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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Somerville, MA: the local picture

826

residents 85 or older (1.0% of all residents)

8,108

residents 65 or older (10% of Somerville)

33%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Somerville has about 826 residents aged 85 or older among 8,108 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 Middlesex County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

37% of older Somerville 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.

Somerville compared with Middlesex County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Somerville	Middlesex County	Massachusetts
Residents 85 or older	1.0%	2.0%	2.2%
Residents 65 or older	10%	16%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	28%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	9.2%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	29%	29%	25%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$39,597	$78,342	—

Older residents in towns around Somerville

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Cambridge, MA	1.3 mi	14,440	1,516
Medford, MA	2.3 mi	9,028	1,442
Everett, MA	2.6 mi	5,660	708
Malden, MA	3.4 mi	8,581	1,078
Chelsea, MA	3.6 mi	4,188	674
Arlington, MA	3.8 mi	8,030	1,022

Nursing homes near Somerville

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Cambridge Rehabilitation & Nursing Center	Cambridge, MA	1.5 mi	4 of 5	83	(617) 864-4267
Medford Rehabilitation And Nursing Center	Medford, MA	2.3 mi	3 of 5	142	(781) 391-1783
Neville Center At Fresh Pond For Nursing & Rehab	Cambridge, MA	2.4 mi	4 of 5	112	(617) 497-0600
Regalcare At Courtyard-Medford	Medford, MA	2.6 mi	1 of 5	224	(781) 391-5400
Dexter House Healthcare	Malden, MA	2.7 mi	3 of 5	130	(781) 324-5600
Regalcare At Glen Ridge	Medford, MA	2.8 mi	1 of 5	164	(781) 391-0800

Hospices serving Somerville

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company	Charlestown, MA	2.1 mi	(617) 242-4872
Visiting Nurse & Community Care	Arlington, MA	3.5 mi	(781) 643-6090
First Choice Healthcare Inc	Newton, MA	5.1 mi	(617) 738-1113
Good Shepherd Community Care	Newton, MA	5.7 mi	(617) 969-6130

Straight-line miles from the center of Somerville. 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 Somerville

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 52% of the $3,300 monthly median income of Somerville 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 Somerville: common questions

What nursing homes are near Somerville?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Cambridge Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Cambridge (1.5 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Medford Rehabilitation And Nursing Center in Medford (2.3 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Neville Center At Fresh Pond For Nursing & Rehab in Cambridge (2.4 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Somerville?

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 52% of the $3,300 monthly median income of Somerville 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 Somerville

More senior care near Somerville

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Somerville

More for Somerville 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 Somerville, MA