Dementia Care in California, MD: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in California, MD: the local picture

49

residents 85 or older (0.4% of all residents)

1,799

residents 65 or older (14% of California)

19%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in St. Mary's County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

California has about 49 residents aged 85 or older among 1,799 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.

19% of residents 65 and older report a disability (30% in St. Mary's County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

26% of older California 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.

California compared with St. Mary's County and Maryland

Census figure	California	St. Mary's County	Maryland
Residents 85 or older	0.4%	1.5%	1.9%
Residents 65 or older	14%	14%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	19%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	22%	27%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	10%	9.5%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	8.2%	7.3%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$95,726	$83,422	—

Older residents in towns around California

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Wildewood, MD	3.0 mi	975	141
Drum Point, MD	3.8 mi	514	58
Lexington Park, MD	4.2 mi	962	60
Lusby, MD	5.4 mi	230	9
Chesapeake Ranch Estates, MD	5.8 mi	1,051	73
Leonardtown, MD	8.0 mi	659	110

Nursing homes near California

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Chesapeake Shores Nursing Center	Lexington Park, MD	3.0 mi	3 of 5	125	(301) 863-7244
Asbury Solomons	Solomons, MD	3.5 mi	5 of 5	48	(410) 394-3000
Solomons Nursing And Rehab Center	Solomons, MD	4.0 mi	1 of 5	95	(410) 326-0077
St. Mary's Nursing Center Inc	Leonardtown, MD	7.8 mi	5 of 5	160	(301) 475-8000
Calvert County Nursing Ctr.	Prince Frederick, MD	19 mi	2 of 5	149	(410) 535-2300
Charlotte Hall Veterans Home	Charlotte Hall, MD	20 mi	5 of 5	286	(301) 884-8171

Hospices serving California

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of St Mary's	Callaway, MD	5.1 mi	(301) 994-3023

Straight-line miles from the center of California. 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 California

At the Maryland median aide wage of $18.29 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,585 a month in wages, which is 20% of the $7,977 monthly median income of California households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Maryland'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 California: common questions

What nursing homes are near California?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Chesapeake Shores Nursing Center in Lexington Park (3.0 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Asbury Solomons in Solomons (3.5 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Solomons Nursing And Rehab Center in Solomons (4.0 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in California?

At the Maryland median aide wage of $18.29 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,585 a month in wages, which is 20% of the $7,977 monthly median income of California households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Maryland'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 California

More senior care near California

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in California

More for California 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 California, MD