Dementia Care in Boston, MA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Boston, MA: the local picture

10,842

residents 85 or older (1.6% of all residents)

86,924

residents 65 or older (13% of Boston)

37%

of residents 65+ report a disability

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Boston has about 10,842 residents aged 85 or older among 86,924 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.

37% of residents 65 and older report a disability. The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

35% of older Boston 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.

Boston compared with Massachusetts

Census figure	Boston	Massachusetts
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	2.2%
Residents 65 or older	13%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	21%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	36%	25%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$51,082	—

Older residents in towns around Boston

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Winthrop Town, MA	3.5 mi	3,631	521
Chelsea, MA	4.1 mi	4,188	674
Everett, MA	5.0 mi	5,660	708
Quincy, MA	5.4 mi	18,123	2,401
Somerville, MA	5.5 mi	8,108	826
Cambridge, MA	5.7 mi	14,440	1,516

Nursing homes near Boston

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
North End Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center	Boston, MA	2.4 mi	2 of 5	100	(857) 772-7800
Alliance Health At Marina Bay	Quincy, MA	3.1 mi	3 of 5	167	(617) 769-5106
Highland Park Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center	Chelsea, MA	3.4 mi	1 of 5	195	(617) 997-9121
The Center At Advocate	East Boston, MA	3.6 mi	1 of 5	190	(617) 455-6115
St Joseph Rehab & Nursing Care Center	Dorchester, MA	3.7 mi	2 of 5	123	(617) 825-6320
Bostonian Nursing Care & Rehabilitation Center	Dorchester, MA	3.8 mi	4 of 5	121	(617) 265-2350

Hospices serving Boston

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company	Charlestown, MA	3.5 mi	(617) 242-4872
Legacy Lifecare Hospice And Palliative Care	Chelsea, MA	4.1 mi	(617) 889-0779
Longwood Hospice	Brookline, MA	5.4 mi	(617) 505-3443
Good Shepherd Community Care	Newton, MA	8.4 mi	(617) 969-6130

Straight-line miles from the center of Boston. 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 Boston

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $4,257 monthly median income of Boston households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Boston: common questions

What nursing homes are near Boston?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are North End Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center in Boston (2.4 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Alliance Health At Marina Bay in Quincy (3.1 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Highland Park Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center in Chelsea (3.4 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Boston?

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $4,257 monthly median income of Boston households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Boston

More senior care near Boston

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Boston

More for Boston 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 Boston, MA