The 9 Best Memory Care Facilities in Santa Fe, NM

Set back from the main road on a paved circle it has to itself, Pacifica Senior Living Santa Fe hosts assisted living, respite care and memory care in a two-story, red-brick complex. The Pacifica Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Care Program develops individual care plans built around human interaction and daily one-on-one therapy sessions. Common areas at Pacifica have large windows to let in natural light, and staff keeps the wide hallways in the memory care unit obstruction-free so that residents can freely walk around the secure area. Caregivers accompany residents on outdoor excursions to the surrounding walking trails and on scheduled transportation for medical appointments. 

The Legacy at Santa Fe occupies a scenic overlook in the high country west of town, surrounded by the desert scrub and a lightly developed residential neighborhood. We've included this community on the list because of its intensive Connections program for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's treatment. As part of this program, on intake, the care team assesses new residents' unique care needs and builds a customized plan of care that includes one-on-one daily therapy sessions, group activities that highlight residents' social and cognitive abilities and a physical fitness program tailored to their capabilities. The Legacy integrates QuietCare surveillance and iN2L tablets with seniors' care plans to unobtrusively monitor residents in memory care and keep them in touch with families. 

Located conveniently close to a busy interchange and surrounded by medical and dental offices, MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Santa Fe provides a full spectrum of senior care services, including independent living, assisted living and memory care. The memory care wing at MorningStar has 29 secure units and controlled entry, which creates a safe space for residents to move independently with unobtrusive supervision. The community uses a Montessori-based approach to dementia care called Lavender Sky. This program uses music, dance, art, aromatherapy and animals in purposeful therapy sessions directed toward stimulating the senses and encouraging seniors' independent cognition.

Tucked into a dense residential neighborhood in southwestern Santa Fe, Kingston Residence of Santa Fe provides memory care for seniors with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. It is a secure community with 24/7 nursing support and around-the-clock family visits. Kingston builds its approach to care around socialization between memory care and assisted living residents, as well as with trained dementia caregivers. Activities revolve around fun events such as bingo, sing-a-longs and light physical exercise. Care teams include the residents' personal doctor, licensed practical nurses, senior caregivers and the culinary team, which can provide customized dietary menus for residents with special needs. 

Set against the nearly open desert on the south side of Santa Fe, Sierra Vista at Vista Living Care fronts onto the main thoroughfare of Rodeo Road, easily accessible from the freeway and two nearby retirement villages. This community ranks in the top nine for its Eden Alternative program, a deliberately nonmedical approach to treating dementia. The program creates a quiet, zen-like environment of peace and quiet, with calming group activities and extra time set aside each day for personal reflection. The community retains the services of a staff nurse during business hours, and most of the care team is trained in dementia care.

The Montecito of Santa Fe occupies a roundabout set back from the main road in a densely developed part of south Santa Fe. Here, dementia care residents get person-centric care in a secure 40-room memory care wing with controlled access points and remote monitoring. The private studio units have their own bathrooms and face shared quad areas designed to feel like a small town center. Secure outdoor areas stay open most of the day for residents to step outside, with or without a staff caregiver in attendance. The dementia care program uses a Montessori approach to keeping residents engaged and high-functioning in a social environment.

BeeHive Homes of Santa Fe is just across the street from a large country club and easily accessible from the freeway near the airport. This community makes our list for promoting independence among memory care residents with highly individualized care plans. Residents receive unique personal activity schedules that keep them busy all day. They also have private rooms and can share space in a large living room that's decorated like a family home. Seniors have emergency call pendants to call for help if they need it, and caregivers are available 24/7 in case of emergencies.

NMEl Castillo Life Plan Community sits near downtown Santa Fe, close to an art gallery and with a view of Atalaya Mountain to the east. The 24-hour care team includes licensed nurses and nursing assistants who provide comprehensive support services in a safe, nurturing environment. The kitchen staff prepares special meals for residents with unique needs, including modified textures and medically restricted menus. Feeding assistance is available at mealtimes if needed. Daily activities include games and musical activities, with personal cognitive therapy and community dementia care sessions directed toward preserving residents' cognitive abilities.

BeeHive Homes of White Rock lies far from the urban sprawl of Santa Fe, in the mountain community of White Rock. The community makes our list for its extensive Alzheimer's-compatible amenities. For example, residents can freely walk through the broad, easy-to-navigate hallways. Staff members monitor the dementia care wing 24 hours a day for safety and access control, which includes secure outdoor areas all around the community perimeter. Care at BeeHive reflects the rich cultural diversity of Santa Fe; the team crafts personalized plans that incorporate elements of the residents' cultures to create an environment that honors the traditions they've known their whole lives.