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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Firebaugh, CA: the local picture

30

residents 85 or older (0.4% of all residents)

963

residents 65 or older (11% of Firebaugh)

33%

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

5

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Firebaugh has about 30 residents aged 85 or older among 963 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.

33% of residents 65 and older report a disability (39% in Fresno County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

18% of older Firebaugh 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.

Firebaugh compared with Fresno County and California

Census figure	Firebaugh	Fresno County	California
Residents 85 or older	0.4%	1.4%	1.9%
Residents 65 or older	11%	13%	16%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	39%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	18%	24%	23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	14%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	81%	44%	44%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,452	$55,987	—

Older residents in towns around Firebaugh

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Mendota, CA	7.8 mi	1,066	50
Dos Palos, CA	13 mi	1,257	76
Chowchilla, CA	22 mi	1,898	257
Madera, CA	22 mi	6,515	868
San Joaquin, CA	23 mi	274	10
Madera Acres, CA	23 mi	1,484	49

Nursing homes near Firebaugh

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Palms Care Center	Chowchilla, CA	21 mi	3 of 5	65	(559) 665-4826
Chowchilla Memorial Healthcare District	Chowchilla, CA	21 mi	4 of 5	29	(559) 665-3781
Madera Care Center	Madera, CA	22 mi	4 of 5	64	(559) 673-9278
Madera Rehabilitation & Nursing Center	Madera, CA	24 mi	1 of 5	176	(559) 673-9228
New Bethany Skilled Nursing	Los Banos, CA	25 mi	2 of 5	35	(209) 827-8949

Hospices serving Firebaugh

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of California	Fresno, CA	34 mi	(559) 603-8100
Compassionate Care Hospice Central California, LLC	Fresno, CA	34 mi	(559) 432-2003
Bristol Hospice Fresno	Fresno, CA	34 mi	(559) 320-4000
Hinds Hospice - Fresno	Fresno, CA	34 mi	(559) 320-0310

Straight-line miles from the center of Firebaugh. 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 Firebaugh

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 40% of the $3,621 monthly median income of Firebaugh 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 Firebaugh: common questions

What nursing homes are near Firebaugh?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Palms Care Center in Chowchilla (21 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Chowchilla Memorial Healthcare District in Chowchilla (21 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Madera Care Center in Madera (22 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Firebaugh?

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 40% of the $3,621 monthly median income of Firebaugh 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 Firebaugh

More senior care near Firebaugh

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Firebaugh

More for Firebaugh 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 Firebaugh, CA