Santa Monica, California

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

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Local figures

Dementia Care in Santa Monica, CA: the local picture

2,405
residents 85 or older (2.6% of all residents)
17,816
residents 65 or older (20% of Santa Monica)
26%
of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Los Angeles County)
6+
Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Santa Monica has about 2,405 residents aged 85 or older among 17,816 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 (34% in Los Angeles County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

42% of older Santa Monica 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.

Santa Monica compared with Los Angeles County and California

Census figureSanta MonicaLos Angeles CountyCalifornia
Residents 85 or older2.6%1.9%1.9%
Residents 65 or older20%15%16%
Residents 65+ with a disability26%34%33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone42%22%23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)17%15%12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home28%55%44%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$66,836$64,269—

Older residents in towns around Santa Monica

TownDistanceResidents 65+Residents 85+
Marina del Rey, CA3.6 mi61442
Los Angeles, CA5.0 mi549,59072,682
Culver City, CA5.8 mi7,116877
Beverly Hills, CA7.2 mi8,0481,632
Ladera Heights, CA7.4 mi1,626176
El Segundo, CA8.1 mi2,412248

Nursing homes near Santa Monica

Nursing homeTownDistanceCMS overall ratingCertified bedsPhone
Fireside Health Care CenterSanta Monica, CA0.8 mi4 of 566(310) 393-7117
Good Shepherd Health Care Center Of Santa MonicaSanta Monica, CA1.0 mi2 of 548(310) 451-4800
Beachwood Post-Acute & RehabSanta Monica, CA1.1 mi1 of 5227(310) 451-9706
Berkley West Healthcare CenterSanta Monica, CA1.5 mi3 of 554(310) 829-4565
Ocean Pointe Healthcare CenterSanta Monica, CA1.5 mi2 of 572(310) 829-5411
Pacific Post AcuteSanta Monica, CA1.5 mi5 of 549(310) 453-5456

Hospices serving Santa Monica

HospiceOfficeDistancePhone
Luxe Hospice, IncPacific Palisades, CA3.0 mi(310) 459-2040
Caring Like Family HospiceMarina Del Rey, CA3.5 mi(310) 574-5950
Roze Room HospiceCulver City, CA5.8 mi(310) 202-7693
Complete Care Hospice IncBeverly Hills, CA6.7 mi(805) 248-7501

Straight-line miles from the center of Santa Monica. 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 Santa Monica

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 $5,570 monthly median income of Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica: common questions

What nursing homes are near Santa Monica?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Fireside Health Care Center in Santa Monica (0.8 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Good Shepherd Health Care Center Of Santa Monica in Santa Monica (1.0 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Beachwood Post-Acute & Rehab in Santa Monica (1.1 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Santa Monica?

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 $5,570 monthly median income of Santa Monica 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.

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