10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Louisville, KY

While the cost of memory care may feel overwhelming, many families have more options than they realize in paying for memory care for their loved one. This is why we compiled information on different ways you can pay for memory care. Many seniors combine private income sources like savings, Social Security benefits, or investment income with public assistance like veterans benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare.

Different state laws and regulations are in place to ensure memory care facilities meet your loved one’s individual needs in a safe environment. In Kentucky, memory care communities are licensed as assisted living communities with dementia care. Before receiving a dementia care specific license, the assisted living community’s dementia care unit must undergo an on-site inspection.^[05]

In Indiana, if a memory care community offers residential nursing care or administers medication it must be licensed as a residential care facility.^[06]

What are the staffing requirements in memory care facilities?

Every memory care resident should receive the best individualized care thanks to state laws on staffing requirements. These requirements help enforce quality and adequate care for your loved one.

Kentucky: As mandated by the state, your loved one will receive person-centered care from staff members who receive dementia-specific orientation and annual dementia training. The state also requires sufficient staffing and that only specially trained caregivers work with dementia residents to keep the in good hands.^[05]

Indiana: Similar to Kentucky, your loved one will receive qualified care by dementia-trained staff members. However, Indiana requires a specific number of training hours. If a staff member has contact with your loved one, they must undergo a minimum of 6 hours of dementia-specific training annually.^[07]

What are your loved one’s rights in memory care?

State law ensures your loved one has protected rights within their memory care community. Both Kentucky and Indiana set requirements to help ensure memory care communities meet residents’ individual needs and they’re kept informed.

Kentucky: Your loved one must receive three meals and snacks each day, per regulations. Our partner communities go above and beyond on this, working to accommodate your loved one’s dining hours to meet individual needs. Additionally, memory care facilities must provide assistance with activities of daily living, education on living with dementia, health-related services, person-centered pain management practices, and personalized activities that promote socialization among residents.^[05]

Indiana: Memory care facilities must complete an Alzheimer’s and dementia special care unit disclosure form and provide a copy for senior residents. From explaining the care planning process to outlining what type of criteria might cause a discharge or transfer, this form provides the resident and their family with important information specific to that memory care community.^[06,07]

COVID-19 regulations for Louisville memory care facilities

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) relaxed their COVID-19 regulations, and states like Kentucky followed their lead in September 2022. Now, senior living care areas, like memory care communities, no longer require masks.^[08] However, private memory care communities may still have their own standards in place, so it’s best to check with a prospective community beforehand to learn their protocols.

Meanwhile, the Kentucky Department for Public Health currently follows community-level COVID-19 guidance. While this level of guidance changes, Jefferson County currently falls under a low level of guidance. The area has more relaxed COVID-19 requirements but some recommendations are still in place, like those below.

Our memory care partner communities work hard to create a sense of security by ensuring their campuses are safe and easy to navigate for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. Enriching activity schedules, specialized therapies, and a comfortable environment help your loved one feel safe and at home.

Will my loved one be safe in a memory care facility?

Memory care communities make certain that seniors with memory loss are cared for around the clock. Our memory care partners in Louisville help ensure your loved one’s safety by having 24-hour awake staff. Additionally, about 94% of our memory care partners have specially trained memory care staff members. This means staff have had advanced training in caring for persons with dementia. They are qualified to handle common dementia behaviors, such as the following:

• Wandering
• Exit-seeking behaviors
• Disorientation
• Hallucinations
• Restlessness

If you’re still concerned about wandering or exit-seeking behaviors, almost all (about 94%) of our memory care partners have secured exits and entrances to prevent this common occurrence.^[01] Additionally, if a community does not have Wander Guard or a similar system, it may have an emergency call system in place to help keep your loved one safe from wandering off campus.

What can your loved one expect on a day-to-day basis in a memory care community?

Besides receiving daily care services, your loved one will be able to live a fulfilling and active lifestyle in a Louisville memory care community. To achieve this, all of our memory care partners in Louisville have an activity director to give your loved one access to engaging on-site and off-site activities. Your loved one will be able to find something they enjoy with a variety of senior-friendly options. Here are some examples of the activity programming you can expect at our partner memory care communities:

• Brain fitness
• Trivia and other games
• Wii bowling and other virtual games
• Yoga and other forms of group exercise
• Interest clubs, like a gardening club
• Day trips and outings
• Devotionals
• Holiday parties
• Musical events

Some memory care communities even offer sensory-based programs — like aromatherapy and pet therapy — to further support your loved one’s emotional well-being. When your loved one isn’t participating in an activity, they can enjoy delicious meals Some of our partners even have special dining programs, professional chefs, and restaurant-style dining experiences.^[01]

Will my loved one feel at home in a memory care facility?

Staff at memory care communities work hard to tailor care to each individual personality, providing residents with a sense of security and belonging in a familial environment. Many communities go above and beyond personalized care by also offering customizable living spaces. Memory care communities are often furnished, but your loved one is encouraged to decorate their living space with pictures and/or personal touches. These types of additions and changes can help a senior feel more at home in their community.

Louisville is known for working towards advanced aging health solutions after being named America’s Aging Care Capital by Forbes Magazine. In addition to this achievement, the area has highly rated hospitals. From geriatric clinics to certified stroke centers, your loved one will find specialized care to help them through the aging process and common senior conditions. Here you’ll learn more about the top-rated hospitals in Louisville and how their specialized care may benefit your loved one.

Almost all (about 94%) of our memory care partners in Louisville offer on-site transportation services. These are typically complimentary, but some communities may require additional fees. Transportation provided by communities is the safest option for seniors with dementia since it ensures a caregiver accompanies them.

Unfortunately, Louisville isn’t easy to get around without your own means of transportation. However, there are public transportation options through the local Transit Authority of River City (TARC) system for visiting friends and family.

• Fixed routes: TARC has multiple fixed bus routes that run throughout Louisville with stops in nearby Indiana cities. While schedules depend on the route and bus, most buses typically run on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
• Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): The BRT is a bus route that runs more often than TARC’s fixed routes. These routes run along the Dixie Highway into downtown Louisville during the weekdays.

The Louisville area is filled with enriching attractions for a variety of preferences. Seniors can enjoy decadent meals and exciting entertainment with their visiting family members and friends. From horseracing to natural wonders, Louisville has many beloved attractions that families can enjoy. The city goes beyond famous food and attractions with wheelchair-friendly parks and cruises along the river.

Southern foodie paradise

While every memory care facility offers three meals a day, plus snacks, nothing can beat Kentucky’s Southern staples like burgoo and benedictine. However, one of the most prominent dishes is The Hot Brown, first created at The Brown Hotel in Louisville. This open-faced turkey sandwich is topped with strips of bacon and smothered in deliciously creamy Mornay sauce. If you’re not craving sandwiches, you and your loved one can head to the Prospect neighborhood where Kern’s Kitchen stands. This local eatery developed the delicious, chocolate-filled Kentucky Derby Pie.

Shopping opportunities

Along the TARC bus stops lie the local malls, Mall St. Matthews and Oxmoor Center, where you and your loved one can shop among traditional chain stores. Additionally, there are ample adjacent hotels offering convenience during your visit. One of Louisville’s historic neighborhoods includes the Westport Village, where you can support locally owned businesses from restaurants to shopping destinations.

Sensory-friendly performing arts

Louisville has two accessible performing arts areas, one of which — the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts — offers sensory-friendly performances to accommodate those who may startle easily, such as seniors with dementia. Your loved one can enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere with these performances, which may include the following changes:

• Dimming theatre lights
• Allowing seniors to leave the performance
• Warning audience members of loud noises
• Allowing audience members to speak during performances
• Offering a quiet area towards the back of the theater

The venue also provides additional accommodations for those with physical disabilities, hearing loss, or vision loss.

Beautiful outdoor areas

It’s important for seniors, especially those with dementia, to go outside, get out of their community, and absorb some vitamin D. Luckily, Louisville has many outdoor opportunities for you and your loved one to visit together.

Since Louisville rests along the Ohio River, the city offers multiple riverboat cruises with some wheelchair-accessible options. You and your loved one can enjoy a picnic with a beautiful view on one of the riverboats, or after visiting, you can settle down during a sunset cruise. And don’t forget to ask about discounted rates for seniors aged 65 and older.

Besides cruises, the Louisville area has nearly 60 miles of hiking trails. Your loved one can enjoy the wheelchair-accessible option — Tulip Tree Trail — in Jefferson Memorial Forest, one of the largest city-owned forests in the United States.

Distinguished attractions

Families and their loved ones can enjoy many famous attractions in the Louisville area. One of the most legendary racetracks, Churchill Downs, lies inside the Louisville city limits. Locals and visitors alike dress up in full Southern attire to attend the famous Kentucky Derby. The racetrack can’t store wheelchairs, but it does have accessibility shuttles to and from the parking lots. While it is a beloved pastime for all visitors, it’s important that caregivers accompany seniors with dementia to the event.

In addition to the famous racetrack, adults and children love the underground Louisville Mega Cavern. Tours with wheelchair-accessible options are available in the Mega Tram, which delves deep to explore the cavern.