Dementia Care in Swarthmore, PA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Swarthmore, PA: the local picture

79

residents 85 or older (1.2% of all residents)

1,046

residents 65 or older (16% of Swarthmore)

21%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Swarthmore has about 79 residents aged 85 or older among 1,046 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.

21% of residents 65 and older report a disability (30% in Delaware County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

37% of older Swarthmore 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.

Swarthmore compared with Delaware County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Swarthmore	Delaware County	Pennsylvania
Residents 85 or older	1.2%	2.2%	2.4%
Residents 65 or older	16%	17%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	21%	30%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	29%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.3%	9.1%	9.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	15%	13%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$64,583	$66,651	—

Older residents in towns around Swarthmore

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Folsom, PA	1.3 mi	1,293	127
Morton, PA	1.3 mi	527	12
Woodlyn, PA	1.7 mi	1,620	49
Ridley Park, PA	2.1 mi	1,344	222
Media, PA	2.4 mi	1,308	110
Prospect Park, PA	2.5 mi	897	108

Nursing homes near Swarthmore

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Wallingford Skilled Nursing And Rehabilitation Cen	Wallingford, PA	1.3 mi	1 of 5	193	(610) 565-3232
Springfield Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center	Springfield, PA	1.8 mi	2 of 5	100	(610) 544-2200
Monticello House	Media, PA	1.8 mi	5 of 5	86	(610) 857-6358
Belvedere Center, Genesis Healthcare, The	Chester, PA	2.4 mi	3 of 5	150	(610) 872-5373
Sterling Health Care And Rehab Center	Media, PA	2.5 mi	2 of 5	164	(610) 566-1400
Aventura At Prospect	Prospect Park, PA	2.6 mi	1 of 5	180	(610) 586-6262

Hospices serving Swarthmore

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Compassus - Philadelphia	Newtown Square, PA	6.6 mi	(610) 436-1853
Bayada Home Health Care, Inc.	Newtown Square, PA	6.6 mi	(610) 627-2050
Penn Medicine Hospice	Bala Cynwyd, PA	9.7 mi	(610) 617-2400
Holisticare Hospice, LLC	Wayne, PA	11 mi	(610) 995-0100

Straight-line miles from the center of Swarthmore. 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 Swarthmore

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 23% of the $5,382 monthly median income of Swarthmore households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Swarthmore: common questions

What nursing homes are near Swarthmore?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Wallingford Skilled Nursing And Rehabilitation Cen in Wallingford (1.3 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Springfield Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center in Springfield (1.8 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Monticello House in Media (1.8 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Swarthmore?

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 23% of the $5,382 monthly median income of Swarthmore households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Swarthmore

More senior care near Swarthmore

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Swarthmore

More for Swarthmore 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 Swarthmore, PA