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 Thornton's senior population continues to grow (23.32% growth between 2014 and 2019), so does the concern about aging and the risk of cognitive impairment.
In Thornton, the number of deaths for those 65 and older caused or partly caused by Alzheimer’s disease increased by 50.41% between 2014 and 2019. To put that into perspective, the number of deaths from all causes for that same age group only increased by 13.26%. Overall, the percentage of seniors’ deaths related to Alzheimer’s is higher than the rest of the nation (8.77% in Thornton 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 Thornton. 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 Thornton, 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 in a stately, country-style setting, Park Regency Thornton is a faith-based senior living community. The memory care program transitions seniors into a welcoming neighborhood, where pets, music and pleasant scents provide comfort. Regularly updated care plans are based on each resident's physical and psychological needs, establishing healthy routines with consistent social interactions. Caregivers celebrate daily accomplishments while encouraging participation in cognitively-enriching activities, such as scenic outings, memory books, intergenerational story-sharing and art therapy. Amenities such as the movie theater, the library, the creative arts center and the landscaped courtyard promote stress-free stimulation. Dining is restaurant-style, with from-scratch specials and daily menus served at flexible hours. The Country Kitchen hosts cooking classes and family gatherings, with private dining and catering available for friends and family. Spacious accommodations include utilities, Wi-Fi, scheduled transportation, housekeeping and laundry.
Residents and family members cherish the loving staff and high quality of care. One family member writes, "The staff is wonderfully kind and caring. The peace of mind we experienced knowing that our loved one was fully cared for is priceless. We are forever grateful for the great care she received in both assisted living and memory care."
Bonaventure of Thornton offers a range of care levels. The memory care unit provides a secure, homelike environment, with a team of certified staff members on-site 24/7 to provide compassionate support. All staff members in the memory care neighborhood receive ongoing training in the latest research-based methods for caring for seniors with Alzheimer's and dementia. The caregivers get to know each resident by talking to them daily and getting information from family members, so they can provide personalized care. Daily activities may include aromatherapy, musical entertainment, yoga, art therapy, supervised access to community amenities and reminiscing discussions.
Family members are grateful to have such compassionate staff in this community. One relative says, "ALL of the Memory Care staff have gone WAAAAAY above and beyond to get my father-in-law settled into the community. The staff doctor was very instrumental in getting an assessment and updating his meds. We could not be more pleased with the care and support Bonaventure has given our entire family. AND the food is amazing."
Located just 5.5 miles from St. Anthony North Hospital, Rocky Mountain Assisted Living offers assisted living and memory care in a homelike setting. Caregivers provide 24/7 tailored assistance, and physicians perform regular health checks. Some seniors also benefit from cognitive therapy. All rooms have neutral decor and come with cable TV, Wi-Fi, accessible bathrooms and walk-in Jacuzzi tubs, and residents can add personal touches for greater comfort. There's a well-equipped communal kitchen where seniors can cook their favorite meals, with help provided when necessary, or nutritious home-cooked meals can be provided if preferred. Seniors can enjoy diverse enrichment activities, including therapeutic art and music classes, social events, games, excursions and fitness sessions, and the activity area and living room enhance opportunities for socialization and relaxation.
Residents appreciate the attentive, compassionate care and friendly atmosphere. One resident's loved one says, "The [community] is great, the care is great, and all the people there are wonderful. I would absolutely recommend them. Everybody is friendly. I know I'm leaving my aunt in a good place. They take care of her, and it's a family atmosphere. They talk with her."
A 6.5-acre cottage community just outside Denver, Sunrise of Westminster provides personalized memory care in a peaceful atmosphere. Designed for seniors affected by Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive challenges, the Reminiscence neighborhood is staffed by a specially trained, around-the-clock team that uses the latest evidence-based therapies to assist older adults. Each care plan is customized to meet resident needs; these plans include assistance with bathing, mobility, medication and socialization. Residents are assigned life enrichment managers who fill seniors' days with purpose by getting to know each individual's personal preferences and interests. Using the Validation Method's person-centered approach, they empathize with and improve the dignity of every resident. Personalized programs include multisensory experiences, daily exercise classes, outings to local attractions, group activities, art projects, puzzles and visits from children and pets. Fresh, chef-prepared meals are crafted around dietary needs.
Loved ones appreciate the dedicated team. "The care our mother received over the past two and half years was above and beyond our greatest expectations," one relative says. "The staff is knowledgeable and kind, compassionate and caring and truly feels like family. I highly recommend Sunrise of Westminster for any family member that you truly love."
Northglenn Heights Assisted Living encourages authentic relationships and communication in a pet-friendly residential community. The secure memory care neighborhood uses "In the Moment" design to provide structure and support for seniors with Alzheimer's and other memory disorders. Specialized training teaches staff to create opportunities for seniors to try new things and pursue personal interests. Teams of nurses, social workers and other professionals work with seniors and their families to create individualized care plans that accommodate each resident's abilities, needs and goals. Caregivers provide cues and assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and medication monitoring. Activities include art classes, group discussion, craft projects, gardening, reading club, exercise and stretching sessions, games or correspondence with pen pals. An enclosed courtyard with walking paths lets seniors spend time outdoors safely.
Families praise the compassionate caregivers. One relative says, "The staff is phenomenal. It was a huge adjustment for me and my siblings. After meeting all the staff, we all felt much better. The staff is so patient and very kind to my mom. They are emotionally attached to their residents. My mother was welcomed with open arms."
Brookdale Arvada provides memory care services in an intimate setting filled with amenities. Memory care is administered through the Clare Bridge Daily Path program, which is individualized to meet the needs of each resident. Programming takes place seven days a week and features at least six group activities each day. Activities include group fitness classes, musical performances and technology sessions with robotic companion pets or touch screen computing, as well as puzzle time and excursions to local parks. Memory care residents dine in a calm environment that offers dementia-friendly menus, consistent seating, scented hand towels and music piped through the space. Residents have access to a spacious porch and courtyard area, on-site beauty salon and barbershop and fireside living room.
Residents and their loved ones laud the community for its array of memory care programs to foster cognitive function, as well as its daily activities and delectable meals. One reviewer notes, "We were incredibly impressed with Brookdale Arvada. It was my first experience with memory care. I found their approach to it to be wonderfully compassionate."
At Greenridge Place in Westminster, Colorado, memory care residents take part in person-centered programs designed to meet their needs and enhance their abilities. Each resident receives a custom care plan that is reviewed and updated every 90 days. Staff help with all their daily living activities and medication as well as providing delicious meals. Security is provided by the Vigil real-time alert system, and suites and common areas are specially designed for ease of movement. Activites include arts and crafts, music, pet therapy, aromatherapy and reminiscence sessions. The specialized It's Never 2 Late (iN2L) technology helps residents communicate with loved ones and continue to learn.
Residents and their families are pleased with the excellent care residents receive at Greenridge Place. One reviewer notes of his loved one that "the improvement was amazing." His loved one's "sense of humor had returned," and he could communicate and follow conversations.
Villagio of Broomfield specializes in personalized memory care services for residents living with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, and it also offers respite care services. Set in a secured courtyard, resident apartments are divided into villages to create a homey environment that is abundant with natural light and ambience. State-of-the-art technology and advanced treatment programs are tailored to support each individual's life history, cultural heritage, current abilities and lifelong interests. Activities promote the four cornerstones of healthy aging: social, intellectual, inspirational and physical. Staff members are highly trained and every member of the management team is a certified dementia practitioner. Quarterly meetings encourage family members to be a collaborative part of care, and senior couples are welcomed.
Reviewers commend the compassion and care from staff. One family member notes, "Everyone truly cares about the residents and the facility. The activities for the residents continue to improve with lots of music and activities. The facility is beautiful and well maintained. I feel welcomed every time I visit, and my family member is treated with love and care."
Located in a quiet neighborhood outside Denver, Atria Westminster offers an idyllic living environment with easy access to natural scenery, shops and medical venues. This community's Guidance memory care program helps seniors with dementia live purposeful lives by focusing on four areas: social connection and engagement, physical activity, individualized care and thoughtfully designed spaces. Music therapy stimulates memories and keeps residents engaged. To stay physically active, seniors can choose from at least two exercise opportunities each day, such as weight training and yoga. The staff, highly trained in dementia care with at least 15 hours of continuing education every year, conducts a comprehensive assessment of each resident before developing an individualized care plan that can include grooming assistance and meal escorts. Seniors live in a secure neighborhood with personal mementos outside their apartments to help them find their way home.
Family members rave about the caring staff and beautiful environment. A reviewer writes, "The facilities are very clean and very modern, and it feels more like a nice hotel than a memory care facility. The life guidance director is amazing. She's very caring and wants to do what's best for the residents there."
Legend Of Broomfield is located in east Broomfield, 15 miles north of Denver. It is next to Broomfield Commons Open Space and near medical facilities such as New West Physicians Broomfield. Everything in this community has been designed with memory-impaired seniors in mind, from the easy-to-navigate floor plans to the soothing color schemes. Seniors with Alzheimer's and dementia receive a memory care plan that includes 24/7 individualized support with daily tasks. The team of staff leads daily enrichment activities that are designed to slow down memory loss and nourish body, mind and spirit. With a view of scenic mountains, the community boasts a range of useful amenities, including an enclosed courtyard and a post office. Activities include group games, cultural events and outings into the community. The chef prepares delicious meals daily for residents to enjoy.
Family members praise the kind staff, with one reviewer saying, "It is one of the nicest places we have in the area. The staff is extremely helpful and professional. They do art activities, they go to Bronco games, and they have music activities. Pretty much anything you can think of that is creative, they get people involved."
Camenisch Park is designed to feel like home. The community's design creates a calming environment for seniors dealing with memory loss, with potential trigger points, such as noise and clutter, kept to a minimum. Staff are on-site 24/7, ensuring basic needs are met, such as dressing, and managing programs designed to mitigate dementia's advance, and a registered nurse visits residents regularly. The community's private rooms, which have personal or shared bathrooms, surround the living area. Meals can be taken with other residents or in the senior's room. Neutral tones create a calming ambiance in which the residents can relax. A secure patio offers comfortable seating and a dining table protected under shade.
Reviewers praise the caring staff and homelike environment. One says, "The rooms and common areas are updated and clean, which shows the hands-on approach of the owner. We love the activities provided and how each person is treated as part of a family. The smaller environment feels like home."
Applewood Our House Assisted Living Memory Care Arvada is an intimate community providing memory care in a homelike setting. Memory care programming uses physical activities, such as stretching and walking, to help with mood and cognitive skills. Social interaction helps residents retain past memories while concentrating on present interactions. Quizzes and puzzles are part of the daily activity roster, as is listening to music and watching or reading the news. Meals are tailored to each resident's individual preferences, and the surrounding mountain views encourage residents to sit outside and soak up the fresh air.
Residents and their loved ones laud this community for its intimate and homey environment, diverse activity offerings, effective memory care programming., and staff professionalism. One reviewer writes, "Applewood Our House - Arvada was very clean, very neat and very well organized. Everybody there was happy, and they had all kinds of activities."
Conveniently located in a charming residential neighborhood outside Denver, Mountain Vista Senior Living Community offers easy access to natural scenery, shops, restaurants and medical venues. The highly trained memory care staff thoroughly evaluates each resident before designing a personalized care plan focusing on their physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. Seniors live in a secure neighborhood featuring an easily navigable layout complemented by specialized colors and textures to help them find their way. The 24/7 caregivers provide medication management and help with activities of daily living, such as bathing and dressing. Weekly housekeeping and laundry services are provided. A chef serves snacks and three balanced meals every day, while a team of rehabilitation specialists offers physical, occupational and speech therapies. Physician, dental, ophthalmology, podiatry and pharmacy services are also available. Amenities include an outdoor patio, a landscaped walking area and a beauty salon.
People love the compassionate staff, clean environment and diverse activities. A resident's granddaughter writes, "The [community] is clean, well-staffed and well maintained. The staff was always kind and compassionate to my family and grandmother. If an issue was brought to their attention, it was taken care of quickly and thoughtfully. The activities were well planned."
Rocky Mountain Assisted Living Wheat Ridge is a small senior living community with a high ratio of caregivers to residents. The memory care section features two secure courtyards where seniors can relax outdoors or take part in activities, such as gardening and walking. A team of qualified caregivers is on hand 24/7 to provide compassionate care and assistance. The size of the community enables staff members to get to know residents, which allows them to provide personalized care to each senior. Engaging activities are offered on a daily basis, and these may include musical entertainment, arts and crafts, cognitive games, gentle fitness classes, supervised outings and religious services. Physicians visit the community regularly, and a registered nurse is always on call. Three home-cooked meals are served each day.
Family members are impressed by the caring staff and excellent communication. "RMAL is a caring and loving environment," writes one. "The staff is engaged and helpful from the transition to the new setting to continued care throughout the resident's stay. They are willing to adapt to needs of the resident and family and are always open to answering questions and handling concerns."
Located in a quiet residential community surrounded by trees and gardens, Spring Ridge Park Assisted Living provides specialized care exclusively for seniors living with Alzheimer's and other forms of memory loss. Staff is extensively trained in dementia care practices and offers education and support for loved ones. Available around the -clock, they focus on preserving every resident's dignity and respect while assisting with the activities of daily living. Care is tailored to the individual and includes assistance with personal care, medication administration, nutrition support and wellness checks. Engaging group and one-on-one activities keep seniors active seven days a week. Opportunities include memory activities, arts and crafts, bus rides, ministry, fit ball fitness, letter-writing clubs, music and sing-alongs. The campus features enhanced security features to provide peace of mind, along with enclosed courtyards, so seniors can enjoy the outdoors safely.
Visiting relatives praise the attentive team. "What is amazing to me about this place is there are always staff members present when you walk in," says one reviewer. "The ratio of staff to residents is almost extraordinary. Mom is always with her fellow residents and/or staff so she is never lonely and never feels abandoned."
Nestled in a peaceful residential setting, MorningStar of Wheat Ridge provides assisted living, memory care, hospice and respite stays. For seniors living with Alzheimer's and related dementias, the Reflections neighborhood features secure suites staffed by a team of experienced caregivers. Here, they offer specialized, individualized care tailored to every resident's needs. Along with basic support with bathing, grooming, ambulation and medical assistance, the around-the-clock team offers a higher level of supervision and support for those living with memory loss. This philosophy is called Lavender Sky, in which a holistic approach helps support seniors in mind, body and soul. Engaging life enrichment programs include options for diverse interests, helping seniors embrace their unique experiences and talents. Restaurant-style, chef-prepared dining features nutritious choices with low-sodium, sugar-free, vegetarian and low-fat options available at every meal. Scheduled transportation is provided.
Loved ones like the ambiance and attentive caregivers. "The [community] is beautiful, clean and well maintained. The staff is passionately caring and helpful, the food is great," says one reviewer. " I spent many days and nights there with my parents and observed, first hand, the care, dedication and kindness of the staff."
Springwood Retirement Campus is located in a peaceful residential area and surrounded by 15 acres of landscaped gardens. Its memory care community, Nightingale Lane, provides 24/7 care for seniors with Alzheimer's and dementia. Specially trained staff manage programs that the Alzheimer's Association's "Memories in the Making" art program and music-related therapies designed to improve recall. Live music also forms part of the community's entertainment program. Meals are prepared with fresh ingredients and served three times per day in the dining area. Residents can enjoy time outside safely in the secure yard with level paths and comfortable seating.
The food at Springwood is highly regarded by residents. One relative says, "The facility is always very well maintained and clean which is comforting to know my mother is living in a well taken care of establishment. She has been enjoying the meals and the dining experience with the other residents."
Montage Ridge Senior Living is in Lakewood, 10 miles west of Denver. It is conveniently located close to St. Anthony Hospital and William Frederick Hayden Park. The community is designed to aid memory-impaired seniors and includes easy-to-navigate floor plans and emergency response systems in each room. The memory care program, which includes 24/7 nursing, consists of daily task assistance and therapies and activities to slow down memory loss. Residents can get involved in activities such as brain games and exercise classes, specially designed to optimize physical and mental well-being. Seniors can also get pampered in the beauty salon or relax in the sunroom patio. The culinary team prepares three nutritious meals per day for residents to enjoy together in the elegant dining room.
Visitors praise the helpful staff, with one reviewer saying, "The staff is informative and tells you everything that goes on. The atmosphere of the place is really nice and it looked like everybody was happy. Their dining area was also nice and clean, and everything was like in a hotel."
Ralston Creek Neighborhood offers assisted living and memory care services for residents in a homelike environment that provides personalized care plans and thoughtful amenities. Memory care patients receive personalized health monitoring, incontinence care and medication management from 24-hour certified staff. The staff at Ralston Creek also assist residents with personal care through daily housekeeping, laundry and linen services and assistance with bathing and grooming. The personalized, family-style dining experience promotes nutritional health through carefully planned meals tailored to meet residents' dietary needs. Amenities include scheduled transportation services as well as planned activities and special events, with escorts available to assist residents.
Residents praise the clean and welcoming environment at Ralston Creek, with one reviewer mentioning how the community "looked so fresh, new and well-maintained." Family members also commend the spirited community, with one relative commenting that "it was a pleasure to see how happy the residents are."
Brookdale Parkplace is a resort-style senior living community that offers a continuum of care. The memory care section is located on a separate floor of the building with monitored access points for the safety of residents. The community follows a person-centered approach that focuses on the current abilities and interests of each senior instead of what they have lost. Care plans are created in conjunction with family members and health care providers around the senior's interests, life history, likes and dislikes. A compassionate care team is on-site 24/7 to provide support and to redirect difficult behaviors associated with memory loss. A full-time activities director designs activities to suit the abilities and interests of the residents. Activities include art therapy, reminiscing, yoga, dancing and movie nights.
Online reviewers praise the welcoming community and excellent staff. One reviewer says, "Brookdale Parkplace is a tight-knit, well managed senior community that provides excellent support both for seniors wanting independent living and also for those who need more intense care including memory care. The staff members are diligent, committed and kind in their interactions with the residents."