10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Indianapolis, IN

Memory care costs can be overwhelming, and families and caregivers are often faced with the question of how they can pay for it. The costs of long-term memory care can add up over time, and families often rely on a medley of public benefits and private funding options. For some, private payment methods may be enough to cover long-term memory care costs. Combining all public benefit options with private assets can help your family pay for the most ideal memory care community.

In this section, we highlight the various private payment methods that families might have to pay their memory care costs. We also outline several public benefit options, from veterans benefits to Medicaid and Medicare health insurance programs.

In Indiana, assisted living or memory care facilities that provide medication administration or nursing care are required to be licensed as residential care facilities by the Indiana Department of Health Division of Long-Term Care. These facilities are regularly inspected to make sure the state’s rules are being complied with. The health department also investigates any complaints made against facilities. You can find the department’s consumer reports on their findings on their website.

If they don’t provide medication administration or nursing services, assisted living facilities that provide services like help with activities of daily living, room and board, and meals aren’t required to be licensed. These facilities are instead required to register with the Indiana Department of Family and Social Services Administration by filing a service disclosure form.

Facilities that provide memory care must submit an Alzheimer’s and Dementia Special Care Unit form that addresses the following:^[06]

• Staffing patterns and care staff-to-patient ratios for each shift
• Any therapeutic methods and programs provided
• Types and amount of training required or provided to staff
• A facility’s criteria and processes for admissions, transfers, and discharges
• The facility’s mission and philosophy to care for residents with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia

Evaluations

Before admission, all residents are evaluated with a care needs assessment. This is to make sure a facility offers services that are appropriate for each resident. These assessments are typically updated semiannually as needed, documented in writing, and kept at the facility. At a minimum, these care need evaluations help a facility determine a resident’s needs by assessing the following:^[06]

• Ability to perform activities of daily living independently
• Physical, cognitive, and mental status
• Ability to self-administer medication

Admissions

Indiana has state regulations that set the bar for who can and can’t be accepted into a memory care facility. Memory care facilities won’t admit a person if their needs can’t be met at the facility. This typically includes individuals in the following conditions:^[06]

• Aren’t medically stable
• Are a danger to themselves or others
• Require round-the-clock nursing care
• Need total assistance with eating, toileting, or transferring
• Require rehabilitative therapies but don’t have a licensed provider

Medication assistance versus medication administration

Staff at memory care facilities can’t provide medication administration if it’s not a licensed residential care facility. If requested, staff can instead help residents with self-administration by providing medication assistance. Here are some examples of medication assistance:

• Opening containers
• Giving medication reminders or cues
• Helping with eye drop application

Memory care facilities that are licensed as residential care facilities can provide medication administration as long as it’s provided by licensed nursing staff and medication aides. Rather than just assisting residents with their medications, medication administration puts licensed professionals in charge of preparing medications and distributing them as prescribed by a physician. The following are some examples of medication administration:

• Measuring and recording dosages
• Administering injections
• Tracking side effects

Staff training

Memory care facilities that submit a special care unit disclosure are required to designate a director for their Alzheimer’s and dementia care unit. The director has to meet education or license requirements set at the state level, as well as the following training requirements:^[06]

• At least 12 hours of dementia care training within three months of taking the position
• An annual 6 hours of training on current care practices and regulatory standards for residents in Alzheimer’s and dementia special care unit

Additionally, all staff of the facility are required to undergo an orientation. This orientation should review a facility’s policies and procedures for topics such as emergency procedures, residents’ rights, and evacuation procedures. All staff are also required to complete annual in-service training and education. Even staff without direct contact with residents are required to complete an annual 6 hours of dementia-specific training within six months of employment and 3 hours of annual training on current standards of dementia care.

Food and nutritional services

Memory care facilities have to provide three nutritionally balanced daily meals every day that are approved by a dietician. All facilities are required to comply with local sanitation and food handling standards. Meals provided must also consider the following:^[06]

• Religious, ethnic, and personal dietary preferences
• Residents’ daily dietary requirements and requests
• Any temporary need to deliver meals to a resident’s room

Activities programs

All licensed residential care facilities with memory care have to provide appropriate activity programs, as well as coordinated transportation to community-based activities. All memory care facilities must have an activities director who meets at least one of the following criteria:^[06]

• They’re a recreation therapist.
• They’re an occupational therapist or certified occupational therapy assistant.
• They’ve completed an activities director course or will complete it within a year.

COVID-19 regulations for Indianapolis memory care facilities

Memory care facilities in Indianapolis generally follow COVID-19 guidance set at the state and local levels. As of April 2023, there aren’t any COVID-19 mandates in place for memory care facilities. Some facilities may have stricter policies in place, so it’s always best practice to check with a facility directly on their current COVID-19 policies.

You can find Indiana’s COVID-19 updates published on the state’s COVID-19 response website. We’ve highlighted a few of the Indiana Department of Health’s recommendations for long-term care facilities below.

From therapeutically designed living spaces to specialized programs and therapies, Indianapolis memory care facilities aim to provide the safest environment for residents with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Take a look at some of the standout features these memory care communities have to offer below.

Socializing with friends

Seemingly endless opportunities to socialize and foster relationships await at our partner memory care communities. This is due to the extensive activity programs and common areas at these facilities. Nearly all of our partner memory care facilities plan fun get-togethers like barbecues, birthday celebrations, and holiday parties for residents to enjoy. There’s also a wide selection of on-site programs to partake in. Here are some examples of activities typical at these communities:

• Educational speakers
• Gardening groups
• Interest clubs
• Stretching and exercise classes
• Arts and crafts classes
• Live musical performances

Specialized therapies

You can also expect to find memory care-specific therapy programs at our in-network Indianapolis communities. These specialized programs help create a calming, therapeutic space by promoting daily routines and reducing overwhelming stimuli. Here are some therapy programs you’ll likely find at one of our in-market memory care communities:

• Pet-therapy programs
• Reminiscence programs
• Sensory-based programs like aromatherapy, light therapy, and more

Intentional memory care design

The majority of our in-network Indianapolis memory care facilities are built to specifically accommodate residents with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. This is perhaps most evident in the physical design at most of our partner facilities. Here are some examples of intentional memory care design features:

• Enclosed courtyard areas
• Indoor and outdoor enclosed walking paths
• Clear directional cues
• WanderGuard or similar wandering prevention systems

Memory care-qualified staff

Staff at our partner Indianapolis memory care facilities are qualified and regularly trained to provide care for residents with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. All memory care facilities have 24-hour awake staff trained to provide calm and compassionate redirecting or cueing for residents with disorientation. Staff is also trained to manage other dementia-related behaviors, like the following:

• Pacing
• Restlessness
• Anxiety
• Wandering and other exit-seeking attempts

Homelike living spaces

It’s easy to make yourself at home in one of our inviting partner memory care facilities in Indianapolis. You’ll find well-appointed living spaces available in a variety of floor plans that include private and semi-private living options. All of our in-network communities are designed with accessibility in mind and include features like wheelchair-accessible showers and safety bars in the bathrooms.

Nearly all of our partner communities have units with kitchenettes complete with refrigerators and sink areas, and some with upgrades like modern appliances and contemporary fixtures. Sunny sitting areas make the perfect setting to enjoy the company of visiting loved ones. Spacious bedrooms are also bathed in natural light and are perfectly sized to fit one bed or two beds — depending on the floor plan.

Among the best hospitals in the state call Indianapolis home. Some are even leading the way in treatments and research for Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. We shine the light on a few of the hospitals in Indianapolis that specialize in brain conditions and senior care.

All of our partnered Indianapolis memory care communities provide escorted transportation services to residents. Some of the communities provide these services at-cost, while more than 80% offer complimentary transportation.^[01] These services are essential for memory care residents who no longer drive. The service helps residents get to and from off-site medical appointments and take care of other errands safely.

For visiting friends, there are additional resources to help seniors, veterans, and disabled individuals get around in Indianapolis. These services are sometimes covered by Medicaid or require a minimal service fee:

• Door2Door
• IndyGo Open Door
• GoGo Grandparents
• Way2Go Senior Services Transportation
• Veterans Transportation Service (VTS)
• Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA)

The majority of our in-network memory care facilities are also conveniently located near public transit. This can make visiting loved ones a walk in the park. Local or out-of-town friends and family can travel via IndyGo, which is Indianapolis’ main public transit system. IndyGo’s fleet of over 200 buses travel throughout the city and are all ADA accessible for people with disabilities.

IndyGo’s paratransit services are also available to disabled individuals who aren’t able to access fixed routes. Seniors can also enjoy discounted fares on IndyGo buses with a valid Medicare card or Half Fare ID. It’s never advised that seniors with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia travel without a caregiver accompanying them.

From open outdoor spaces and historic sites to interactive museums, Indianapolis is filled with activities to enjoy with a loved one. Browse through some of the popular family-friendly attractions Indianapolis has to offer. We highlight the attractions with generous accessibility options for your loved one with specialized needs.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum

A visit to Indy wouldn’t be complete without exploring the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. The museum celebrates a century of history and culture, with artifacts, trophies, and collections of vintage cars. The Museum makes great strides to make sure everyone can access the collections and even offers free entry to companions, caregivers, or aides of guests with disabilities. The museum also has the following ADA services available on-site:

• Free accessible parking
• Wheelchairs for guest use
• Subtitles on bus tours and videos
• Wheelchair-accessible bus tours
• “Touch tours” for guests with visual impairments

White River State Park

White River State Park is lovingly called Indy’s urban escape. Tour the park’s art installations across its 250-acre Urban Wilderness Trail. On this trail, you’ll find a monarch butterfly sanctuary, various wildlife, and native Indiana fauna. The expansive park is home to enough attractions to make an entire day trip out of, with some of Indy’s most treasured sites:

• Indiana State Museum
• Indianapolis Zoo
• TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park
• Eiteljorg Museum
• NCAA Hall of Champions

Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields

This local favorite offers specialized tours for visitors with early-stage Alzheimer’s to enjoy with their caregivers, family, and friends. Don’t miss out on the chance to immerse yourself in the culture at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields. Get up close and personal with treasured masterpieces, or take a tour of different galleries from around the world. The museum has accessibility features for guests with limited mobility, who are hard of hearing, blind, or partially sighted.

Indiana Repertory Theatre

Catch engaging performances at the Indiana Repertory Theatre. This treasured community theater is Indiana’s largest professional nonprofit theater. It has enriched the community with dynamic theatrical performances for over 50 years. The Indiana Repertory Theatre has several accessibility features to make the venue as inclusive as possible. It offers options for patrons with vision or hearing needs, sensory sensitivities, and limited mobility. Some of their accessibility features available on-site include the following:

• Valet parking
• Courtesy wheelchairs
• Accessible seating and restrooms
• Free assisted listening devices
• Sensory-friendly performances and supports
• Visual indicators for sensory intense moments
• American Sign Language and audio-described performances

Whether you’re just getting to know Indianapolis or have called the city home for years, you’ll find there’s always something eventful to see and do. These accessible attractions only scratch the surface of what Indianapolis has to offer seniors, caregivers, and visiting loved ones. You can explore Visit Indy’s accessibility guide for more things to do and local resources in Indianapolis.