The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Salinas, CA

Memory care at Vista Harden Ranch provides memory care residents with structured routines to help ease them into their new lifestyle and reduce confusion. While residents can spend their time enjoying common areas throughout the premises, including secure outdoor sections, scheduled activities are also available to provide entertainment. Options include social events, group exercise classes and games. Residents who prefer to pursue their own interests and exercise can also relax in the library or stroll through the gardens. The community provides nutritious chef-prepared meals and on-site beauty services. Other conveniences include visiting physicians who check residents' health and housekeeping and laundry services to ensure common areas and accommodations remain clean.

Evergreen — the memory care neighborhood at Ivy Park at Salinas — offers a secure space with plenty of amenities for seniors with Alzheimer's. We've featured it on our top 10 list because the community provides concierge physician services and 24-hour care, giving families the peace of mind of knowing loved ones receive extra support whenever they need it. Residents also benefit from all-day dining at the community's restaurant and can access many amenities. For example, the residence has its own chapel for seniors to maintain their spiritual beliefs and an activities studio to allow residents to play games and relax together. Staff also transports seniors to medical appointments and can help walk and care for pets.

Madonna Gardens Assisted Living and Memory Care provides evidence-based Alzheimer's care through its Lightfinder memory care program. This program focuses on stimulating mental activities and experiences, such as sensory therapy, art and interactive brain games, to support cognitive abilities. It pairs these activities with opportunities for residents to engage in physical exercise, supporting whole-body health. Additionally, seniors receive access to 24/7 personal care and can call staff promptly using the emergency response system throughout the premises. The community provides housekeeping and laundry services, as well as medication management and transportation. A beauty salon offers convenient haircuts and nail treatments at home, and seniors can spend time outdoors strolling along walking paths.

The Park Lane commits its caregivers to continuous training, ensuring they have up-to-date knowledge and skills. We've included it on this list of the best memory care communities because this extended training helps ensure seniors receive a higher quality of care as research into Alzheimer's continues. Beyond personal care, staff also assists residents with staying active by providing engaging activities such as bingo and exercise classes. The community has many floor plans, with accommodations ranging from one and two-bedroom apartments to shared suites. Additionally, residents are welcome to keep pets, and with 13 acres of land outside, there's plenty of space for dogs to run and play.

Ivy Park at Monterey's Evergreen memory care neighborhood caters to seniors with early through late-stage Alzheimer's symptoms, preventing the need to move as the condition progresses. Each resident follows a personalized daily schedule organized through the EverYou program. Through its 24-hour personal care and numerous social, educational and recreational activities, the program helps seniors with memory loss engage with the world. Residents can enjoy many amenities at Ivy Park, including outdoor areas where they can sit and chat and a library for quiet reading. They can also take advantage of the full-service salon and hydro spa to unwind and feel pampered.

Merrill Gardens at Monterey features a secure memory care neighborhood, Garden House, ensuring seniors with Alzheimer's receive targeted support. Staff follows the Montessori approach to care, prioritizing opportunities to help seniors with memory loss interact with the world and maintain their unique identities. The community's Inspire Connection program also provides daily programming that encourages individuality, allowing residents to create their own routines. In addition to this personalized care, seniors can benefit from several services and amenities at Merrill Gardens. Housekeeping minimizes the need for cleaning, and restaurant-style dining allows seniors to enjoy nutritious meals without cooking or washing dishes. Staff also provides transportation and medication management.

The Cottages of Carmel earns a spot on this list of the best memory care communities because of its dedication to inclusive care for all seniors. Seniors with memory-related illnesses can benefit from two distinct dementia care tiers at Cottages of Carmel: Bridge and Stillwater. These tiers allow residents to access additional support when symptoms change. Seniors benefit from signature programs that enhance daily life, such as Watermark University, which hosts educational classes and outings. The Gourmet Bites nutritional program also makes it easier for residents with sensory changes from Alzheimer's to eat meals.

Situated near Debell Uvas Creek Preserve on 5 acres of land, Merrill Gardens at Gilroy offers memory care, assisted living and independent living, enabling residents to access further support as their needs change. The community makes our list for its Inspire Connection program, which incorporates aspects of residents' identities into their environment for a more homelike feel. The dementia care programming features residents' hobbies, previous careers and interests to improve engagement. Caregivers use Montessori learning methods such as cues and hands-on experiences that may stimulate cognition. The residence pairs this personalized care with flexible dining and a range of floor plans, giving seniors more control over their lifestyles.

Westmont of Morgan Hill offers a bridge between assisted living and memory care for seniors with mild Alzheimer's symptoms through the Navigator Memory Enrichment Program. This program provides extra caregiver support and an active lifestyle with plenty of opportunities for seniors to exercise their cognitive skills and maintain physical function throughout aging. Residents who need additional help can move into Westmont's Compass Rose program, which provides a more secure environment and 24/7 staff assistance. Both memory care units offer family support during the transition, and the community uses technology such as WanderGuard to keep residents safe.

Loma Clara Senior Living pairs attentive memory care with restaurant-style dining, supervised outings and personalized recreational scheduling. The community's memory care program provides a smooth flow from assisted living to the Transitions neighborhood — a unit for seniors with early or mid-stage dementia. Seniors can also move into the Generations neighborhood if symptoms advance further. Here, they follow a highly structured but stimulating routine, and staff devote more time to their needs. Generations also employs additional wander-prevention methods to help caregivers know where residents are throughout the day. All forms of memory care offer 24/7 access to personal care.