San Clemente, California

In-Home Dementia and Alzheimer's Care in San Clemente, CA

Help at home for someone living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia: steady routines, safety and patience with changes in memory and mood. Post what you need in San Clemente for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.

A younger woman and an older woman looking at a phone together on a park bench
Local figures

Dementia Care in San Clemente, CA: the local picture

1,735
residents 85 or older (2.7% of all residents)
13,543
residents 65 or older (21% of San Clemente)
26%
of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Orange County)
6+
Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

San Clemente has about 1,735 residents aged 85 or older among 13,543 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 Orange County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

22% of older San Clemente 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 Clemente compared with Orange County and California

Census figureSan ClementeOrange CountyCalifornia
Residents 85 or older2.7%2.2%1.9%
Residents 65 or older21%16%16%
Residents 65+ with a disability26%29%33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone22%20%23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)5.3%10%12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home16%46%44%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$99,896$84,615—

Older residents in towns around San Clemente

TownDistanceResidents 65+Residents 85+
San Juan Capistrano, CA4.3 mi7,561760
Dana Point, CA5.0 mi7,300710
Rancho Mission Viejo, CA5.4 mi2,119311
Ladera Ranch, CA7.1 mi1,67836
Laguna Niguel, CA7.5 mi14,3721,562
Las Flores, CA9.3 mi3300

Nursing homes near San Clemente

Nursing homeTownDistanceCMS overall ratingCertified bedsPhone
Capistrano Beach Care CenterDana Point, CA2.1 mi1 of 593(949) 496-5786
San Juan Hills Healthcare CenterSan Juan Capistrano, CA4.3 mi4 of 545(949) 248-8855
Orchards Skilled NursingRancho Mission Viejo, CA8.0 mi5 of 549(949) 443-8900
Palm Terrace Healthcare & Rehabilitation CenterLaguna Hills, CA12 mi3 of 599(949) 587-9000
Villa Valencia Healthcare CenterLaguna Hills, CA12 mi4 of 559(949) 609-7540
Laguna Hills Health And Rehabilitation CenterLaguna Hills, CA12 mi1 of 5208(949) 837-8000

Hospices serving San Clemente

HospiceOfficeDistancePhone
West Coast Healthcare, LLCSan Juan Capistrano, CA4.8 mi(949) 270-3770
Cabrillo HospiceSan Juan Capistrano, CA4.8 mi(858) 345-3267
California Mission Hospice, LLCLaguna Hills, CA11 mi(949) 829-9888
Parentis HospiceLaguna Beach, CA11 mi(949) 305-2716

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

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 18% of the $8,325 monthly median income of San Clemente 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 Clemente: common questions

What nursing homes are near San Clemente?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Capistrano Beach Care Center in Dana Point (2.1 mi, 1 of 5 overall); San Juan Hills Healthcare Center in San Juan Capistrano (4.3 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Orchards Skilled Nursing in Rancho Mission Viejo (8.0 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in San Clemente?

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 18% of the $8,325 monthly median income of San Clemente 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 Clemente

More senior care near San Clemente

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in San Clemente

More for San Clemente 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.

Find dementia care in San Clemente

Posting is free and takes about ten minutes. Caregivers near San Clemente can see it as soon as it is live.

Create your free family account

Looking for caregiving work instead? Create a free caregiver profile.

A woman on a sofa at home reviewing caregiver profiles on a laptop