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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Novato, CA: the local picture

1,453

residents 85 or older (2.8% of all residents)

12,612

residents 65 or older (24% of Novato)

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Marin County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Novato has about 1,453 residents aged 85 or older among 12,612 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.

27% of residents 65 and older report a disability (24% in Marin County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

26% of older Novato 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.

Novato compared with Marin County and California

Census figure	Novato	Marin County	California
Residents 85 or older	2.8%	2.8%	1.9%
Residents 65 or older	24%	24%	16%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	24%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	30%	23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.7%	7.5%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	31%	24%	44%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$90,361	$107,563	—

Older residents in towns around Novato

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Lucas Valley-Marinwood, CA	3.4 mi	1,763	161
Sleepy Hollow, CA	5.5 mi	788	109
Santa Venetia, CA	6.0 mi	1,238	228
Fairfax, CA	7.1 mi	1,735	73
San Anselmo, CA	7.2 mi	2,745	131
San Rafael, CA	7.5 mi	12,299	2,098

Nursing homes near Novato

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Novato Healthcare Center	Novato, CA	1.9 mi	1 of 5	181	(415) 897-6161
Smith Ranch Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Cente	San Rafael, CA	4.6 mi	3 of 5	80	(415) 499-1000
Pine Ridge Care Center	San Rafael, CA	5.1 mi	5 of 5	101	(415) 479-3610
Northgate Postacute Care	San Rafael, CA	5.1 mi	2 of 5	52	(415) 479-1230
Professional Post Acute Center	San Rafael, CA	5.1 mi	3 of 5	99	(415) 479-5161
Villa Marin	San Rafael, CA	5.7 mi	5 of 5	31	(415) 492-2408

Hospices serving Novato

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
By The Bay Health	Larkspur, CA	10 mi	(415) 927-2273
Anchor Health	Petaluma, CA	12 mi	(415) 598-0944
Providence At Home With Compassus Hospice Care, Sonoma County	Petaluma, CA	13 mi	(707) 778-6242
Athome Hospice Care LLC	American Canyon, CA	17 mi	(619) 274-1392

Straight-line miles from the center of Novato. 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 Novato

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 19% of the $7,530 monthly median income of Novato 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 Novato: common questions

What nursing homes are near Novato?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Novato Healthcare Center in Novato (1.9 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Smith Ranch Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Cente in San Rafael (4.6 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Pine Ridge Care Center in San Rafael (5.1 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Novato?

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 19% of the $7,530 monthly median income of Novato 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 Novato

More senior care near Novato

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Novato

More for Novato 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 Novato, CA