Dementia Care in Scotts Valley, CA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Scotts Valley, CA: the local picture

682

residents 85 or older (5.7% of all residents)

2,784

residents 65 or older (23% of Scotts Valley)

28%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Santa Cruz County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Scotts Valley has about 682 residents aged 85 or older among 2,784 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 (28% in Santa Cruz County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

33% of older Scotts Valley 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.

Scotts Valley compared with Santa Cruz County and California

Census figure	Scotts Valley	Santa Cruz County	California
Residents 85 or older	5.7%	2.1%	1.9%
Residents 65 or older	23%	19%	16%
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	28%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	26%	23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.8%	9.6%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	16%	34%	44%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$91,776	$85,666	—

Older residents in towns around Scotts Valley

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Felton, CA	4.0 mi	811	36
Ben Lomond, CA	4.5 mi	1,476	59
Live Oak, CA	5.1 mi	3,465	522
Soquel, CA	5.3 mi	2,426	258
Santa Cruz, CA	5.8 mi	9,295	927
Capitola, CA	6.3 mi	2,401	348

Nursing homes near Scotts Valley

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Redwood Grove Post Acute	Santa Cruz, CA	5.1 mi	2 of 5	144	(831) 479-9000
Santa Cruz Post Acute	Santa Cruz, CA	5.5 mi	2 of 5	149	(831) 475-4055
Pacific Coast Manor	Capitola, CA	6.1 mi	5 of 5	99	(831) 476-0770
Driftwood Healthcare Center - Santa Cruz	Santa Cruz, CA	6.5 mi	3 of 5	92	(831) 475-6323
Vasona Creek Healthcare Center	Los Gatos, CA	12 mi	2 of 5	148	(408) 356-2191
The Terraces Of Los Gatos	Los Gatos, CA	13 mi	5 of 5	59	(408) 357-1100

Hospices serving Scotts Valley

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Santa Cruz County	Scotts Valley, CA	0.3 mi	(831) 430-3000
Care Must Hospice Inc	San Jose, CA	22 mi	(408) 755-1216
Bridge Hospice	Salinas, CA	28 mi	(831) 216-5585
Universal Health Net Monterey, Inc	Monterey, CA	34 mi	(831) 920-6345

Straight-line miles from the center of Scotts Valley. 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 Scotts Valley

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 19% of the $7,648 monthly median income of Scotts Valley 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 Scotts Valley: common questions

What nursing homes are near Scotts Valley?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Redwood Grove Post Acute in Santa Cruz (5.1 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Santa Cruz Post Acute in Santa Cruz (5.5 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Pacific Coast Manor in Capitola (6.1 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Scotts Valley?

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 19% of the $7,648 monthly median income of Scotts Valley 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 Scotts Valley

More senior care near Scotts Valley

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Scotts Valley

More for Scotts Valley 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 Scotts Valley, CA