Dementia, and specifically Alzheimer's, is a serious, growing problem. In fact, 1 out of every 10 adults over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s dementia. As Rio Rancho’s senior population continues to grow (28.9% growth between 2014 and 2019), so does the concern about aging and the risk of cognitive impairment.
In Rio Rancho, the number of deaths for those 65 and older caused or partly caused by Alzheimer’s disease increased by 40.48% between 2014 and 2019. To put that in perspective, the number of deaths from all causes for that same age group only increased by 4.35%, showing that Alzheimer’s is a growing concern in the region. Overall, the percentage of seniors’ deaths related to Alzheimer’s is slightly higher than the rest of the nation (6.53% in Rio Rancho 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 Rio Rancho. 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 Rio Rancho, 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:
Situated near the Rio Grande River, Avamere at Rio Rancho provides seniors with access to nearby shopping at Cottonwood Mall, dining, parks and museums. The community provides residents with a safe and secure home-like environment that includes housekeeping, laundry and maintenance services. Residents receive 24-hour assistance with personal care and are encouraged to engage in activities and programs that keep the mind and body as active as possible. Scheduled activities include fitness classes, arts and crafts, ice cream socials and group outings to festivals and other special events. Seniors can enjoy three meals restaurant-style in the elegant dining area daily while getting to know other residents. An on-site beauty salon/barber shop is available to residents.
One resident says, "I'm very happy here at Avamere at Rio Rancho. It's a good choice. The food is outstanding. I put on 15 pounds. I'm very happy with the care. It's very good. I have no problem at all with anything. There are daily exercises, movies every night in the theater room, and arts and crafts.
BeeHive Homes of Albuquerque provide assisted living and memory care in a peaceful residential neighborhood, minutes away from New Mexico Hospital Association. The family-like atmosphere of the community helps residents with Alzheimer's and dementia live a peaceful, dignified life. Safety measures such as a pendant emergency call system provide enhanced security for the residents, and skilled caregivers offer around-the-clock services to assist residents with their activities of daily living and medication administration. The community focuses on developing relations through life enrichment activities. Residents can connect and socialize in the spacious living room and dining area, and the home-cooked meals adhere to specific dietary requirements. Seniors have access to secure outdoor courtyards, patio and a porch. Housekeeping, laundry and linen services are also available.
Families appreciate the caring staff and the homelike environment at the community. One writes, "My husband is living at Bee Hive, and I am happy with the care he is getting. They are helping him with everything and taking care of him because he cannot get up. They are especially nice when he is having problems.
BeeHive Homes of Bernalillo in Rio Rancho offers diverse care options for seniors with memory care, respite care and assisted living needs. The community maintains a low resident capacity for improved attentiveness to each client. The community features private rooms that are equipped with their own bathrooms and ADA-certified showers. Private accommodations can also be reconfigured for couples. Services in the community include a staff thats on-site 24 hours a day, daily housekeeping and laundry service, bed linen and towel service, and life enrichment activity sessions. Staff at Beehive homes can assist residents with personal care and bathing as well as with managing health needs, such as medication administration. The community features cable TV, Wi-Fi access and a large central living room. Theres a secure outdoor courtyard for seniors seeking fresh air and sunshine. Residents have an emergency call system of pendants at their disposal for personal safety. Beehive Homes also prepares fresh, nutritious daily meal menus for its residents.
Reviews of Beehive Homes of Bernalillo are overwhelmingly positive, with residents enthusing about, "Outstanding, compassionate and personal care. The facility is gorgeous and brand new. Stunning views; upscale appointments; well thought out amenities and flow. The staff has been extremely attentive and accommodating. A++++!"
Nestled in a peaceful residential neighborhood, BeeHive Homes of Rio Rancho offers assisted living and memory care in a homelike environment. The community provides electronically secured surroundings with enclosed courtyards and patios for residents with Alzheimers, dementia and other forms of memory loss. The trained staff diligently provides 24/7 assistance for medication management and activities of daily living, while a pendant emergency call system keeps seniors secure. Seniors can savor dietician-approved, home-style cooked meals available on-site. Life enrichment activities are regularly organized, and a porch and patio ensure easy socialization. Daily housekeeping and laundry services are also available.
Visitors appreciate the caring and professional staff of the community. One writes, We went to BeeHive Homes of Rio Rancho. They were very kind and professional, the facility was beautiful, and we liked it a lot. Everything was updated and safe, and I liked how they interacted with the residents and the activities they do.
Brookdale Tramway Ridge Senior Living offers a broad menu of choices for elders in need of assisted living, memory care, hospice care and skilled nursing services, among other care options. The community offers memory care residents an array of safety features for their personal security, including a 24-hour security system, daily check-ins, emergency alert buttons for all rooms and secured units with keypad access. The memory care and assisted living conveniences of Brookdale incorporate a pet-friendly environment thats equipped with Wi-Fi, an internal convenience store, clinical facilities that include complete skilled nursing and a therapy room. Cognitive enrichment activities are also offered through a game room, a fitness center and studio space for arts and crafts. Residents can also enjoy supervised and secured walking paths. Daily fresh meal services are provided for all residents, as well.
Brookdale has received many positive reviews from clients and residents. As one succinctly explains, "The Brookdale Tramway was very nice, and it was the one that we liked. Its clean, and the rooms were very good. The staff was wonderful, too."
Casa de Paz Senior Assisted Living is set in three residential houses in one of Rio Rancho's residential neighborhoods. Each is secured to provide a safe environment for memory care seniors with a large communal living room, open-plan kitchen and patios overlooking landscaped backyards. Activities are planned to incorporate the interests of the residents with the overarching goal of maintaining strength and ability. Music and arts are common activities, along with a daily exercise program and walking club. Care is coordinated with physicians and other health care professionals who also have input into the meals to ensure a balanced diet is provided. Residents are encouraged to socialize, with the cozy, home-like environment perfect for ensuring everyone's birthday is celebrated in style and with family invited to join in the celebrations.
Family members praised the staff and the high staff-to-resident ratio. One family member said, "Best assisted living facility Ive ever encountered! This place has a "home environment and makes everyone feel welcome. They care for each patient and the caregiver to patient ratio is awesome so each resident feels like they are actually part of a family here."
Harmony Residential Care offers a calming environment for assisted living and memory care residents, with personalized therapeutic plans that focus on memory care residents' individual needs and interests. Group activities designed to maintain cognitive function are offered daily, while social interaction keeps seniors' minds active. The community helps residents maintain independence with daily activities that stimulate their senses, including massage therapy and hydrotherapeutic bathing. Families are encouraged to visit their loved ones and stay for dinner. The residents are free to explore walking paths through the gardens or feed the birds that frequent the birdbaths scattered around the community.
Family members comment on the community's range of activities. One family member says, "My Grammy was a renowned musician, and Harmony Residential put a keyboard in her room and printed sheet music. It really touched me how they get to know their residents and see what they can do to make them happy."
Situated near easy access to Paseo Del Norte Boulevard, the MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Albuquerque is close to many local amenities, including The Village Shops at Los Ranchos. Dedicated caregivers provide assistance with daily tasks to seniors with Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia. Personal care plans are overseen by both a Wellness Director and Care Managers. Resident-led social clubs promote social interactions and camaraderie. The community offers a BrainWise Foods program for Memory Care residents. Meals are prepared with ingredients that have high concentrations of antioxidants and vitamins that are known to support cognitive health. Apartments range from 323 to 798 square feet and feature kitchenettes and spacious living areas.
Reviewers like the communitys dining experience and the activities available to the residents. They also praised the compassionate staff. A relative of a resident wrote, "Our family really appreciate the number of staff that are always on duty and especially that the culinary staff are separate from the attendants providing personal care. The staff are fabulous!
Conveniently located down the street from Presbyterian Rust Medical Center and Lovelace Westside Hospital, MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Rio Rancho is close to several shopping centers, including Cottonwood Mall and Southern Plaza. The 24-hour staff and licensed nurses have experience caring for seniors with Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia. The community offers a full schedule of activities and programs that support residents physical and mental well-being, promote confidence and reduce anxiety. Seniors can enjoy healthy menu options prepared by an executive chef who can accommodate physician-prescribed diets. Residents can also share their favorite recipes with the community chef, making mealtime a more comfortable and familiar experience by sparking fond memories.
Reviewers like the activities and programs available to residents. "Our family really appreciates the number of staff that are always on duty and especially that the culinary staff are separate from the attendants providing personal care," writes one resident's family member. "The staff are fabulous!
North Ridge Alzheimer's Special Care Center is a senior living community located in Albuquerque, NM. Dedicated to memory care, the community follows the Meaningful Moments program to utilize residents' life stories, personal interests and health care needs to facilitate targeted care in a familiar neighborhood kept safe with electronic security devices. Private and companion rooms are furnished with favorite personal items to create a soothing, recognizable residence, and the staff is on hand 24/7 to assist with any personal care need. Daily schedules are full of opportunities for engagement and feature events personalized to residents and their skills, including hobby classes, educational and support groups and social events that involve residents' families and friends. The grounds are secured and pleasingly landscaped, showcasing a central courtyard complete with walking paths, shaded patio seating and magnificent views of the neighboring mountains.
Residents and their families offer consistent praise for the community and its personable, compassionate staff. One family member says, "The staff at North Ridge is patient, loving, kind and professional. They show compassion to the families of their residents and welcome any questions about their care."
Palmilla Senior Living community is located in the heart of metropolitan Albuquerque and is surrounded by a multicultural hub. The community provides an extensive Montessori-based memory care program that focuses on each resident's abilities, interests and preferences. Palmilla Senior Living also offers independent living and assisted living services, including a low-impact physical fitness program. Residents can also enjoy a variety of amenities and activities, such as bingo, a walking club, housekeeping and laundry services and a community library.
Residents and families love the extensive care at Palmilla Senior Living. One said, "Spacious Rooms. Excellent facility, nice dining room. Awesome residents. Excellent attentive staff. Very loving, caring and supportive. Easy access to location. My parents did not get involved in many of the activities so I cannot comment on that. The offerings look decent. Would highly recommend this location."
The Neighborhood in Rio Rancho Life Plan Community offers a solution for seniors looking to age in place. A full spectrum of care levels offered on a single campus, including memory care for seniors with Alzheimer's and other cognitive conditions. Memory care residents enjoy the comforts of a home-like environment that's fully secured so they can move about the space freely and independently and enjoy amenities such as the landscaped outdoor patio area. Each day, residents have the opportunity to participate in planned activities and social events, as well as personalized therapeutic activities to support their cognitive health and overall well-being. Trained staff members are available 24-hours a day to provide support with daily tasks, medication management, redirection and mobility assistance. Resident suites receive daily light apartment housekeeping, with bedding and personal laundry services provided on a weekly basis.
The Neighborhood in Rio Rancho Life Plan Community receives high praise for its dedicated staff and compassionate care. The son-in-law of a resident shares that it gave him great peace of mind knowing that the staff "treated her like a part of their family," and the entire family with "care and concern and understanding."
The Retreat Alzheimer's Speciality Care is a senior living community designed to meet the unique needs of seniors living with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. The community features a homelike atmosphere and pleasing designs, including secured pathways inside and outside for safe movement and private or semiprivate rooms ready to decorate with favorite personal belongings. The specially trained nursing staff is on hand 24/7 to provide care for each resident, utilizing personal histories, family input and physician recommendations to develop customized wellness plans. Daily schedules are structured yet flexible, full of creative hobby classes, interactive games and engaging music activities, with plenty of time for relaxation through snack times, sensory therapies and friendship programs.
The community receives consistent praise for its compassionate, friendly staff and dedication to the specialized care required for residents with memory care needs. One family member says, "He has excellent care, and the staff communicates extremely well with my mother. I drop in irregularly and never see anything to be concerned about."
The Watermark at Cherry Hills Assisted Living and Memory Care is a resort-style senior living community within close proximity to shopping, recreational activities and major hospitals. Its residences range from comfortable studios to spacious two-bedroom apartments complete with luxuriously fitted kitchenettes. The community's memory care neighborhood creates a homelike environment for residents and a sense of being in a family setting. Delicious meals, fresh flowers, pets and plenty of natural light assist in creating a warm and comforting atmosphere. Engaging activities, including music and painting lessons, walking clubs, yoga classes, hobby and talent sessions as well as language and computer assistance classes are available. The Watermark at Cherry Hills also plans interesting excursions for residents, such as fishing trips, outings to the beach, trips to New York City and overnight camping.
Reviewers regularly praise The Watermark at Cherry Hills for its level of commitment and novel approach to senior care. One says, "As a healthcare professional in assisted living, I enjoy communities that innovate the assisted living model.it's a home where a loved one can thrive, gain independence and socialize in a progressive and beautiful environment.
An award-winning community, The Woodmark at Uptown offers a full spectrum of care services, including an award-winning memory care program that helps residents with cognitive conditions find joy and connection in their daily lives. Its specialized memory care neighborhood is purposefully designed with the comfort and safety of these seniors in mind, featuring amenities such as a theater, library and secured courtyard area. The community is also pet-friendly, so residents can continue to enjoy the company of their furry friends. Caregivers help establish daily routines and offer gentle reminders while allowing residents to maintain the greatest level of independence possible. To promote brain health and socialization, residents have the opportunity to participate in stimulating activities and daily programs that have been adapted for sound and distraction to suit memory care residents' unique needs.
The Woodmark at Uptown is consistently recognized for its commitment to its residents' health and happiness at every stage of their aging journey. The daughter of a resident shares that in her mother's five years at the community, "She has been safe, healthy and not lost her sense of humor in all that time. We have the wonderful, amazing staff to thank for her great lifestyle at 94."