral national survey, government or otherwise, reports memory care as its own category. The memory-care-specific dollar figures you will see online generally come from commercial referral companies that are paid when a family moves into a facility. Because that business model can shape both the data and the recommendation, we do not present those numbers here as neutral fact. Memory care may cost more than standard assisted living when it involves added staffing, dementia-specific training, or secured settings. The most useful figure for your situation is a current written quote from a specific facility, based on your loved one's assessed needs.
What drives the cost
Location
Geography is one of the largest factors. The same level of care can cost far more in a high-cost metro than in a rural area of another state, which is why national medians are only a rough starting point.[1]
Level of care
The National Institute on Aging notes that assisted living facilities typically offer a few levels of care, and residents pay more if they need extra services or special care.[7] As needs increase, the monthly cost usually rises. Ask how care levels are assessed and how often they are reviewed.
Room type
A private room or apartment generally costs more than a shared or companion room. This is one of the few levers families can adjust.
What is included
Some facilities bundle most services into one rate, while others charge separately for things like medication management, incontinence care, or extra help. Two facilities with similar headline prices can differ sharply once add-ons are counted.
When comparing prices, always ask for the all-in monthly cost for your loved one's specific needs, in writing, including likely add-ons. A low base rate with many extras can cost more than a higher all-inclusive rate.
How families pay for memory care
Federal analysts at the Department of Health and Human Services note that paid long-term care is expensive, that public programs like Medicare generally do not cover it, and that relatively few people have private insurance that helps, so families often draw on a mix of sources.[3]
Private funds
Most families pay out of pocket at first, drawing on savings, retirement income, Social Security, or the proceeds from selling a home.[7] This is the most common starting point.
Long-term care insurance
If the person bought a long-term care policy in the past, it may cover some or all of memory care. Check the policy for what triggers coverage, any daily or monthly limits, and any waiting period before benefits begin.[7]
Veterans benefits
The VA's Aid and Attendance benefit adds a monthly amount to an eligible veteran's or surviving spouse's VA pension when they need help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating, or meet other criteria. It is not automatic, and eligibility rules apply.[6]
Medicaid
Medicaid is the primary payer for long-term care in the United States, and it covers services across settings, from institutions to home- and community-based care. Coverage varies considerably by state, and it generally does not pay the room-and-board portion of assisted living or memory care, though some states use waivers to help cover care services for those who qualify. Because rules are state-specific, it is worth contacting your state's Medicaid office or a benefits counselor.[4]
What Medicare does and does not cover
This is a common point of confusion. Medicare does not cover long-term custodial care, which includes the room and board of assisted living or memory care. It may cover a short, medically necessary stay in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying hospital stay, plus certain medical services, but not ongoing custodial care.[5]
Other options
Some families use a combination, such as proceeds from a home sale or other assets, to cover the gap until another source begins. A fee-only financial advisor or an elder-law attorney can help you build a plan without selling you a product.
Questions worth asking about cost
When you contact or tour a facility, a few questions cut through the confusion. What is the all-in monthly cost for my loved one's specific needs? How are care levels assessed, and how much does each level add? What is not included in the base rate? How often, and by how much, have prices increased in recent years? And what happens, financially, if my loved one's needs increase or their funds run low?
This guide is for general education and is not financial, tax, legal, or benefits advice. Medicare, Medicaid, and VA rules change and depend on your situation; confirm specifics with the program or a qualified, independent advisor. AskSara.care takes no placement fees and earns nothing from the facilities you contact. If you need help finding care, the federal Eldercare Locator (800-677-1116) is a free starting point.
Sources
This guide draws only on independent sources. We deliberately do not cite paid-referral or pay-to-rank companies for pricing, even where they publish memory-care-specific figures, because their business model conflicts with the neutrality families deserve.
- Genworth & CareScout, Cost of Care Survey (2025 national medians for assisted living and nursing homes).
- Alzheimer's Association, Planning for Care Costs (assisted living and nursing home cost context, citing the Genworth survey).
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, ASPE, Long-Term Services & Supports (financing of long-term care; what public programs do and do not cover).
- Medicaid, Long Term Services & Supports (Medicaid as primary long-term care payer; state variation; home- and community-based services).
- Medicare, Long-term care (what Medicare does not cover; short-term skilled nursing).
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound allowance (eligibility and scope).
- National Institute on Aging (NIH), Paying for Long-Term Care (how families pay; long-term care insurance basics) and Long-Term Care Facilities (care levels and pricing).
- Administration for Community Living, Eldercare Locator (free federal service for finding local care and aging resources).