10 Best Memory Care Facilities in St. Louis, MO

Friendship Village Sunset Hills is a 52-acre campus on an elevated position looking across South County. It's near several medical facilities and I-270, but not so close as to hear the traffic. It's included on the list because its memory care unit has earned a gold credential from the Center for Applied Research in Dementia. All memory care staff are certified as Montessori Dementia Care Professionals experienced in administering the Montessori Inspired Lifestyle approach to care. Residents are encouraged to create a community, with staff supporting their endeavors. This develops cognitive skills while also inspiring seniors to feel a sense of self-worth and personal dignity. A chaplain visits regularly to provide residents with spiritual care.

Autumn View Gardens Senior Living's enclosed courtyard of landscaped grounds includes mature trees, walking paths and a gazebo. Consequently, it offers a positive sensory experience for the facility's memory care residents and somewhere safe to walk without the risk of wandering. A pet-friendly environment fosters companionship with small animals and encourages seniors with dementia to engage more with their environment. Families may also like the private dining room, which lets them share intimate meals with loved ones at risk of forgetting those most dear to them. Staff is on-site 24/7 to help residents with physical challenges, such as difficulties with bathing, dressing and eating.

St. Louis Altenheim sits on an embankment overlooking the Mississippi River and fields on the opposite bank. Bavaria Memory Care is the unit serving seniors with dementia and their families. Its person-centered approach means every resident has a personalized care plan. This typically includes helping seniors retain memories by talking about the old days and discussing personal objects, such as family photographs. Daily organized outings allow residents to retain meaningful connections with the local community. St. Louis Altenheim encourages family members to visit and participate in the care plan as these long relationships can help residents hold on to their pasts. The spacious dining room hosts family-style meals every day to encourage a sense of community.

Avalon Memory Care's award-winning treatment program for seniors with dementia isn't the only reason it makes the list. A wall encloses the entire landscaped grounds, giving seniors plenty of safe walking spaces, and Mercy Hospital South is 6 minutes away. There are private and semiprivate apartments with bathrooms painted in calming colors and an easily navigable design. The facility offers many sensory experiences to help residents retain a sense of environment and purpose, including sing-a-longs, baking sessions and gardening. There are also spiritual services that have the combined benefits of satisfying the needs of faith and fostering stronger bonds between residents.

Mother of Perpetual Help Residence is a faith-based community within beautiful grounds flush with tall trees and a small lake. Each resident has an individual care plan that addresses their mental, physical and spiritual needs. Staff is on-site night and day to implement each plan and help with daily living tasks, such as toileting. They also manage medications and supervise programs designed to slow dementia's advance. These include painting with watercolors to help with hand-to-eye coordination and word games to improve cognition. Residents receive wander guards that track movements and keypad-entry doors remain closed at all times. Courtyards are also secured so residents can get exercise and fresh air without the risk of wandering from safe spaces.

The Gatesworth is on our list for its numerous awards, including recognition as a St. Louis Headliner and Ladue News' Platinum List. The building's beautiful design and the surrounding landscape create an engaging environment for residents with dementia. This continues inside, with the decor reminiscent of bygone days when furniture and wall coverings were more ornate. There are three restaurants where residents can enjoy chef-prepared meals catering to physician-approved diets while also forming bonds with their neighbors. Live shows in the Starbird Theater play a part in reminiscence therapy as residents hear the songs of their youth. The TV in the plush fireplace lounge also plays old shows that can jog memories and help residents make connections between now and then.

Bethesda Southgate is a multi-award-winning community near I-270, which may make it easier for families to visit their loved ones. The memory care unit's staff use a computer-based program called “It’s Never 2 Late” to keep track of the care provided. It records the meaningful experiences staff encourage residents to make and maps each person's path of care. Staff is on-site night and day to manage each plan and also help seniors with activities of daily living. There's a full activity calendar that provides physically, mentally and spiritually stimulating experiences. These include exercise classes to build strength and improve balance, card games to focus the mind and gardening, which is known to improve attention span.

The numerous awards Laclede Groves has accumulated are the reason it joins this list. The landscaped grounds and mature trees stimulate most senses, including touch, sight, sound and smell. There's also a historic chapel to satisfy spiritual needs. The high standards flow through to memory care services, which are for seniors with early to mid-stage dementia. They receive 24-hour care from trained staff, as well as medical care from licensed nurses when required. The memory care approach is to develop residents' mental, physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Consequently, there are plenty of fitness classes, word games, music events and religious studies. Controlled access systems keep seniors safe within the unit and there's a 24-hour urgent call system.

Dougherty Ferry Assisted Living & Memory Care is usefully near two busy roads that should make journeys easier for visiting families. However, the local environment is peaceful, so residents are less likely to become anxious due to noise. Also, St. Luke's Des Peres Hospital is only 5 minutes away, should they need medical care. The Montessori-based philosophy is at the heart of the facility's memory care services. With 24/7 help from trained staff, seniors can rediscover memories they were at risk of losing via activities that have a personal meaning and purpose. For example, staff will encourage them to remember the stories behind personal photographs, as well as objects from their past, such as wedding rings.

Acres of grounds surround Mattis Pointe Senior Living in its peaceful residential location and it's only 5 minutes from Mercy Hospital South. The accommodation options include private and semiprivate studios with ADA-compliant bathrooms and 24-hour emergency call systems. Best Friends is the name of the facility's memory care program. It reflects a relationship-based method that values empathy, humor, respect and trust between the senior and staff. Sensory experiences are also a major part of the facility's program. The Snoezelen Room helps seniors experience the calming effects of pastel colors, soft lighting, sweet scents and soothing music. Spontaneity is valued too, with residents encouraged to join dance classes and bake together in the kitchen.