10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Cincinnati, OH

Families in Cincinnati can combine several private and public assistance options to help pay for memory care. Start by assessing your loved one’s unique financial position to determine the best way to pay for memory care.

Even if your loved one has private pay options, make sure to also apply for any aid or benefits offered to seniors in the Cincinnati area. They may qualify for assistance that will help their private pay options go further.

Memory care and assisted living facilities, or residential care facilities as they are designated in Ohio, must be licensed by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). The ODH inspects the facility prior to granting it a license and then inspects it again a minimum of every 15 months after licensure. Ohio memory care facilities have the same regulations as assisted living facilities.^[08]

Kentucky memory care and assisted living facilities alike must be certified annually through the Kentucky Department for Aging and Independent Living to ensure they comply with state regulatory standards.^[09]

Cincinnati memory care staff requirements

There are no minimum staff requirements for Cincinnati memory care facilities. However, facilities do have required types of personnel. Ohio’s and Kentucky’s individual staff requirements are a bit different.

Ohio memory care staff requirements

While there are no minimum staff requirements for residential care facilities in Ohio, facilities are required to employ specific types of personnel.

Ohio memory care facilities must have a psychologist or physician either on staff or contracted to oversee the care of residents with late-stage cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Other staff requirements for memory care and assisted living facilities are as follows:

• An administrator who manages the facility’s operations. The administrator is required to be present at the facility for a minimum of 20 hours per week and must also be available around the clock when they’re off-site.
• If the facility offers personal care services, the direct care staff must have at least one staff member who is trained in first aid on the premises at all times.
• If the facility offers medication administration, there must be either a registered nurse, a physician, or a licensed nurse practitioner certified in medication administration on staff.

Memory care staff in Ohio must all meet the following criteria:

• They must be free from diseases that could be communicable to residents in their care.
• They must be without alcohol or drug dependencies that impact their ability to perform their duties and risk the safety of the individuals in their care.
• They mustn’t be younger than 16 years of age; staff who are under 18 must be supervised by a staff member who is at least 18. The facility’s administrator must be 21 or older.
• They must undergo appropriate training for their responsibilities, as outlined in Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3701-16-06.^[08]

Kentucky memory care staff requirements

Kentucky memory care and assisted living regulations are in some ways less rigid than those in Ohio. Staff requirements are also a bit more relaxed in Kentucky.^[10]

• The facility must have sufficient staff to cover each resident’s personal needs and care plans for 24 hours per day.
• There must be a minimum of one awake staff member on the premises at all times.
• Each facility is required to have a manager who is age 21 or over and who has achieved the equivalent of a high school level of education. The manager must be able to maintain the facility’s day-to-day operations.

Cincinnati memory care service requirements

Both Kentucky and Ohio memory care facilities are required to provide residents with the same baseline services as are required in assisted living, including the following:^[08,11]

• Medication administration
• Help with activities of daily living
• Social engagement and recreational activities

Ohio memory care and assisted living services also must include the following:^[08]

• Housekeeping and laundry services
• A minimum of three daily meals or food-safe storage, so residents can take care of their own meal

In Kentucky, however, housekeeping and laundry services are not required, though residents must have access to facilities to take care of their own laundry.^[12] Three meals per day and snacks are required in Kentucky memory care and assisted living facilities.^[11]

Kentucky requires memory care communities to provide residents with specialized services which include the following:^[13]

• Resident evaluation to facilitate a person-centered care plan that includes their individual interests and needs
• Activities that support cognitive function
• Enclosed walking spaces

Cincinnati memory care building standards

Ohio and Kentucky memory care facilities must abide by health- and safety-related building code standards. Each facility must be approved by the local certified building department.^[08,12]

You can use the Health Care Provider Search tool to view details on a memory care or other long-term care facility in Ohio. Search for a specific facility by choosing the care provider category from the drop-down menu. Narrow your search by entering the county, city, organization’s name, or any information you have for the corresponding fields. Note that while Ohio does show whether a care community’s license is active, it does not reveal the full inspection report.

To find details on memory care and other senior care facilities in Kentucky, use the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Nursing Home Survey Inspection Findings Search tool. Follow the link for the relevant year, and then enter the facility’s name and relevant details into the corresponding search fields. Note that while Kentucky’s search tool shows some complaints or other inspection results for some care facility types, it does not reveal specific inspection findings of memory care facilities.

Ohio Department of Health contact information

Cincinnati Health Department
3101 Burnet Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45229
Phone: 513-357-7200

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Kentucky Department of Health contact information

Campbell County Health Department
1098 Monmouth St.
Newport, KY 41071
Phone: 859-431-1704

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

COVID-19 regulations for Cincinnati memory care facilities

In both Ohio and Kentucky, most COVID-19 restrictions have been relaxed. However, Ohio long-term care facilities, such as memory care, are encouraged to implement precautionary practices in alignment with CDC guidelines. Kentucky similarly abides by CDC guidelines, such as COVID-19 by county recommendations, updating guidelines as needed based on each county’s number of COVID-19 cases.

General guidelines for Cincinnati memory care communities include the following:

Cincinnati memory care communities offer cozy environments with personalized programs to make each resident feel as at home as possible. Memory care staff make an effort to know each resident personally and foster a holistic relationship. By knowing each resident’s preferences, interests, and idiosyncrasies, care staff do their best to cultivate quality care and engagement.

Cincinnati memory care communities provide the same leisure and care services of assisted living, as well as additional offerings to meet the unique needs of seniors with memory loss. Such offerings include the following:

• Wander prevention systems
• Recreational programs to support cognitive function
• Indoor and/or enclosed outdoor walking spaces

Multiple tiers of care on one campus

Out of our partnered Cincinnati communities offering memory care, 78% contain some combination of memory care, assisted living, and independent living, all within one community. Multiple care types together offer more variety among residents, often providing more opportunity for friendships and social engagement, regardless of an individual’s specific level of need.

Communities that integrate multiple levels of care enable residents to conveniently transition to a support level that fits them if their needs change, making it ideal for aging in place. Assisted living can often cost less per month than memory care, so multitiered communities also enable individuals in the earlier stages of dementia to start in assisted living and then transfer to memory care when they need to, allowing their financial resources to last longer.

Holistic care and support services

Most Cincinnati memory care communities offer private apartments with access to the following care and support services:

• Round-the-clock care staff
• 24-hour emergency response
• Assistance with activities of daily living
• Incontinence support
• Laundry and housekeeping services
• Salon and barber services
• Fitness and exercise classes
• Social and entertainment activities
• Restaurant-style dining
• Grocery and errand services
• Transportation services

Cincinnati memory care amenities

Our Cincinnati memory care partner communities feature communal leisure areas and on-site conveniences, which include some or all of the following:

• Indoor walking areas
• Enclosed outdoor walking areas
• Beauty salons/barbershops
• Movie and TV lounges
• Patios
• Fitness centers
• Libraries/media centers
• Dining areas
• Cafes/bistros
• Central fireplaces
• Activity and game rooms

Cincinnati seniors have access to several state-of-the-art teaching hospitals and medical centers.

Out of A Place for Mom’s memory care partners in Cincinnati, 83% offer complimentary and/or at-cost transportation services. While prescheduled transportation may be free, on-demand rides often have an additional cost, though it depends upon the individual community’s policies.

Most downtown Cincinnati errands can be accomplished without a car, as the area is quite walkable. If your loved one and their caregiver venture out from the city center, however, they may want to rely on a vehicle or public transit. For enjoying downtown entertainment, they might enjoy the free Cincinnati streetcar which loops through the heart of the city.

Cincinnati’s public transportation system is called Go Metro. Go Metro covers several bus routes, and passengers can explore routes in the Cincinnati area or search by popular destinations. Go Metro’s buses comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, so Ohio residents who have disabilities can ride, even with a wheelchair or a service animal. If a person’s disability makes buses inaccessible even with these accommodations, they can instead use Cincinnati’s Access rideshare program, which offers vans designed specifically for passengers with special needs.

Cincinnati boasts wonderful attractions, activities, and dining options for its residents, visitors, and growing senior population. It even has a number of dementia-friendly events and programs. Explore the city’s family- and senior-friendly entertainment offerings below.

Cincinnati attractions for the whole family

Cincinnati has wonderful entertainment and cultural offerings for the entire family, right within its walkable downtown area. Some of the city’s most popular downtown attractions include the following:

• Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
• Fountain Square
• Cincinnati Art Museum
• Cincy Brew Bus
• National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Cincinnati residents and visitors can enjoy the city’s symphony orchestra, ballet, Broadway Cincinnati, opera, Shakespeare in the Park, and much more. For Cincinnati families on a budget, the city has many exhibits and historical sites that are free to the public.

Cincinnati dining

Cincinnati is home to diverse cuisine options, from pizza to waffles to artisan seafood. Cincinnati is famous for its chili, with the iconic Skyline brand featuring the city’s striking skyline. As an added bonus, seniors and their families can enjoy many dining options from restaurants with rooftop seating or floor-to-ceiling windows that offer panoramic views of this city’s beautiful landscape.

Cincinnati activities for seniors with memory loss

Cincinnati has wonderful resources for seniors with dementia, their loved ones, and their caregivers to participate in. Scripps Gerontology’s Opening Minds through Art is a program designed for seniors with memory loss to reconnect with their own strengths through art. The Cincinnati Art Museum offers accessibility programs for individuals with various special needs, including programs for seniors with dementia. The Cincinnati chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association offers support groups, education programs, fundraisers, and more events for seniors with dementia and their families to get involved.