10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Knoxville, TN
Historic Knoxville is a city nestled along the Tennessee River. It offers a peaceful and friendly environment, just down the road from the Smoky Mountains.
Memory care facilities in the Knoxville area offer comfort, support, therapies, and treatments, with a range of options to suit different budgets. In these listings, you’ll find 13 memory care facilities within a 10-mile radius of the downtown area. Memory care facilities are specifically designed for seniors who are experiencing memory-related issues, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s. However, if your loved one does not require this level of specialized care, there are a variety of assisted living facilities in the Knoxville area that can provide the support and assistance they need.
There are also 14 assisted living facilities in A Place for Mom’s Knoxville network. One of these is a standalone memory care facility; the rest offer memory care in assisted living facilities.
Continue reading to learn more about Knoxville’s memory care resources, its costs, and its associated activities and amenities.
Knoxville Memory Care Facilities | 768 Reviews
We love The Pointe! Every staff member is kind and so helpful. They truly love the residents. It starts at the top with [name removed]who is always out and about demonstrating her kind heart. Nursing staff...
Everyone was so nice and caring to is. And they were so very good to Mom [name removed], especially right at the end of life. I highly recommend.
Great recommendation. Unfortunately, my Mom was only there for 5 days, so she did not really use food and activities. She was very well taken care of. Even though the facility is older, it is very clean and...
Definitely would recommend Windsor Ridge to others! Very nice staff willing to work. Clean facility. Good food. Lots of various activities.
They were fantastic especially the last couple of months before she passed. I still consider them family. The head nurse was actually with her holding her hand when she passed. They are very focused on...
We are very happy with South High Senior Living! Staff is great and the facility is very clean and comfortable. The food could be better.
[name removed] and [name removed] are nice people. The food needs to be better it sucks, but we would recommend Rain Forest Landings to other families who may need a place for their loved ones
First and foremost I want to thank the Best Staff ever for taking care of my Mom till she took her last breath. If you’re looking for a place where your family member will be taken care of and loved on this...
Staff has been great to communicate with. Care for my aunt has been terrific! The facility is always very clean and inviting. Very pleased with the staff activities they provide.
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I chose this facility because of the location and the cost. I believe that in my area of Knoxville, Northshore Heights is the best choice for assisted living.
Heritage is an older facility but the place is clean, the employees go above and beyond in care. I had to move my mom to Heritage after she fell several times. She lived with me and my husband but my...
I like the fact that the caregivers are kind and patient, the decor is lovely, and comfortable, and it smells clean. Of course there is always room for improvement. But I have no complaints.
The sweet little house look of the memory care building. I would absolutely recommend this community to other families based on the experience we have had so far
I have already recommended the Beehive to several people and will continue to do that. All of the staff were delightful to work with. . The staff was great. Value for cost was great. Meals were home cooked...
They are very good and caring to my mom. They handle things without calling me unnecessarily. But also they struggle keeping ample staff sometimes. (I know that's a problem everywhere) We picked them...
I would give a 5 in every category, especially the staff, they are super. They are the reason I hesitate to move him to a place with more room, especially outdoor space. It's a little small and I wish there...
We chose Oakwood Senior Living because out of all of the facilities we saw, we were the most impressed with this facility. It is an old school that was converted into an assisted living facility. They charge...
It is a better fit for folks that do not need higher end care needs. Room size were good. Layout was good it in on one level. It is a lot of walking for someone not so mobile. The food is kind of bland. They...
My mom stayed here for about 4 months to get stronger. The staff was always so friendly and helpful to me. It was always a happy place to visit and they offer lots of activities for the residents to do. I...
My husband came in very poor shape from neglect at another facility. He is happy and healthy now. It is such a loving environment. You fell at home there.
What I like about Renaissance Terrace is it's relatively small, so the residents get a lot of individualized attention. It's also a non-profit, so they're driven by their mission statement as opposed to a...
Our methodology
How we rank order the Knoxville community options above
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders Knoxville community options based on factors we know are important to seniors and their families:
- Proximity to your search location
- Availability of recent, high-quality reviews
- The amount of detailed community information available
Where we source our information
14,000+ communities
We collect proprietary data from our network of 14,000+ senior living communities in the U.S., with regular refreshes of data and information
350,000+ reviews
We have 387,000+ reviews from senior living residents and family members that provide first-hand accounts about senior living communities
- Costs of memory care in the Knoxville area
- What families are saying about memory care in Knoxville
- How people pay for memory care in Knoxville
- Understand Tennessee laws and regulations for memory care facilities
- What to expect from memory care living in Knoxville
- Knoxville memory care services and amenities
- Explore senior care with confidence
- Unfamiliar with Knoxville? Highlights for seniors
Costs of memory care in the Knoxville area
According to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data, the average actual cost for memory care at one of our Knoxville memory care partners is $4,398.[01] This includes room and board as well as associated fees and service fee add-ons. Costs may vary depending on location or additional support needed.
In our research, we have found that there are some amenities that you can expect to have access to when living in a memory care facility. These typically include: staff with specialized memory care training, an in-house activity director, enclosed courtyards, full medication management, disorientation care and redirection, staff specially trained to handle exit-seeking behaviors.
The following cost comparison shows the average baseline costs for this area.
Average monthly cost of Memory Care in Knoxville, TN vs. nearby cities
Average monthly cost of Memory Care in Knoxville, TN vs. the state and national average
Average monthly cost of Memory Care in Knoxville vs. other types of senior living
Median monthly costs of Memory Care in Knoxville, TN by room type
Average cost of Memory Care in Knoxville over time
What families are saying about memory care in Knoxville
Recent reviews for memory care in Knoxville
South High Senior Living in Knoxville, TN
The Pointe at Lifespring in Knoxville, TN
Northshore Heights - Knoxville
Knoxville review score based on 191 family reviews
This proprietary review score is based on 191 reviews of 33 Knoxville memory care communities. All reviews were submitted in the past two years by verified community residents and family members.Knoxville review score compared against nearby cities
Review subcategories for Knoxville memory care
When memory care residents and family members submit a review on our site, they rate each community on categories such as cleanliness, activities, meals, and more. The chart below is based on 191 reviews of 33 Knoxville memory care communities. This chart helps you compare Knoxville resident and family memory care satisfaction rates against national averages. Use it to assess your needs and develop criteria for your own search. If you know that one of these categories is important to you or your loved one, our senior living advisors can help you find communities to match your needs.How people pay for memory care in Knoxville
When considering how you’ll pay for memory care in Knoxville, Tennessee, you and your family have options. You could decide to fund a loved one’s care privately, or with public benefits, or by combining these options to make a solution that works for you. Below you can find more information about private ways to pay, VA benefits, Medicare, and Medicaid.
If you choose to pay privately for memory care in Knoxville, you could use income from savings, Social Security benefits, pensions, and investment returns. You could also consider:
Knoxville, Tennessee, is home to thousands of veterans, and senior veterans in need of memory care can get help accessing benefits to pay for care here.
Knox County is home to a dedicated Veterans Service Organization, where seniors and their families can receive help in accessing the forms, benefits, and advice they need. Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) also appear at local senior centers to meet veterans where they are. The Knox County Veterans Service Organization can connect you with a VSO from a multitude of organizations, such as the American Legion.
To make memory care more affordable, senior veterans and their families can apply for financial support, in the form of a VA pension, the Aid and Attendance benefit, or disability compensation. A combination of these support systems may be helpful to ease the burden of memory care, but the application and acceptance processes can be long and challenging, so it is best to reach out to the resources below for help before you apply.
Number of veterans who live in Knoxville
About 19% percent of Knoxville veterans are 75+
Resources for Knoxville veterans
Veterans of Foreign Wars
5901 Lyons View Pike
Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: 865-594-9404
Knox County Veterans Services
1000 N. Central St. #6
Knoxville, TN 37917
Phone: 865-215-5645
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
American Legion
5901 Lyons View Pike
Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: 865-594-9404
U.S. Veterans Affairs Department
Phone: 800-698-2411
Hours: 24 hours a day
Tennessee Department of Veterans Services
5901 Lyons View Pike
Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: 865-594-9404
In Tennessee, seniors can apply for TennCare Medicaid to get assistance for health-related expenses. Medicaid can cover expenses like medical treatment, assisted living, nursing, and memory care itself. The program is intended for people who otherwise lack access to insurance or whose income and pension does not adequately cover medical care.
TennCare does not cover the actual room and board in a memory care facility, but TennCare Choices in Long-Term Care can help with covering the care costs associated with memory care.
The Choices program is a Home and Community-Based Waiver Program and seniors must meet some eligibility criteria, including age or disability, limited resources, and daily living limitations to receive it.
It’s worth noting that many seniors who don’t initially qualify for Medicaid may meet the eligibility requirements in the future, once they have spent their own savings on their care.
To help seniors and their families navigate paying for memory care, Knoxville has assistance programs including the local ombudsman, who can help you find the most appropriate care. You can apply through the TennCare Connect self-service portal or use a paper application. You can also apply in person at the Department of Human Services.
Knoxville resident Medicaid resources
TennCare Connect
Mail paper applications to:
P.O. Box 305240
Nashville, TN 37230
FAX: 855-315-0669
Phone: 855-258-0701
Department of Human Services (DHS)
2700 Middlebrook Pike
Knoxville, TN 37921
Phone: 865-594-6151
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
East Tennessee Area Agency on Aging & Disability
9111 Cross Park Drive Suite D100
Knoxville, TN 37923
Phone: 865-691-2551
502 Deaderick St., 9th Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: 615-925-1552
Medicare is federal health insurance for the elderly. To be covered by Medicare, a treatment must be medically necessary. Needs like hospital stays and prescriptions, for example, are covered for certain populations, including those over 65 and people of all ages who receive Social Security disability benefits.
Medicare does not cover memory care or assisted living facility expenses. However, while Medicare isn’t designed to cover custodial or residential care, some elements of memory care may be covered by it, including certain types of medical care delivered in a memory care community. If a skilled nurse is needed to deliver physical therapy, for example, that might be covered.
Many programs and agencies in the area are dedicated to helping seniors and their families understand Medicare and help with premiums.
- The Tennessee Medicare Savings Program helps people pay Medicare deductibles and premiums.
- The Tennessee State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free counseling and assistance to help seniors access Medicare and assistance programs.
- The Office of Aging’s Affordable Medicine Options for Seniors (AMOS) program helps seniors connect with programs that help cover the cost of prescriptions.
- The Tennessee Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) provides assistance for aging in place to those eligible.
- The local long-term care ombudsman can help families understand and claim what they’re entitled to.
Knoxville resident Medicare resources
Social Security Administration
9031 Cross Park Drive
Knoxville, TN 37923
Phone: 800-772-1213
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
2247 Western Ave.
Knoxville, TN 37950
Phone: 865-546-6262
East Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability
408 N. Cedar Bluff Road
Knoxville, TN 37923
Phone: 865-691-2551
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
State Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability
502 Deaderick St., 9th Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: 615-925-1552
Understand Tennessee laws and regulations for memory care facilities
Being aware of Tennessee-specific laws and regulations can help seniors and their families find the best memory care for them. In Tennessee, memory care facilities are required to be licensed as assisted-care living facilities by the Tennessee Department of Health. In order to obtain a license, a facility must undergo financial and health and safety auditing that verifies that the facility cares for residents properly. The audits, which happen at least every 15 months, include inspecting the buildings, looking into protective care, and reviewing dietary services.
Inspection reports and information about all licensed facilities can be searched on the Tennessee Department of Health’s website. You’ll be able to see if a facility incurred any violations and what those violations were. The department also has a hotline to call to check on the licensure status of a facility. The hotline number is 877-287-0010.
Licensed memory care facilities must meet a long list of standards laid out by the state. A memory care facility, licensed as an assisted-care living facility, must create a care plan for every new resident within five days of admission, which includes medical, dietary, and visitation needs. While no specific staff to resident ratios are prescribed, someone is required to be awake at all times of day and night. All memory care staff must be provided special training to care for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Tennessee Department of Health contact information
TN Department of Health
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: 615-741-3111
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
COVID-19 regulations for Knoxville memory care facilities
In Knox County, COVID-19 regulations continue to be monitored and the Knox County Health Department works with state and federal departments to continue to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance around disease prevention.
You can find the full Knox County guidelines and recommendations here, but below is a summary:
Vaccinations. Vaccines are encouraged but remain a personal choice.
Masking. People are urged to wear face coverings in indoor public spaces if they or those close to them are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease.
Social distancing. Keeping a physical distance of six feet from others who do not live in the same household is still recommended when possible.
Quarantining. It is recommended that people isolate themselves at home if they have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who is sick.
CDC guidelines. Some facilities are still under CDC guidelines and reserve the right to reintroduce the precautions above.
What to expect from memory care living in Knoxville
In Knoxville, Tennessee, most memory care takes place within assisted living facilities, which are referred to as assisted-care living facilities in Tennessee. Some facilities are located within walking distance of local parks while others are near the beautiful Fort Loudoun Lake. A variety of room sizes and floor plans are available depending on the facility you choose. You can expect accessibility features to be widely available including things like roll-in showers. Residents at some facilities enjoy time in open, airy sunrooms with large windows or secure outdoor courtyards.
A high quality of care
Memory care in Knoxville responds to an individual’s level of need. Care facilities are specifically designed to give senior residents with dementia and Alzheimer’s protection and comfort, as well as to give families peace of mind and freedom to support their loved one in the way they choose. Knoxville memory care includes dementia therapies, medication management, physical therapy, and memory-enhancing activities, all within an environment with extra security. All memory care facilities in-network are in secure communities with staff members awake 24 hours a day to prevent wandering[01]. Most locations offer care designed to help with redirection, cuing, and disorientation, plus restlessness, pacing, and wandering, with staff members also trained to watch for exit-seeking behaviors. Staff members at all facilities are required to have received specialized memory care training and can offer full medication management.
Luxuries and extra amenities
Many of these facilities have extra features and benefits that make them stand out as delightful places to live and receive care. These amenities are available at many memory care facilities, including fine dining options, bistro-style restaurants, and common areas with fireplaces and live music. Among memory care facilities in our network in Knoxville, 85% boast resident beauty salons, some complete with manicure and pedicure services and massage chairs for extra relaxation. Nearly all engage in-house activity directors, and nearly 70% of sites have arts and crafts centers for residents.[02] Additionally, more than half have on-site libraries, a boon for memory care patients who benefit from reading books and enjoying relaxing social settings. Specialized activities are also planned to help reduce resident confusion and agitation.
Knoxville memory care services and amenities
Availability of select care services in Knoxville memory care
Availability of select dementia care services in Knoxville memory care
Availability of select dietary accommodations in Knoxville memory care
Availability of select dining options in Knoxville memory care
Availability of select programs and activities in Knoxville memory care
Explore senior care with confidence
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Tour your favorite facilities.
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Unfamiliar with Knoxville? Highlights for seniors
Number of seniors over the age of 65 currently living in Knoxville
Percentage of seniors 65 and older within the Knoxville population
Median annual income for Knoxville seniors 65 and older
Health care for seniors in Knoxville
Seniors have several high-rated options for their emergency and ongoing care in Knoxville, Tennessee. Here are some of the top options.
Parkwest Medical Center
Parkwest Medical Center is the joint-fourth highest-ranked hospital in Tennessee. It is a general medical and surgical facility with a cardiac ICU. It performs highly in 11 adult procedures and conditions including heart bypass surgery, colon cancer surgery, and hip and knee replacement.
University of Tennessee Medical Center
The University of Tennessee Medical Center is the joint-fourth highest-ranked hospital in Tennessee. It provides general medical and surgical care as well as emergency and ICU. It is high-performing in 11 adult care areas, including heart failure and stroke.
Transportation for seniors in Knoxville
Most memory care facilities offer their own shuttles or other transportation for use by seniors and their families, but the Knoxville area also has some public transport options that could be helpful for people with memory care needs and their caregivers:
- The Knoxville Area Transit (or KAT) provides a regular fleet of 20 buses, a free downtown trolley service, and a parallel door-to-door service called LIFT, for those passengers with mobility needs. LIFT passengers need to register for certification in order to access services.
- MyRide Tennessee is a volunteer-led transportation service especially for seniors. With MyRide, a volunteer driver meets a senior in need of a ride and takes them from door to door in their personal vehicle. It’s considered a friendly alternative to public transportation.
- Knoxville also has a transport counseling service to help traveling seniors navigate the transport options available to them.
Senior activities in Knoxville
While memory care facilities provide a lot of in-house activities for residents, Knoxville, Tennessee, is home to many destinations and activities that make life vibrant and connect seniors and their loved ones to their community. From gardens and historic homes to senior centers and art museums, Knoxville has a culture that enriches and entertains residents.
Knoxville’s storied past provides many opportunities for learning and commemorating. James White’s Fort, established by the founder of Knoxville in 1786, is now a visitor attraction with tours and events throughout the year. The Knoxville Country Music Heritage tour is a self-guided audio tour of the city’s musical past — and a great option for those with dementia and mobility needs because families can complete the tour at their own pace or even virtually.
When the weather is pleasant, seniors and their families can get outside to one of the Knoxville area’s accessible outdoor attractions. The Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum is a beautiful way to appreciate the seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
StoryPoint Knoxville West, The Pointe at Lifespring and Trinity Hills of Knoxville are the top-rated Memory Care facilities near Knoxville, TN. These Memory Care facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Memory Care in Knoxville is $3,901 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
References
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Tennessee Health Care Association. (2023). Paying for Care.
More questions?
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
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