10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Columbus, OH

Columbus residents can combine several private and public assistance options to help pay for memory care. An assessment of your loved one’s unique financial circumstances will help you determine the best way to pay for room and board and personal care services in a memory care community.

Memory care and assisted living facilities, or residential care facilities as they are designated in Ohio, must be licensed by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). The ODH performs facility inspections before licensing the facility, and then a minimum of every 15 months after licensure. Ohio memory care facilities have the same requirements as assisted living facilities.

A residential care facility is defined as one of the following:

• A facility offering accommodations and care for a minimum of 17 residents who are not related to one another
• A facility offering accommodations and care services to three or more unrelated persons who are dependent on these services, with skilled nursing being offered to at least one resident

Ohio memory care staff requirements

While there are no minimum staff requirements for residential care facilities in Ohio, facilities are required to employ specific types of personnel. Memory care facilities have one additional staff requirement, which is that the facility must have a psychologist or physician either on staff or contracted to oversee the care of residents with late-stage cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Other staff requirements for Ohio residential care, such as memory care and assisted living facilities, are as follows:

• An administrator who is responsible for managing the facility’s operations must be on the premises at least 20 hours per week and must also be available at all times when they are off-site.
• If the facility offers personal care services, they must have one direct care staff member who is trained in first aid on the premises at all times.
• If the facility provides medication administration, they must have a registered nurse, a physician, or a licensed nurse practitioner certified in medication administration on staff.

Staff in Ohio assisted living facilities, including memory care facilities, must meet the following requirements:

• They must be free from diseases that could be transmittable to residents in their care.
• They must be without alcohol or drug dependencies that affect their work performance and the safety of the individuals in their care.
• They must be at least 16 years of age; if they are under 18, they must be supervised by a staff member who is at least 18. The administrator of a facility must be 21 or older.
• They must undergo proper training for their responsibilities, as is outlined in Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3701-16-06.

Ohio memory care service requirements

Ohio memory care and assisted living facilities must provide residents with the following services:

• Assistance with activities of daily living
• Social and recreational activities
• Laundry and housekeeping services
• Three meals per day or a food-safe storage for residents to take care of their own food

Ohio memory care building standards

Ohio memory care and assisted living facilities must comply with building code standards for health and safety. All facilities must be approved by their local certified building department.

Memory care and assisted living facilities must have all plumbing, electrical, and sanitation systems in safe and working order. They must uphold standards for fire and carbon monoxide safety, have evacuation and disaster preparedness plans, and perform and document routine evacuation drills.

You can access Ohio memory care facility inspection reports through the Health Care Provider Survey Reports. To look up a particular facility’s inspection report using this tool, select “Assisted Living Facility” from the “Select a provider type” drop-down menu, then narrow your search by entering the county, the city, or the name of the specific organization you’re searching for.

For additional information on rights and resources for seniors in memory care and other senior care facilities, view the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging HOUSING Guide for Seniors and Individuals Who Have a Disabilities.

Ohio Department of Health contact information

Ohio Department of Health
246 N. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-3543

COVID-19 regulations for Columbus memory care facilities

Ohio memory care facilities are recommended to implement precautionary measures against COVID-19 in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Individual communities may have their own rules in place, so it’s best to call prospective communities ahead of time to ask what specific guidelines they have in place. The general guidelines are as follows:

Columbus memory care communities strive to offer customized care to senior residents. Care staff strive to get to know each resident and foster a holistic relationship, knowing their preferences, interests, and idiosyncrasies in order to cultivate quality care and engagement. These memory care communities offer the same leisure and care provisions of assisted living, plus additional offerings to match the unique needs of seniors with memory loss. Such offerings include the following:

• Safety systems to prevent wandering
• Activities designed to support cognitive function
• Indoor and/or enclosed outdoor walking spaces

Columbus memory care support services

Most memory care communities in Columbus offer private apartments with access to the following care and support services:

• Round-the-clock care staff
• 24-hour emergency response
• Assistance with activities of daily living, such as grooming, bathing, and dressing
• Incontinence care
• Housekeeping and laundry services
• Barber and beauty services
• Exercise classes
• Engaging recreational, social, and entertainment activities
• Restaurant-style dining
• Grocery and errand services
• Transportation services

Multiple tiers of care on one campus

Out of our partnered Columbus communities offering memory care, 94% feature some combination of memory care, assisted living, and independent living, all in the same community. Multiple care types together offer more variety among residents, often providing more opportunity for friendships and social engagement, regardless of an individual’s specific level of need.

Communities that integrate multiple levels of care enable residents to conveniently transition to a support level that fits them if their needs change, making it ideal for aging in place. Additionally, since memory care units tend to have a lower maximum number of residents than assisted living, seniors who are in the earlier stages of memory loss can start out in assisted living as a more cost-effective option, and transition to the memory care unit at a later time, should they need more specialized cognitive support.

Columbus memory care amenities

Our Columbus memory care partner communities feature communal leisure areas and on-site conveniences, which include some or all of the following:

• Indoor walking spaces
• Enclosed outdoor walking spaces
• Beauty salons/barber shops
• TV and movie lounges
• Patios
• Fitness centers
• Libraries/media centers
• Dining areas
• Cafes/bistros
• Central fireplaces
• Game/craft rooms

Health care for seniors in Columbus

Columbus is home to two state-of-the-art teaching and general medical hospitals.

Transportation for seniors in Columbus

Of A Place for Mom’s Columbus memory care partners, 81% offer complimentary transportation services and 72% offer at-cost transportation to residents. Whether the transport services in some communities are complimentary or at cost may depend on distance or on-demand transportation rather than scheduled.

The Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAA) comprehensive Transportation Guide offers information on free and low-cost transportation dedicated to serving seniors and individuals with disabilities.

If taking public transportation with a caregiver, Columbus seniors can take advantage of the Central Ohio Transit Authority, or COTA. The American Public Transportation Association awarded COTA its Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award in 2018 and 2020. With buses serving an area of over 1.2 million people, COTA has innovative trip planning tools, multiple services like Bike and Ride or Park and Ride, and a free Emergency Ride Home system to make sure Columbus residents don’t get stranded.