Dementia Care in Belen, NM: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Belen, NM: the local picture

99

residents 85 or older (1.3% of all residents)

1,261

residents 65 or older (17% of Belen)

54%

of residents 65+ report a disability (43% in Valencia County)

4

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Belen has about 99 residents aged 85 or older among 1,261 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.

54% of residents 65 and older report a disability (43% in Valencia County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

45% of older Belen 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.

Belen compared with Valencia County and New Mexico

Census figure	Belen	Valencia County	New Mexico
Residents 85 or older	1.3%	1.6%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	17%	19%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	54%	43%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	45%	25%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	34%	14%	13%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	34%	28%	31%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$34,844	$50,919	—

Older residents in towns around Belen

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Los Lunas, NM	2.6 mi	3,556	400
Los Chaves, NM	3.5 mi	1,077	127
El Cerro, NM	6.5 mi	907	29
Peralta, NM	8.2 mi	646	91
Bosque Farms, NM	8.6 mi	906	92
El Cerro Mission, NM	9.3 mi	722	11

Nursing homes near Belen

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Belen Meadows Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center	Belen, NM	7.8 mi	2 of 5	120	(505) 864-1600
Las Estancias By Pure Health	Albuquerque, NM	18 mi	5 of 5	120	(505) 632-3018
South Valley Care Center LLC	Albuquerque, NM	22 mi	5 of 5	58	(505) 877-2200
Ladera Center	Albuquerque, NM	25 mi	2 of 5	120	(505) 836-0023

Hospices serving Belen

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Legacy Hospice	Albuquerque, NM	27 mi	(505) 338-3702
Presbyterian Hospice Inpatient Unit	Albuquerque, NM	27 mi	(505) 559-7062
Hospice Of New Mexico, LLC	Albuquerque, NM	27 mi	(505) 872-2300
Bosque Trails Hospice LLC	Albuquerque, NM	27 mi	(505) 808-2870

Straight-line miles from the center of Belen. 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 Belen

At the New Mexico median aide wage of $13.71 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,188 a month in wages, which is 41% of the $2,904 monthly median income of Belen households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Mexico's minimum wage is $12.00 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 Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

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 Belen: common questions

What nursing homes are near Belen?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Belen Meadows Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center in Belen (7.8 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Las Estancias By Pure Health in Albuquerque (18 mi, 5 of 5 overall); South Valley Care Center LLC in Albuquerque (22 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Belen?

At the New Mexico median aide wage of $13.71 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,188 a month in wages, which is 41% of the $2,904 monthly median income of Belen households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Mexico's minimum wage is $12.00 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 Belen

More senior care near Belen

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Belen

More for Belen 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 Belen, NM