Dementia Care in Saugus, MA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Saugus, MA: the local picture

634

residents 85 or older (2.2% of all residents)

6,337

residents 65 or older (22% of Saugus)

28%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Essex County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Saugus has about 634 residents aged 85 or older among 6,337 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.

28% of residents 65 and older report a disability (30% in Essex County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

22% of older Saugus 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.

Saugus compared with Essex County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Saugus	Essex County	Massachusetts
Residents 85 or older	2.2%	2.2%	2.2%
Residents 65 or older	22%	18%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	22%	29%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.5%	11%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	28%	29%	25%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$65,411	$66,414	—

Older residents in towns around Saugus

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Melrose, MA	2.5 mi	6,106	771
Lynn, MA	2.7 mi	13,917	1,701
Revere, MA	3.5 mi	9,416	1,300
Malden, MA	3.5 mi	8,581	1,078
Wakefield, MA	3.6 mi	5,268	657
Stoneham, MA	4.3 mi	4,755	878

Nursing homes near Saugus

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Chestnut Woods Rehabilitation And Healthcare Ctr	Saugus, MA	1.4 mi	4 of 5	88	(781) 307-4744
Saugus Center	Saugus, MA	1.6 mi	1 of 5	80	(781) 233-6830
Elmhurst Healthcare (The)	Melrose, MA	2.6 mi	5 of 5	45	(781) 662-7500
Greenwood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center	Wakefield, MA	2.9 mi	5 of 5	36	(781) 246-0211
Melrose Healthcare	Melrose, MA	3.2 mi	1 of 5	106	(781) 665-7050
Lighthouse Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center	Revere, MA	3.7 mi	2 of 5	123	(781) 286-3100

Hospices serving Saugus

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
All Care Hospice Inc	Lynn, MA	3.5 mi	(781) 586-1608
Legacy Lifecare Hospice And Palliative Care	Chelsea, MA	5.1 mi	(617) 889-0779
Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company	Charlestown, MA	6.7 mi	(617) 242-4872
Compassionate Care Hospice	Woburn, MA	7.4 mi	(781) 935-5550

Straight-line miles from the center of Saugus. 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 Saugus

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 31% of the $5,451 monthly median income of Saugus households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

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 Saugus: common questions

What nursing homes are near Saugus?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Chestnut Woods Rehabilitation And Healthcare Ctr in Saugus (1.4 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Saugus Center in Saugus (1.6 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Elmhurst Healthcare (The) in Melrose (2.6 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Saugus?

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 31% of the $5,451 monthly median income of Saugus households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Saugus

More senior care near Saugus

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Saugus

More for Saugus 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 Saugus, MA