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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Cambridge, MA: the local picture

1,516

residents 85 or older (1.3% of all residents)

14,440

residents 65 or older (12% of Cambridge)

24%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Middlesex County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Cambridge has about 1,516 residents aged 85 or older among 14,440 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.

24% of residents 65 and older report a disability (28% in Middlesex County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

40% of older Cambridge 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.

Cambridge compared with Middlesex County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Cambridge	Middlesex County	Massachusetts
Residents 85 or older	1.3%	2.0%	2.2%
Residents 65 or older	12%	16%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	28%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	9.2%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	35%	29%	25%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$93,540	$78,342	—

Older residents in towns around Cambridge

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Somerville, MA	1.3 mi	8,108	826
Watertown, MA	3.1 mi	6,506	762
Medford, MA	3.3 mi	9,028	1,442
Belmont, MA	3.4 mi	5,235	432
Arlington, MA	3.7 mi	8,030	1,022
Brookline, MA	3.8 mi	9,986	1,211

Nursing homes near Cambridge

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Cambridge Rehabilitation & Nursing Center	Cambridge, MA	0.6 mi	4 of 5	83	(617) 864-4267
Neville Center At Fresh Pond For Nursing & Rehab	Cambridge, MA	1.8 mi	4 of 5	112	(617) 497-0600
Watertown Rehabilitation And Nursing Center	Watertown, MA	1.8 mi	1 of 5	163	(617) 231-8245
Spaulding Nursing And Therapy Center - Brighton	Boston, MA	1.9 mi	5 of 5	123	(617) 726-9701
Sancta Maria Nursing Facility	Cambridge, MA	2.2 mi	2 of 5	141	(612) 280-1550
Care One At Brookline	Brookline, MA	2.5 mi	2 of 5	120	(617) 901-8365

Hospices serving Cambridge

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company	Charlestown, MA	2.9 mi	(617) 242-4872
Visiting Nurse & Community Care	Arlington, MA	3.6 mi	(781) 643-6090
First Choice Healthcare Inc	Newton, MA	3.9 mi	(617) 738-1113
Good Shepherd Community Care	Newton, MA	4.4 mi	(617) 969-6130

Straight-line miles from the center of Cambridge. 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 Cambridge

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 22% of the $7,795 monthly median income of Cambridge 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 Cambridge: common questions

What nursing homes are near Cambridge?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Cambridge Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Cambridge (0.6 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Neville Center At Fresh Pond For Nursing & Rehab in Cambridge (1.8 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Watertown Rehabilitation And Nursing Center in Watertown (1.8 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Cambridge?

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 22% of the $7,795 monthly median income of Cambridge 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 Cambridge

More senior care near Cambridge

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Cambridge

More for Cambridge 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 Cambridge, MA