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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Wakefield, MA: the local picture

657

residents 85 or older (2.4% of all residents)

5,268

residents 65 or older (19% of Wakefield)

33%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Wakefield has about 657 residents aged 85 or older among 5,268 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.

27% of older Wakefield 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.

Wakefield compared with Middlesex County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Wakefield	Middlesex County	Massachusetts
Residents 85 or older	2.4%	2.0%	2.2%
Residents 65 or older	19%	16%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	28%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.1%	9.2%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	13%	29%	25%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$81,979	$78,342	—

Older residents in towns around Wakefield

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Lynnfield, MA	2.4 mi	2,338	298
Stoneham, MA	2.7 mi	4,755	878
Reading, MA	3.0 mi	5,289	670
Melrose, MA	3.4 mi	6,106	771
Saugus, MA	3.6 mi	6,337	634
Woburn, MA	4.7 mi	6,588	1,108

Nursing homes near Wakefield

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Regalcare At Wakefield	Wakefield, MA	0.3 mi	1 of 5	149	(781) 245-7600
Bear Hill Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center	Stoneham, MA	1.8 mi	5 of 5	169	(781) 438-8515
Greenwood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center	Wakefield, MA	1.9 mi	5 of 5	36	(781) 246-0211
Elmhurst Healthcare (The)	Melrose, MA	3.2 mi	5 of 5	45	(781) 662-7500
Melrose Healthcare	Melrose, MA	3.3 mi	1 of 5	106	(781) 665-7050
Life Care Center Of Stoneham	Stoneham, MA	3.9 mi	4 of 5	94	(781) 662-2545

Hospices serving Wakefield

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassionate Care Hospice	Woburn, MA	5.0 mi	(781) 935-5550
All Care Hospice Inc	Lynn, MA	6.7 mi	(781) 586-1608
Visiting Nurse & Community Care	Arlington, MA	7.5 mi	(781) 643-6090
Care Dimensions, Inc	Danvers, MA	7.6 mi	(978) 822-3846

Straight-line miles from the center of Wakefield. 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 Wakefield

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 25% of the $6,832 monthly median income of Wakefield 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 Wakefield: common questions

What nursing homes are near Wakefield?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Regalcare At Wakefield in Wakefield (0.3 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Bear Hill Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center in Stoneham (1.8 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Greenwood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Wakefield (1.9 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Wakefield?

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 25% of the $6,832 monthly median income of Wakefield 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 Wakefield

More senior care near Wakefield

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Wakefield

More for Wakefield 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 Wakefield, MA