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

Local figures

Dementia Care in San Mateo, CA: the local picture

2,991

residents 85 or older (2.9% of all residents)

17,563

residents 65 or older (17% of San Mateo)

33%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

San Mateo has about 2,991 residents aged 85 or older among 17,563 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.

33% 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.

29% of older San Mateo 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 Mateo compared with San Mateo County and California

Census figure	San Mateo	San Mateo County	California
Residents 85 or older	2.9%	2.5%	1.9%
Residents 65 or older	17%	18%	16%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	28%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	21%	23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	9.0%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	47%	46%	44%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$79,791	$103,766	—

Older residents in towns around San Mateo

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Hillsborough, CA	2.6 mi	2,262	220
Foster City, CA	3.3 mi	5,759	1,004
Belmont, CA	3.3 mi	3,813	593
Burlingame, CA	3.5 mi	4,983	884
San Carlos, CA	4.8 mi	4,894	610
Millbrae, CA	5.7 mi	4,599	913

Nursing homes near San Mateo

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Brookside Skilled Nursing Hospital	San Mateo, CA	1.2 mi	5 of 5	96	(650) 349-2161
San Mateo Medical Center D/P SNF	San Mateo, CA	2.2 mi	1 of 5	345	(650) 573-3678
Belmont Healthcare Center	Belmont, CA	3.7 mi	5 of 5	74	(650) 591-9601
Peninsula Post-Acute	Burlingame, CA	4.4 mi	4 of 5	62	(650) 652-3969
Millbrae Care Center	Millbrae, CA	5.3 mi	2 of 5	140	(650) 689-5784
Devonshire Oaks Nursing Center	Redwood City, CA	7.4 mi	5 of 5	38	(650) 366-9503

Hospices serving San Mateo

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Mission Hospice & Home Care, Inc.	San Mateo, CA	1.1 mi	(650) 554-1000
Sutter Care At Home	San Mateo, CA	1.1 mi	(650) 685-2830
Helping Hands Home Health Care & Hospice, Inc.	Burlingame, CA	3.2 mi	(650) 286-9000
Medvista Healthcare, Inc	Burlingame, CA	3.2 mi	(510) 398-8688

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

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 22% of the $6,649 monthly median income of San Mateo 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 Mateo: common questions

What nursing homes are near San Mateo?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Brookside Skilled Nursing Hospital in San Mateo (1.2 mi, 5 of 5 overall); San Mateo Medical Center D/P SNF in San Mateo (2.2 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Belmont Healthcare Center in Belmont (3.7 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in San Mateo?

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 22% of the $6,649 monthly median income of San Mateo 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 Mateo

More senior care near San Mateo

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in San Mateo

More for San Mateo 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 Mateo, CA