Dementia Care in Albany, CA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Albany, CA: the local picture

324

residents 85 or older (1.7% of all residents)

3,063

residents 65 or older (16% of Albany)

20%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Alameda County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Albany has about 324 residents aged 85 or older among 3,063 aged 65 or older. The risk of Alzheimer’s rises steeply with age, and the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that about a third of people 85 and older have Alzheimer’s dementia.

20% of residents 65 and older report a disability (31% in Alameda County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

32% of older Albany residents in households live alone. For someone with memory loss who lives alone, a few hours of daily check-ins are often the first step.

Albany compared with Alameda County and California

Census figure	Albany	Alameda County	California
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	1.9%	1.9%
Residents 65 or older	16%	15%	16%
Residents 65+ with a disability	20%	31%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	23%	23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.3%	11%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	37%	47%	44%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$107,500	$80,351	—

Older residents in towns around Albany

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Berkeley, CA	2.0 mi	20,100	2,093
Kensington, CA	2.1 mi	1,216	154
El Cerrito, CA	2.2 mi	5,363	718
Emeryville, CA	3.7 mi	1,440	231
East Richmond Heights, CA	3.8 mi	782	88
Richmond, CA	4.8 mi	16,769	1,783

Nursing homes near Albany

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Shields Nursing Center	El Cerrito, CA	1.2 mi	4 of 5	45	(510) 525-3212
Chaparral House	Berkeley, CA	2.2 mi	4 of 5	49	(510) 848-8774
Shields Richmond Nursing Center	Richmond, CA	3.0 mi	4 of 5	84	(510) 233-8513
Kyakameena Care Center	Berkeley, CA	3.3 mi	3 of 5	60	(510) 843-2131
Elmwood Care Center	Berkeley, CA	3.5 mi	3 of 5	74	(510) 665-2800
Ashby Care Center	Berkeley, CA	3.6 mi	4 of 5	31	(510) 841-9494

Hospices serving Albany

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Kaiser Foundation Hospital Hospice-Oakland	Oakland, CA	6.0 mi	(510) 752-6390
Asian Network Hospice, Inc	Oakland, CA	6.0 mi	(510) 268-1118
Ace Home Health Care & Hospice, Inc	Orinda, CA	8.0 mi	(925) 933-9012
Hospice By Blize Healthcare	Hercules, CA	8.5 mi	(510) 647-8057

Straight-line miles from the center of Albany. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a dementia caregiver can help with

Keeping a predictable daily routine
Gentle help with bathing, dressing and toileting
Meals, hydration and medication reminders
Calming approaches for sundowning, agitation and repeated questions

Cost

What dementia care costs in Albany

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 16% of the $8,958 monthly median income of Albany households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a dementia caregiver

An estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2025 Facts and Figures. Most live at home, cared for by family. The Association’s 24/7 Helpline (1-800-272-3900) is free.

Questions worth asking: Tell me about someone with dementia you cared for. What worked? What do you do when a client becomes agitated in the late afternoon? How do you keep someone safe who tries to leave the house? More in our dementia care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Dementia Care in Albany: common questions

What nursing homes are near Albany?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Shields Nursing Center in El Cerrito (1.2 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Chaparral House in Berkeley (2.2 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Shields Richmond Nursing Center in Richmond (3.0 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Albany?

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 16% of the $8,958 monthly median income of Albany households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

When does someone with dementia need care at home?

Common signs are missed meals or medication, getting lost in familiar places, unsafe cooking or driving, and a family caregiver who is exhausted. Many families start with a few hours a day and add hours, nights or live-in help as the disease progresses.

More near Albany

More senior care near Albany

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Albany

More for Albany families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

In-Home Dementia and Alzheimer's Care in Albany, CA