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

Local figures

Dementia Care in San Carlos, CA: the local picture

610

residents 85 or older (2.1% of all residents)

4,894

residents 65 or older (17% of San Carlos)

21%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in San Mateo County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

San Carlos has about 610 residents aged 85 or older among 4,894 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.

21% of residents 65 and older report a disability (28% in San Mateo County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

19% of older San Carlos 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.

San Carlos compared with San Mateo County and California

Census figure	San Carlos	San Mateo County	California
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	2.5%	1.9%
Residents 65 or older	17%	18%	16%
Residents 65+ with a disability	21%	28%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	19%	21%	23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	3.5%	9.0%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	28%	46%	44%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$134,297	$103,766	—

Older residents in towns around San Carlos

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Belmont, CA	1.8 mi	3,813	593
Emerald Lake Hills, CA	2.3 mi	769	62
Redwood City, CA	3.2 mi	11,387	1,543
North Fair Oaks, CA	3.9 mi	1,662	129
Foster City, CA	4.6 mi	5,759	1,004
Atherton, CA	4.7 mi	1,793	245

Nursing homes near San Carlos

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Belmont Healthcare Center	Belmont, CA	1.4 mi	5 of 5	74	(650) 591-9601
Devonshire Oaks Nursing Center	Redwood City, CA	2.6 mi	5 of 5	38	(650) 366-9503
San Mateo Medical Center D/P SNF	San Mateo, CA	2.8 mi	1 of 5	345	(650) 573-3678
Brookside Skilled Nursing Hospital	San Mateo, CA	3.8 mi	5 of 5	96	(650) 349-2161
Atherton Park Post-Acute	Menlo Park, CA	5.3 mi	4 of 5	160	(650) 325-8600
Vi At Palo Alto	Palo Alto, CA	6.3 mi	5 of 5	44	(650) 853-5001

Hospices serving San Carlos

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Mission Hospice & Home Care, Inc.	San Mateo, CA	4.9 mi	(650) 554-1000
Sutter Care At Home	San Mateo, CA	4.9 mi	(650) 685-2830
Universal Hospice Care LLC	Menlo Park, CA	6.1 mi	(408) 807-1984
Helping Hands Home Health Care & Hospice, Inc.	Burlingame, CA	7.2 mi	(650) 286-9000

Straight-line miles from the center of San Carlos. 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 San Carlos

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 13% of the $11,191 monthly median income of San Carlos 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 San Carlos: common questions

What nursing homes are near San Carlos?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Belmont Healthcare Center in Belmont (1.4 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Devonshire Oaks Nursing Center in Redwood City (2.6 mi, 5 of 5 overall); San Mateo Medical Center D/P SNF in San Mateo (2.8 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in San Carlos?

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 13% of the $11,191 monthly median income of San Carlos 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 San Carlos

More senior care near San Carlos

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in San Carlos

More for San Carlos 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 San Carlos, CA