Memory Care Costs in Garden Grove: A Guide for Orange County Families
When a parent is living with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, families in Garden Grove often begin looking at memory care, and quickly discover that it costs more than standard assisted living. How much more is harder to pin down, because the major cost survey does not publish a separate memory care figure. This guide explains what the data does show, why memory care costs more, and how Orange County families can plan.
What the published data shows
CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, the long-running survey formerly published by Genworth, reports these medians for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area, which includes Garden Grove (CareScout Cost of Care tool):
| Type of care (metro, 2025) | Median monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Assisted living, private one-bedroom | $6,600 |
| Nursing home, semi-private room | $10,707 |
| Nursing home, private room | $11,832 |
The survey does not have a separate memory care category, so there is no published Garden Grove or Orange County memory care median from that source.
For a national comparison, the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care (NIC) reported that in the third quarter of 2025, average asking rents in rental continuing care retirement communities were $6,459 a month for assisted living and $8,238 for memory care, a difference of about 28 percent (NIC, CCRC performance 3Q 2025). That is a national figure for a particular type of community, not a local price. We share it only to show the general relationship between the two. Ask any home or community you are considering for its actual memory care rates in writing.
Why memory care costs more
Memory care is built around people whose dementia means they need more supervision and support than standard assisted living provides. The added cost reflects things like:
- More staff time. People with dementia often need cueing and hands-on help with every part of the day, from dressing to eating.
- Supervision around the clock. Some residents become restless in the evening, wake at night, or try to leave. Staff need to be present and alert.
- Training. Staff who support people with dementia need specific skills, such as calm redirection and communicating when words are hard.
- The environment. Secured doors, simplified layouts, and spaces that reduce confusion.
- Structured days. Predictable routines and meaningful activities adapted to each person.
Memory care provides support and a safer, calmer environment. It does not cure dementia or stop it from progressing, and no provider should suggest otherwise.
Memory care in a residential home
In Garden Grove and across Orange County, some families choose a small residential care home rather than a large memory care community. A household setting can mean fewer people, less noise, the same caregivers every day, and a routine that feels like home, which some people living with dementia find easier. Others do better with the dedicated design and activities of a larger memory care unit. The right fit depends on the person.
If you are considering a small home, ask specifically how it supports residents with dementia: how doors are secured, how staff handle wandering or evening agitation, how many caregivers are on duty at night, and what dementia training they have. In California, residential care facilities for the elderly that accept or care for residents with dementia must meet additional state requirements; ask any home how it meets them. Our article on California RCFE licensing has more detail.
Signs a parent may need memory care
Families often ask when assisted living stops being enough. Every person is different, but common signs include getting lost or trying to leave home, becoming unsafe in the kitchen, forgetting to eat or drink, needing step-by-step cueing for dressing and bathing, increased confusion or agitation in the late afternoon and evening, and nights spent awake and restless. A physician can help you understand what level of support your parent is likely to need. Our article on assisted living versus memory care in Garden Grove explains the differences in more detail.
Paying for memory care in Orange County
- Private pay. Most families start with income, savings, and home equity.
- Medi-Cal Assisted Living Waiver. Orange County participates in this program, which can cover care services in participating residential care facilities for people who are on Medi-Cal without a share of cost and who need a nursing-facility level of care (Orange County Office on Aging, Assisted Living Waiver fact sheet).
- VA benefits. Eligible veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for a VA pension with Aid and Attendance (VA pension rates).
- Long-term care insurance. Many policies cover memory care when cognitive impairment is documented.
See our guide to paying for assisted living in Orange County for details.
Planning ahead
Dementia is progressive, so plan for care needs and costs to increase over time.
- Get a medical evaluation and diagnosis.
- Ask your parent's doctor what level of supervision is likely to be needed in the coming year.
- Get written quotes from two or three homes or communities.
- Ask how rates change as needs increase.
- Put legal documents in place, such as powers of attorney, while your parent can still take part.
Local support
Alzheimer's Orange County offers education and support for families affected by dementia in the county (Alzheimer's Orange County). The Orange County Office on Aging can also help families find services; its information line is (800) 510-2020 (OC Office on Aging).
Questions to ask about memory care pricing
- What is the monthly rate, and what does it include?
- Are there separate charges for higher levels of care?
- How often is a resident reassessed?
- What happens if my parent's needs exceed what you can provide?
- How much notice do you give before a rate increase?
Talk with Maureen Guest Home
Public descriptions of Maureen Guest Home #2 note willingness to support seniors across a wide range of needs, including Alzheimer's and dementia. We treat memory care as a careful match. Read about our approach on our memory care page, then call (714) 539-0391 to talk about your parent's needs and current rates. Visiting hours are from 9 to 5. We're open 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of memory care in Garden Grove?
There is no published Garden Grove or Orange County memory care median from CareScout, which does not survey memory care separately. Its 2025 assisted living median for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro was $6,600 a month, and memory care generally costs more. Ask providers for written quotes.
How much more does memory care cost than assisted living?
Nationally, NIC reported memory care asking rents about 28 percent higher than assisted living in rental CCRCs in the third quarter of 2025. Local prices vary.
Does Medi-Cal pay for memory care?
The Medi-Cal Assisted Living Waiver, available in Orange County, can cover care services in participating residential care facilities for eligible people. Not every home participates.
Can a small board and care home provide memory care?
Some residential care homes in California serve residents with dementia, subject to state requirements. Ask each home how it supports residents with memory changes.