By Don Moore on Friday, 25 November 2022
Category: Tennessee Assisted Living

Why Select Assisted Living in Memphis, TN?

With so many different cities to choose from, one might ask – why choose Memphis, Tennessee for your assisted living community? The answer is nothing if not both straightforward and complex.

The quick and easy answer is that Memphis is one of the most affordable cities in the United States, with a cost of living that’s 19% lower than the national average. Add to that the fact that Tennessee doesn’t have an income tax, and you can see there’s a sizable financial benefit to choosing this remarkable city for your or your loved one’s assisted living needs.

But it’s not until you look a little deeper that you find arguably even greater reasons for moving into assisted living in Memphis. For example, Memphis is a city that just exudes southern hospitality. The people here are as warm and inviting as the weather, and few cities can match the comfortable and relaxed feel that permeates the city’s neighborhoods. In Memphis, seniors can enjoy having easy access to big-city amenities and healthcare solutions without sacrificing the close-knit friendliness and support that’s more readily found in small-town communities.

Named after its sister city in Egypt, Memphis sits along America’s Nile– the Mississippi River. The city even has its very own pyramid! A deeply historical city in many regards, Memphis not only has some of the best (and most important) museums in the world, but it also has a rich arts and culture scene, a sublime food scene, and plenty of green spaces where you can enjoy spending time among the red maple trees, eastern red cedars, golden sassafras trees, and flowery Serviceberry trees.

With so much to experience in this incredible city, Memphis offers all the opportunities you need to get the most out of your retirement. So, if you’re considering assisted living, and you want to live somewhere that is affordable, exciting, and overflowing with history and hospitality, then Memphis, Tennessee should sit right at the top of your list. 


Assisted Living in Memphis, TN: What You Need to Know

Deciding to move into assisted living is never an easy one but having access to dependable information certainly helps. Senioridy is a trusted resource that you can use to learn more about assisted living facilities. Just click on the topics below to get a better idea of what to expect if you are interested in Memphis’s assisted living options for yourself or a loved one.

Criteria for Admittance in Assisted Living in Tennessee

Tennessee, like most states, requires those who are interested in assisted living to meet certain admittance criteria. According to state laws, assisted living facilities can admit or retain residents who:

Tennessee assisted living facilities are restricted from admitting or retaining individuals who:


Assisted Living Costs in Memphis, TN

Assisted living in Memphis, Tennessee is moderately affordable, with an average monthly cost for assisted living of $4,200. This puts Memphis on par with the state average and slightly lower than the national average.

While Tennessee Medicare doesn’t pay for assisted living services, financial assistance is available for those who need it through TennCare CHOICES. Seniors or their beneficiaries are responsible for paying for their room and board, but TennCare will aid in covering some of the other costs associated with their stay.

Also helping seniors afford assisted living in Memphis is the fact that Tennessee doesn’t have a state income tax. This means seniors may be able to put more of their retirement income toward their assisted living expenses.

It is important to remember that the above cost is an average. Not all assisted living communities offer the same variety of amenities to their residents, and the number and types of these amenities can affect their total monthly costs. Amenities that can impact the cost of assisted living can include, but are not limited to:

 

How Many Seniors Live in Memphis?

Memphis is located in Shelby County, in the southwest corner of Tennessee, where it is also the county seat. In 2020, the city had a population of 630,348, making it the second-largest city in the state and the 27th-largest city in the United States. According to the 2022 U.S. Census, Memphis has 489,241 adults living in the city, 86,987 of whom are seniors.


Things for Seniors to See and Do in Memphis, TN

Memphis is a vibrant city that knows full well how to take advantage of its overabundance of sunny and warm days. It has world-class attractions to satisfy every passion, from history to the arts to nature and beyond.

Memphis is the birthplace of Rock-and-Roll, and there’s no better place for a music lover to visit than legendary Beale Street. Here you’ll find no fewer than three museums dedicated to preserving America’s musical heritage, all within walking distance of each other – the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum, the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, and The Blues Hall of Fame.

Memphis is also home to the Memphis Zoo, the National Civil Rights Museum, and of course, Elvis Presley’s Graceland. Meanwhile, down at the Mississippi Riverfront, you can book a passage on a Memphis Riverboat, attend one of the dozens of festivals and events held there throughout the year, or take a walk on the Big River Crossing, the longest pedestrian bridge to span the mighty Mississippi. Other noteworthy attractions in Memphis that seniors may appreciate include, but are not limited to:

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Memphis is also a city that speaks to the heart of all food lovers. After all, its famous dry-rubbed pork BBQ is unlike anything you’ll find anywhere else in the country. But while BBQ might be what the city is best known for, Memphis also happens to belong to one of the state’s fastest-growing culinary scenes. Food Network host and food critic, Alton Brown, has even called Memphis “the best city in the country for food.” From soul food to fine dining, you’ll find whatever you’re craving along the streets of Memphis, Tennessee.

 

What are the Benefits of Assisted Living in Memphis?

The wonderful thing about assisted living in Memphis is that these facilities are especially adept at providing each resident with the personalized services that they need to live their best life. While each facility may offer its unique selection of programs and services, most provide a standard set of services that allow every resident to enjoy certain freedoms and experiences designed to make this transition highly beneficial to them, such as:

Living Spaces That Feel Like Home

Deciding to move into an assisted living facility isn’t always easy. But one thing that can help make the transition smoother for you or your loved one is having the ability to decorate your new living space with your own furniture and/or household items. This allows one to transform their new apartment into a comfortable living space that feels more like home. Having this sense of comfort, being surrounded by the things they love most, can often play an important role in helping assisted living residents adapt to their new living environment quicker and easier.

Personalized Care

Every high-quality assisted living facility in the Memphis area has capable staff on hand who are experts at providing a customized level of care to satisfy every resident’s unique healthcare needs and personal preferences. Personalized care can vary, from nursing care services and medication administration to comprehensive monitoring of mood and behavioral issues.

Hands-on assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

Not all assisted living residents have the same needs. Some may only need a little assistance with certain tasks, while others may need extra help completing their Activities of Daily Living or ADLs.ADLs include a range of tasks such as housekeeping, bathing, dressing, hygiene, laundry, and more. Any assisted living facility’s staff is specifically trained to provide respectful, hands-on assistance that protects the resident’s dignity.

Quality Nutrition and Dining Options

Good health starts with good nutrition. As a result, assisted living communities in Memphis offer their residents a wide range of fresh dining options to choose from. Most facilities offer flexible mealtimes and an outstanding meal variety, with professional kitchens capable of preparing customized diet-specific menus for those residents who have certain dietary restrictions.


Access to Quality Healthcare

Assisted living facilities offer their residents access to a range of quality healthcare services, both on-site and when necessary, at local hospitals and other types of healthcare facilities. Memphis is home to several excellent healthcare providers, including Baptist Memorial Hospital, Methodist University Hospital, and Alliance Healthcare System, just to name a few.

Engaging Social Activities

Activities are an essential component in any assisted living community because they help older adults stay active and engaged despite their limitations. From dance classes, book clubs, and pottery to gardening and daytime excursions, every assisted living facility has a broad list of activities for residents to choose from. Participating in them is proven to help reduce feelings of isolation and depression and these activities can drastically improve one’s overall quality of life by helping them make friends, accomplish goals, and quite simply, have fun.

Safety and Security

When a senior reaches the point in their life where they require help with their ADLs or they are more prone to wander, there is nowhere safer for them to be than in a safe and secure assisted living facility. Improving an elderly loved one’s security is one of the most common reasons why assisted living facilities are so valuable to most families. Having advanced safety measures in place not only helps put the minds of family members at ease but also reduces the risk of something happening to their residents.

Public Transportation Services in Memphis, TN

Seniors living in assisted living regularly rely on public transportation whenever they travel anywhere outside of the facility, whether that is to do some shopping, see the sights, or visit their doctor. In Memphis, public transportation is provided by the Memphis Area Transit Authority(MATA). MATA maintains 33 routes and has thousands of bus stops throughout town. People aged 65 years and up, and people with disabilities, are eligible to pay a fare of half the base fare. A valid form of identification with proof of age is required.

Senior Centers in Memphis, TN

There are several Senior Centers in Memphis that provide valuable services to local seniors, including a wide array of leisure, wellness, and educational opportunities. Many locations also offer hot nutritious lunches. The following is a list of senior and community centers in Shelby County:


How to Find Assisted Living Facilities in Memphis, TN

Whether you are looking for an assisted living facility for yourself or a loved one, there are a few options available to you that can help you find the right one for your needs in Memphis. One option is to do it the old-fashioned way by looking in the phone book or inquiring about assisted living from your friends and relatives.

Another is to contact a placement agency. Senior placement agencies help seniors find the right assisted living facility for them by working with them and their families to find the best possible fit for their needs. These types of services typically charge a referral fee to the Assisted Living community since they are bringing in revenue to that facility, so they don’t usually charge seniors or their families. It is important to note that since agents can only get paid by assisted living facilities that they have contracts with, you may not be shown all the assisted living facilities that are available to you.

Another option is to use an online directory of assisted living facilities in Memphis, Tennessee from a site like Senioridy.com. Senioridy's search tools are comprehensive, so they can provide you with the best possible results. Just follow these steps:

Once you do this simple search, you will be presented with many top-rated facilities to compare.