Dementia, and specifically Alzheimers, is a serious, growing problem. In fact, 1 out of every 10 adults over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s dementia. As Hoover's senior population continues to grow (8% growth between 2015 and 2020), so does the concern about aging and the risk of cognitive impairment.
In Hoover, the number of deaths for those 65 and older caused or partly caused by Alzheimer’s disease decreased 1% between 2015 and 2020. To put that in perspective, the number of deaths from all causes for that same age group increased by 21%, showing that while Alzheimer’s is a serious concern in the region, the associated deaths have decreased recently. Overall, the percentage of seniors’ deaths related to Alzheimer’s is lower than the rest of the nation (6% in Hoover vs. 6.46% in the U.S.).
To help families and caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of cognitive impairment find the support and care their loved ones need, we applied our unique methodology and spent dozens of hours researching senior living communities in Hoover. In addition to an overview of the communities’ best features, this guide highlights the best memory care facilities in the city, and gives information about pricing, types of care provided, residents’ reviews, and more.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 83% of all caregivers are unpaid family members, relatives, or other friends, and nearly half of all care is for older adults with some form of dementia. Caregiving, especially when it involves Alzheimer’s or dementia, is extremely exhausting and time consuming, leading many caregivers to feel isolated and overwhelmed.
As a loved one continues to progress through the stages of dementia and his or her cognitive abilities continue to decline, behavioral problems, safety, and general care often become more than one caregiver can handle. This is when it’s important to find extra help, and residential facilities that have specialized memory care programs are often the best solution.
In addition to providing a safe environment, memory care programs seek to delay or halt cognitive decline while providing the opportunity for a social, independent lifestyle.
To choose the best memory care facilities in Hoover, our team of researchers started by using our unique methodology to develop a list of contenders. We further refined the list in the next phase of our process by completing hands-on research for each one of the companies that we developed. Finally, we compiled online reviews from residents and families and wrote summaries of each facility that made it through our selection process.
Overall, our team:
Briar Glen Alzheimer's Special Care Center provides residents with memory care services in a comfortable and safe environment. The community features a Meaningful Moments program that incorporates familiar patterns and routines to help those living with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. This allows them to engage their bodies and mind, enhancing their well-being. The staff at the community is available 24/7 to supervise the residents and provide assistance with the activities of daily living like daily personal grooming and toileting. Briar Glen Alzheimer's Special Care Center also features a guided exercise program, giving seniors an opportunity to preserve their mobility. Residents can also visit the nearby veteran park or the 30-acre garden at Aldridge Botanical.
Reviewers praise the friendly staff in the community and the variety of services offered. One reviewer says, "I visited Briar Glen Alzheimer's Special Care Center, and I liked my experience. From the staff, residents and general environment, everything was amazing. There were several outdoor spaces where people relax. The staff in the community is also friendly and knowledgeable. They allow residents to exercise, which is something that caught my attention. When I visited, they were performing chair exercises."
Memory care services at Brookdale University Park are designed to meet the individual needs of their residents while promoting independence. The secure community ensures that residents remain in a safe environment and employs trained staff who are on-site 24 hours a day. Staff utilize physical prompting and cueing techniques to help seniors maintain independence. Additionally, secured entries and exits lead to an enclosed courtyard and garden where residents can safely take walks, relax outdoors, and enjoy nature's beauty. Memory care residents can take part in customized engagements that can challenge and stimulate them without the fear of failure. An emergency alert system ensures seniors can access help quickly if necessary, while the beauty and barbershop offer styling services to foster wellness, self-care and confidence. The fitness center provides residents with opportunities to stay active and healthy.
Friends and relatives feel the community is a good fit for those with memory loss and often mention how nice the people are. One says, "Brookdale University Park is nice for people who have extreme memory loss and can't get around. They keep the place clean and the person in charge is very good. Everybody's really nice."
Nestled on a beautiful street in Birmingham, Lakeview Estates is a senior living community that offers luxury-style accommodations while retaining a small-town feel. Specializing in memory care, Lakeview Estates has designed their facility and services to meet each resident's own set of needs and encourages active reminiscence through the incorporation of personal memorabilia and home furnishings. With amenities such as a full service salon, activity rooms, daily housekeeping and fresh meals prepared by an executive chef, this senior living community encourages socialization and comfort. The community features a full schedule of daily activities designed to keep seniors active and engaged, and a trained staff of caregivers is available 24/7 to provide discreet assistance with the activities of daily living.
Residents and their loved ones appreciate how welcoming and comfortable the facility is. One reviewer says, "I would not have my mother any where else for assisted living memory care. The staff is caring, compassionate, and responds to her needs and keeps her happy giving me the opportunity to continue to work and travel in my job. We recently had to have her in the hospital and in rehab but as soon as we could, we readmitted her back to Lakeview. There were tears shed when she left and tears shed when she returned yesterday."
Located in Birmingham, AL, Longleaf Liberty Park offers memory care and assisted living within view of the Cahaba River. Its holistic wellness memory care program, Masterful Moments, is centered around the practice of treating each moment as an opportunity for emotional, social and spiritual enrichment. Residents in memory care can have fun while staying active by playing balloon tennis, tap into their creativity by making watercolor paintings or socialize with other residents during holiday and birthday parties. They can also spend their time unwinding at the full-service hair salon and day spa, exercising at the senior-centric fitness center or reading a good book beside the fireplace in the fully-stocked on-site library. Trained staff are available 24/7 to provide assistance with the tasks of daily living, including eating, dressing, and bathing.
Longleaf Liberty Park earns accolades from reviewers for having a warm ambiance and attentive staff members. One says, "The decor is bright and cheery which makes it very inviting. The staff is attentive and gets to know each resident personally. They are happy to communicate with family members to ensure that residents are properly cared for."
Somerby St. Vincent's One Nineteen is a senior care community located in Birmingham, AL, just minutes from Grandview Medical Center and St. Vincent's hospital. The community provides memory care, assisted living and independent living services. Pet-friendly memory care studios come with full housekeeping. The Discover Your Spark program approaches wellness holistically, helping residents rediscover old hobbies and discover new pursuits like gardening and art. Bridge Active keeps seniors involved in wellness, friendships and personalized experiences. The licensed, trained staff provides expert care for seniors, including occupational, physical and speech therapy and daily personal assistance. There is also an on-site fitness center, medication management, in-house pharmacy and physician visits in residences. Amenities include a chef-operated dining hall, beauty and barber shop and live music. Guarded security, limited entry and monitoring of resident movement help keep seniors safe.
Residents and family members often praise both grounds and staff. One writes, "We toured several communities in the area more than one time & Somerby became our choice because of the people we met & the size of the apartments. We look forward to becoming residents there in the not-too-distant future."
Truewood by Merrill, Riverchase offers memory care, assisted living and independent living. Its memory care neighborhood has accessibility features and a 24-hour emergency response system. Licensed nurses are available around the clock. Through the community's Concierge Personal Care offering, memory care residents can readily access doctors and lab services without leaving home. For each resident, the staff prepares a personalized memory-preserving care plan. Staff members also run activities that offer socialization chances and support residents' physical, mental and spiritual wellness. To enjoy the outdoors, residents can spend time in the community's courtyards or stroll along its walking paths. Maintenance and housekeeping are included services, and there is a flexible dining program to cover residents' meals. For cosmetic services, the community has a beauty salon and barbershop. Pets are welcome.
In reviews, this community's staff and dining program attracted compliments. As one reviewer puts it, "The staff have been better than we ever expected and my dad is doing really well. He absolutely loves the food, he lives for dinner time and the staff say that he goes back for seconds and thirds."
Memory care at Oaks on Parkwood is divided into assisted living and skilled nursing. For assisted living, this community provides an innovative, up-to-date environment coupled with safety features. It is designed to promote daily freedom and flexibility while keeping the resident's safety needs at the forefront. Licensed staff is trained on handling Alzheimer's disease along with other forms of dementia while stimulating the resident's overall health. Residents receive 24/7 monitoring, participate in activities promoting memory enhancement and live in a secure memory unit. For skilled nursing, the family, resident and healthcare team discuss an individualized plan. Top quality care is provided along with specialized therapies. In case of medical emergencies, there is a 24-hour emergency response plus physician and pharmacy services.
Residents comment on the caring, friendly staff and the number of activities. One family member writes, "It's been a very positive experience for me. I think the staff are very knowledgeable in the areas they work in. They seem to be dedicated to their jobs and their residents. Some of their activities include going outside for dinners, water aerobics, and they also have bingo."
At The Bluffs at Greystone, care services, programs and amenities are available to memory care residents to provide a safe and supportive setting for those with dementia such as Alzheimer's. Specialized caregivers with advanced training in dementia care manage the ups and downs that come with memory loss. Kindness and compassion drive the community's philosophy that each individual can still lead a purposeful life, no matter the stage of dementia they may be in. Services available range from assistance with daily living activities, such as dressing or bathing, to visual cues throughout the facility that help residents find their way around confidently. Wellness checks are performed daily, along with housekeeping to maintain resident safety and comfort. Community amenities include a full-service salon, arts and crafts studio and cozy fireside seating. Among the activities available are chair yoga and swimming.
Visitors are impressed with the rooms and the kindness of staff toward residents. One reviewer says, "The Bluffs at Greystone was very impressive. The rooms were just beautiful. They were taking some people into the dining room when I was there, and the staff were just very kind to the residents who had memory problems."
The Pathway Intentional Memory Care program at Regency Retirement Village offers an active, engaging environment for residents. The well-trained staff provides personal care, health care and 24/7 emergency response services. Residents' health is regularly monitored, and the community provides personalized exercise and nutrition plans. Seniors have access to a variety of scheduled daily activities that provide opportunities for recreation and socialization, ranging from games and sing-alongs to arts and crafts. The Pathway program employs iN2L technology, an easy-to-use software that stimulates memories and provides seniors with opportunities to communicate with family and friends. The community also offers pet therapy and music therapy, both of which are designed to activate cognitive processes and reduce stress and anxiety. Memory care residents live in a secure environment, which includes access to an outdoor courtyard.
Residents and their families are impressed with the Regency's programming and environment. One family member writes, "We are very impressed with the staffing, the cleanliness, and the day-to-day job that they do. The memory care section is colorful, happy, clean, and laid out perfectly for security, service, and most importantly, for social/stimulating activities."
Morningside of Vestavia Hills in Hoover, AL, offers comprehensive memory care services for residents living with Alzheimer's and related dementia. It understands the unique needs of individuals living with memory impairments and strive to provide a secure and supportive environment. Its memory care services include 24-hour staffing and supervision, a secure outdoor courtyard and a rich and stimulating activities program designed to help optimize cognitive functioning. Its team is dedicated to providing compassionate care and personalized attention that enhances the lives of our residents. Residents are provided with a variety of meal options tailored to specific dietary needs as well as assistance with daily tasks like bathing and dressing. They also receive a range of therapeutic activities that are designed to slow the progression of memory loss.
Family members are pleased with the staff's care and services. One remarks, "My husband has been at Morningside for just a few weeks, and I am so grateful for the care he is receiving. The nurses and all the staff are so kind and genuinely want him to be happy. They go out of their way to ensure he eats, takes his medications, and participates in all of the wonderful activities!"
Kirkwood By the River is a secure and welcoming community designed to offer a high quality of life for memory care residents. Professionally-trained staff members offer 24-hour personal care and supervision to help residents meet the daily challenges of dementia and Alzheimer's. In addition to assisting with personal hygiene, staff members also help administer medication and provide necessary therapies for mobility. Activities that promote memory stimulation are organized daily and residents can enjoy socializing with each other. An on-site salon is also available. Private apartments equipped with emergency call access and utilities allow residents to live safely and comfortably. Laundry services and regular housekeeping are provided. Staff members can coordinate on-site visits with physicians and therapists. Three meals a day are served in a family-style dining area.
Residents and their families praise the professional staff and close-knit community. One reviewer says, "I like everything about the Kirkwood by the River memory care unit. There were a lot of activities going on and a lot of happy people and residents. I saw so many friendly staff, they had a chapel inside and it was just very well organized."
The Crossings at Riverchase is a senior living community in the suburban city of Hoover, AL. Seniors with memory loss receive personalized care from dementia-certified care associates. Residents in the community's secure memory care neighborhood benefit from the Masterful Moments program that offers a structured sense of purpose and belonging. Memory care at The Crossings focuses on socialization to foster stronger social interactions between residents, families and others. Residents also engage in enrichment programming that integrates creative arts, games and therapy to encourage memory retention and social interaction. The staff schedules regular cultural activities and group programs and provides amenities such as chef-prepared meals, housekeeping and laundry services.
Seniors and their family members are impressed by the community's approach to memory care and its responsive staff. One resident's daughter says, "The staff are doing an excellent job with my dad and are very hands-on with the memory care residents. They are also extremely responsive to our family's needs. The facility is nice and clean."
Danberry at Inverness is located in the suburb of Birmingham in Hoover, AL. Called Heartfelt Connections, the community's signature memory care program promotes emotional and physical health, assists in daily living and enhances the resident's quality of life. The walking areas, pathways, and outdoor dining areas are secure. There are controlled/coded entry and exit doors to maintain resident safety. This community offers reminiscence therapy like gardening centers, work desks, tool benches and sports corners. To reduce anxiety and stress, there is a serenity room. Activities are memory-centered. They include cooking, gardening, reminiscing and movies. Residents are encouraged to create scrapbooks and memory boxes designed to incorporate arts with their life story. There are on-site medical services in addition to speech, occupational and physical therapy.
The residents overall report that the service they receive is stellar. One family member states, "My in laws recently moved to Danberry and it's a wonderful, welcoming and absolutely terrific place. We are so happy and they are too. The staff is amazing and can't help us enough. It has been a fabulous experience."