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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Wellesley, MA: the local picture

774

residents 85 or older (2.6% of all residents)

4,691

residents 65 or older (15% of Wellesley)

25%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Norfolk County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Wellesley has about 774 residents aged 85 or older among 4,691 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.

25% of residents 65 and older report a disability (27% in Norfolk County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

26% of older Wellesley 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.

Wellesley compared with Norfolk County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Wellesley	Norfolk County	Massachusetts
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.4%	2.2%
Residents 65 or older	15%	18%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	25%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	29%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.4%	9.2%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	21%	23%	25%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$138,482	$78,127	—

Older residents in towns around Wellesley

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Needham, MA	2.7 mi	5,733	1,245
Cochituate, MA	3.9 mi	1,267	126
Newton, MA	4.2 mi	17,046	2,192
Waltham, MA	6.1 mi	10,228	1,026
Dedham, MA	6.7 mi	5,528	1,087
Watertown, MA	6.9 mi	6,506	762

Nursing homes near Wellesley

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Adviniacare Newton Wellesley	Wellesley, MA	0.7 mi	4 of 5	110	(781) 237-6400
Elizabeth Seton	Wellesley, MA	1.1 mi	5 of 5	84	(781) 997-1130
Skilled Nursing Facility At North Hill (The)	Needham, MA	2.0 mi	2 of 5	72	(781) 444-9910
Care One At Newton	Newton, MA	2.4 mi	2 of 5	202	(781) 604-5079
Riverbend Of South Natick	S Natick, MA	2.7 mi	5 of 5	55	(508) 653-8330
Lasell House	Newton, MA	2.9 mi	5 of 5	44	(781) 808-8813

Hospices serving Wellesley

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hands And Hearts Hospice Corporation	Wellesley Hills, MA	0.5 mi	(617) 675-1900
West River Hospice	Needham, MA	2.7 mi	(781) 707-9524
Brighton Hospice Massachusetts, LLC	Newton, MA	3.3 mi	(801) 996-3217
Good Shepherd Community Care	Newton, MA	5.4 mi	(617) 969-6130

Straight-line miles from the center of Wellesley. 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 Wellesley

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 15% of the $11,540 monthly median income of Wellesley 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 Wellesley: common questions

What nursing homes are near Wellesley?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Adviniacare Newton Wellesley in Wellesley (0.7 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Elizabeth Seton in Wellesley (1.1 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Skilled Nursing Facility At North Hill (The) in Needham (2.0 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Wellesley?

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 15% of the $11,540 monthly median income of Wellesley 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 Wellesley

More senior care near Wellesley

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Wellesley

More for Wellesley 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 Wellesley, MA