The cost of memory care per month varies by location, accommodation, care needs, and the services included in a community’s pricing. According to national memory care cost research published by A Place for Mom in July 2026, the average monthly cost is approximately $6,999, based on the organization’s proprietary data.

That figure offers a starting point, but it is not a quote for any particular community. Two memory care communities may advertise different starting rates while charging similar amounts once care-related fees and other expenses are included.

For families comparing options, the most useful approach is to understand what the monthly rate covers, what may cost extra, and how expenses could change over time.

How Much Is Memory Care Per Month?

Memory care generally costs several thousand dollars per month, although the amount a family pays can differ substantially from a national estimate.

The approximately $6,999 national average reflects A Place for Mom’s research, not a standardized price across all communities. Its published data also identifies an average of approximately $6,894 per month in Ohio. Neither figure establishes the current cost of memory care in Mentor or the price at The Preserve Senior Living.

A national or statewide estimate is useful for early budgeting. However, a personalized written quote provides a clearer picture of the actual expense.

When requesting an estimate, ask the community to identify the monthly residential charge, included care services, possible additional fees, and any initial costs.

What Is Included in the Monthly Cost of Memory Care?

Memory care communities provide residential support for people living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Many offer accommodations, meals, personal assistance, supervision, and structured activities.

However, the services included in the monthly rate are not identical across communities.

Accommodation and Daily Living Assistance

A monthly fee may include accommodation, utilities, housekeeping, laundry, and assistance with everyday activities such as dressing, bathing, and grooming.

Some communities include a defined level of personal assistance in the base rate. Others may calculate additional care charges according to the resident’s assessed needs.

Families should ask which services are covered and whether additional support affects the monthly bill.

Meals and Dining

Dining services are commonly part of residential memory care. Families can ask whether the quoted rate includes daily meals, snacks, and assistance during meals when needed.

It is also worth confirming how the community handles dietary needs and whether any optional dining services involve additional charges.

Activities and Social Engagement

Memory care communities may offer music, art, gentle exercise, group activities, and opportunities for social interaction.

When reviewing a community’s activities, ask how programs accommodate different abilities and preferences. Confirm whether special events or outings carry separate fees.

Supervision and Care Services

Memory care settings emphasize support for people experiencing cognitive changes, but the specific services available vary by community.

Families should clarify how supervision is provided, what personal assistance is included, and how the community handles changes in a resident’s needs.

Do not assume that medical services, specialized treatments, medication-related expenses, or every level of personal care are included in the standard monthly fee.

What Factors Affect Memory Care Facility Costs?

Several factors influence how communities establish their rates. Understanding them helps families compare the full expense rather than focusing only on an advertised starting price.

Location and Accommodation

Local housing expenses, labor costs, and operating conditions can influence memory care pricing.

Accommodation also matters. Where available, private rooms, shared accommodations, and different floor plans may have different rates.

Ask each community which accommodation is included in its estimate and whether alternative options have different prices.

Care Needs and Pricing Models

Memory care communities may use different billing structures.

An all-inclusive model may combine accommodations and specified services into one monthly rate. Another model may start with a base residential fee and add charges based on the level or type of assistance required.

Neither approach is automatically less expensive.

The important question is whether the quoted amount reflects the resident’s current needs and how the price might change following a care reassessment.

Additional Monthly Expenses

Depending on the community and agreement, separate charges may apply to:

• Personal hygiene and incontinence supplies
• Pharmacy expenses or medication-related services
• Transportation to appointments
• Optional personal services
• Certain outings or special activities
• Additional assistance not included in the quoted rate

These are possible expenses to investigate, not fees that every community charges.

Request an itemized estimate to determine which expenses apply to your family’s situation.

Move-In Fees and Future Rate Changes

Some communities charge a one-time community fee, deposit, or other initial expense.

Families should also ask how often rates are reviewed, what circumstances may trigger a change, and how adjustments are communicated.

Keeping one-time expenses separate from recurring monthly charges makes it easier to estimate both the initial budget and ongoing affordability.

How to Compare Two Memory Care Monthly Quotes

The best way to compare memory care costs is to evaluate each quote using the same expense categories.

A lower starting rate does not necessarily mean a lower total monthly cost.

Consider the following hypothetical example:

Monthly Expense	Community A	Community B
Base monthly rate	$5,200	$6,000
Additional care charges	$900	Included
Recurring service fees	$250	Included
Estimated monthly total	$6,350	$6,000

These figures are hypothetical and are not actual prices from The Preserve Senior Living or any other community.

Community A has the lower advertised base rate. However, its additional care and service charges bring the estimated monthly total to $6,350.

Community B starts at $6,000, but the example assumes that the same care and recurring services are included in that amount.

Under those assumptions, Community B costs $350 less per month.

That difference matters, but price alone does not determine which community is the better fit. Families still need to confirm that both quotes cover comparable accommodations, services, and care requirements.

Build a More Accurate Monthly Budget

Use the following steps when comparing written estimates:

1. Record the base rate. Identify the monthly charge for the specific accommodation being considered.
2. Add applicable care charges. Include additional assistance required by the prospective resident.
3. Include recurring extras. Account for services or supplies that are expected to be billed separately.
4. Calculate the monthly total. Compare estimates covering equivalent needs and services.
5. Record initial expenses separately. Include deposits, community fees, or other one-time charges in the move-in budget.

For example, a one-time $1,500 move-in fee increases the initial amount due but does not automatically increase the ongoing monthly rate.

If one community’s estimate excludes a service that another includes, ask for the missing amount before comparing totals.

Families researching The Preserve can also explore its floor plans and pricing resource and request clarification about current memory care options and costs.

Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Memory Care Community

A written estimate is an important starting point, but families should also understand the community’s services, billing policies, and approach to changing care needs.

Questions About Pricing and Billing

Before making a decision, consider asking:

• What is included in the quoted monthly rate?
• Which services or supplies are billed separately?
• Is there a move-in fee or deposit?
• How frequently are rates reviewed?
• What circumstances could increase the monthly charge?
• How much notice is provided before a rate adjustment?
• What are the billing, cancellation, and refund terms?

Ask for the relevant terms in writing so they can be reviewed alongside estimates from other communities.

Questions About Care and Daily Life

The monthly cost should be considered together with the support available to the resident.

Useful questions include:

• How are individual care needs assessed?
• How are care plans reviewed when those needs change?
• What daily assistance and supervision are available?
• How are meals and activities adapted to residents’ abilities?
• How does the community communicate important changes to families?

The answers can help determine whether the services described in the estimate match your loved one’s needs.

What to Look for During a Tour

A tour offers an opportunity to see the living environment and clarify information that may be difficult to evaluate from a brochure.

Ask to view available accommodations, dining spaces, common areas, and activity areas. Observe the environment and ask how daily routines are organized.

It is also useful to discuss the resident’s needs directly with the community and request a written explanation of the services and charges that would apply.

After visiting, compare the information collected from each community. Consider both the estimated cost and the suitability of the available support.

Does Medicare Cover Monthly Memory Care Costs?

Medicare generally does not pay for long-term custodial care, including ongoing assistance with everyday activities when that is the primary care needed.

As explained in the official Medicare guidance on long-term care coverage, families should not assume that Medicare will cover the monthly residential fee at a memory care community.

Medicare may cover certain medically necessary healthcare services when its eligibility and coverage requirements are met. Those benefits are separate from the cost of residential memory care.

Other potential sources of payment depend on a person’s circumstances, eligibility, insurance coverage, and applicable program rules.

Before relying on any benefit to cover expenses, confirm the details directly with the insurer, benefits administrator, or relevant program.

Comparing Memory Care Options at The Preserve Senior Living

For families exploring memory care in Mentor, Ohio, The Preserve Senior Living offers a dedicated Memory Care service at 8161 Norton Parkway.

Families considering memory care at The Preserve Senior Living can explore the community’s approach and learn more about its living environment.

The Preserve’s approved community amenities include restaurant-style dining, comfortable common areas, an enclosed courtyard, walking pathways, and opportunities for social activities.

When comparing memory care options, ask which accommodations, amenities, and services are available to memory care residents and which are included in the applicable monthly rate.

A personalized estimate can help clarify the expected costs based on the prospective resident’s needs.

To explore the community further, families can schedule a tour of The Preserve Senior Living and discuss their questions about memory care, available accommodations, and pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Should Families Understand About Memory Care Facility Cost Per Month?

A national or statewide average is a budgeting reference, not a guaranteed price.

Families should distinguish between the advertised base rate and the expected total monthly expense. A written estimate should reflect the prospective resident’s care needs, accommodation, and applicable charges.

If a quote is based on an initial assessment, ask whether the amount could change after a more detailed review.

What Details Should Families Verify With a Community?

In addition to included services and fees, families should clarify what happens financially if a resident is temporarily hospitalized or away from the community.

Ask whether charges continue during an absence, what the agreement says about holding an accommodation, and how cancellation or refund policies work.

These terms can affect a family’s financial obligations even when the regular monthly rate is clear.

How Can Families Compare Options Confidently?

Start by identifying the care needs that each community must be able to support.

Then request written estimates based on those needs and compare the complete monthly expenses alongside the services, accommodation, and environment offered.

Before choosing, review any unclear fees or contract terms with the community. A meaningful comparison considers both what the family expects to pay and what the resident would receive.