Dementia Care in Los Alamos, NM: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Los Alamos, NM: the local picture

397

residents 85 or older (3.0% of all residents)

2,323

residents 65 or older (17% of Los Alamos)

26%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Los Alamos County)

2

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Los Alamos has about 397 residents aged 85 or older among 2,323 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.

26% of residents 65 and older report a disability (29% in Los Alamos County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

23% of older Los Alamos 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.

Los Alamos compared with Los Alamos County and New Mexico

Census figure	Los Alamos	Los Alamos County	New Mexico
Residents 85 or older	3.0%	2.7%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	17%	18%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	29%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	21%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	2.9%	3.1%	13%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	18%	15%	31%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$140,750	$137,143	—

Older residents in towns around Los Alamos

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
White Rock, NM	7.5 mi	1,233	135
La Mesilla, NM	13 mi	661	39
Española, NM	14 mi	1,894	254
Agua Fria, NM	22 mi	334	35
Santa Fe, NM	24 mi	23,296	2,346
La Cienega, NM	24 mi	597	44

Nursing homes near Los Alamos

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Los Alamos Wellness & Rehabilitation	Los Alamos, NM	0.8 mi	2 of 5	64	(505) 662-4300
Casa Real	Santa Fe, NM	25 mi	not rated	118	(505) 984-8313

Hospices serving Los Alamos

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Enchanted Sky Hospice LLC	Santa Fe, NM	30 mi	(505) 982-0209
Compassus- Santa Fe	Santa Fe, NM	30 mi	(505) 983-9212
Roadrunner Healthcare	Albuquerque, NM	51 mi	(505) 321-4819
Anvoi New Mexico	Taos, NM	52 mi	(855) 737-0681

Straight-line miles from the center of Los Alamos. 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 Los Alamos

At the New Mexico median aide wage of $13.71 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,188 a month in wages, which is 10% of the $11,729 monthly median income of Los Alamos households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Mexico's minimum wage is $12.00 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 Los Alamos: common questions

What nursing homes are near Los Alamos?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Los Alamos Wellness & Rehabilitation in Los Alamos (0.8 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Casa Real in Santa Fe (25 mi, not rated overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Los Alamos?

At the New Mexico median aide wage of $13.71 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,188 a month in wages, which is 10% of the $11,729 monthly median income of Los Alamos households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Mexico's minimum wage is $12.00 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 Los Alamos

More senior care near Los Alamos

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Los Alamos

More for Los Alamos 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 Los Alamos, NM