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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Chowchilla, CA: the local picture

257

residents 85 or older (1.4% of all residents)

1,898

residents 65 or older (10.0% of Chowchilla)

41%

of residents 65+ report a disability (39% in Madera County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Chowchilla has about 257 residents aged 85 or older among 1,898 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.

41% of residents 65 and older report a disability (39% in Madera County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

40% of older Chowchilla 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.

Chowchilla compared with Madera County and California

Census figure	Chowchilla	Madera County	California
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	1.5%	1.9%
Residents 65 or older	10.0%	14%	16%
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	39%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	21%	23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	14%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	42%	46%	44%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$45,362	$64,480	—

Older residents in towns around Chowchilla

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Madera Acres, CA	11 mi	1,484	49
Planada, CA	13 mi	573	80
Madera, CA	13 mi	6,515	868
Parksdale, CA	17 mi	279	25
Merced, CA	18 mi	9,545	964
Firebaugh, CA	22 mi	963	30

Nursing homes near Chowchilla

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Palms Care Center	Chowchilla, CA	1.6 mi	3 of 5	65	(559) 665-4826
Chowchilla Memorial Healthcare District	Chowchilla, CA	1.6 mi	4 of 5	29	(559) 665-3781
Madera Care Center	Madera, CA	14 mi	4 of 5	64	(559) 673-9278
Madera Rehabilitation & Nursing Center	Madera, CA	15 mi	1 of 5	176	(559) 673-9228
Merced Behavioral Center	Merced, CA	17 mi	5 of 5	96	(209) 723-8814
Anberry Post Acute	Merced, CA	18 mi	3 of 5	120	(209) 783-9200

Hospices serving Chowchilla

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Bristol Hospice-California, LLC	Merced, CA	18 mi	(209) 384-1415
Fresno Hospice	Fresno, CA	30 mi	(209) 727-2470
Compassionate Care Hospice Central California, LLC	Fresno, CA	30 mi	(559) 432-2003
Bristol Hospice Fresno	Fresno, CA	30 mi	(559) 320-4000

Straight-line miles from the center of Chowchilla. 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 Chowchilla

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 39% of the $3,780 monthly median income of Chowchilla 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 Chowchilla: common questions

What nursing homes are near Chowchilla?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Palms Care Center in Chowchilla (1.6 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Chowchilla Memorial Healthcare District in Chowchilla (1.6 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Madera Care Center in Madera (14 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Chowchilla?

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 39% of the $3,780 monthly median income of Chowchilla 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 Chowchilla

More senior care near Chowchilla

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Chowchilla

More for Chowchilla 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 Chowchilla, CA