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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Merced, CA: the local picture

964

residents 85 or older (1.0% of all residents)

9,545

residents 65 or older (10% of Merced)

46%

of residents 65+ report a disability (40% in Merced County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Merced has about 964 residents aged 85 or older among 9,545 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.

46% of residents 65 and older report a disability (40% in Merced County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

26% of older Merced 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.

Merced compared with Merced County and California

Census figure	Merced	Merced County	California
Residents 85 or older	1.0%	1.3%	1.9%
Residents 65 or older	10%	12%	16%
Residents 65+ with a disability	46%	40%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	24%	23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	16%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	47%	53%	44%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,092	$44,830	—

Older residents in towns around Merced

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Franklin, CA	3.3 mi	1,046	115
McSwain, CA	6.0 mi	564	24
Atwater, CA	7.4 mi	3,993	600
Planada, CA	8.7 mi	573	80
Winton, CA	9.4 mi	1,127	154
Livingston, CA	15 mi	1,537	142

Nursing homes near Merced

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Merced Nursing & Rehabilitation Ctr	Merced, CA	0.3 mi	4 of 5	79	(209) 723-2911
La Sierra Care Center	Merced, CA	0.3 mi	3 of 5	68	(209) 723-4224
Golden Merced Care Center	Merced, CA	0.5 mi	3 of 5	121	(209) 723-1056
Franciscan Post-Acute Care Center	Merced, CA	1.1 mi	4 of 5	71	(209) 722-6231
Merced Behavioral Center	Merced, CA	1.1 mi	5 of 5	96	(209) 723-8814
Anberry Post Acute	Merced, CA	2.8 mi	3 of 5	120	(209) 783-9200

Hospices serving Merced

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Bristol Hospice-California, LLC	Merced, CA	0.9 mi	(209) 384-1415
Covenant Care Hospice	Turlock, CA	24 mi	(209) 664-2550
Progressive Hospice Care	Modesto, CA	36 mi	(209) 505-1035
Global Hospice And Pallative Care, Inc	Modesto, CA	36 mi	(310) 784-0422

Straight-line miles from the center of Merced. 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 Merced

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 $3,674 monthly median income of Merced 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 Merced: common questions

What nursing homes are near Merced?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Merced Nursing & Rehabilitation Ctr in Merced (0.3 mi, 4 of 5 overall); La Sierra Care Center in Merced (0.3 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Golden Merced Care Center in Merced (0.5 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Merced?

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 $3,674 monthly median income of Merced 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 Merced

More senior care near Merced

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Merced

More for Merced 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 Merced, CA