San Francisco, California

In-Home Dementia and Alzheimer's Care in San Francisco, 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 Francisco for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.

A younger man supporting an older man's arm as they walk through a bright living room
Local figures

Dementia Care in San Francisco, CA: the local picture

21,406
residents 85 or older (2.6% of all residents)
146,510
residents 65 or older (18% of San Francisco)
35%
of residents 65+ report a disability
0
Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

San Francisco has about 21,406 residents aged 85 or older among 146,510 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.

35% of residents 65 and older report a disability. The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

31% of older San Francisco 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 Francisco compared with California

Census figureSan FranciscoCalifornia
Residents 85 or older2.6%1.9%
Residents 65 or older18%16%
Residents 65+ with a disability35%33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone31%23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)17%12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home44%44%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$67,096—

Older residents in towns around San Francisco

TownDistanceResidents 65+Residents 85+
Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA29 mi2,232153
Mill Valley, CA30 mi3,287398
Kentfield, CA30 mi1,766249
Fairfax, CA30 mi1,73573
Marin City, CA30 mi53766
Broadmoor, CA30 mi72415

Hospices serving San Francisco

HospiceOfficeDistancePhone
Crossroads Home Health & HospiceSan Francisco, CA30 mi(415) 682-2111
By The Bay HealthLarkspur, CA31 mi(415) 927-2273
Kaiser Foundation Hospital Hospice-San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA31 mi(415) 666-1080
Madrona Hospice Care IncSan Rafael, CA32 mi(628) 243-0550

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

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 26% of the $5,591 monthly median income of San Francisco 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 Francisco: common questions

How much does dementia care cost in San Francisco?

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 26% of the $5,591 monthly median income of San Francisco 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.

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 Francisco

Posting is free and takes about ten minutes. Caregivers near San Francisco 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