Dementia and 24-Hour Home Care in Del Mar and Carmel Valley

Schedule a free in-home assessment · Call (760) 720-7740, available 24/7

Planning dementia care around Del Mar and Carmel Valley homes

Homes in this corner of North County range from beach houses near the sand to newer two-story homes inland, and the layout of a home makes a real difference once memory starts to slip:

• Del Mar village and the beach neighborhoods: cottages, older homes and condos near Camino del Mar and the beach, often on hillside lots with outdoor steps, terraces and steep driveways

• Del Mar Heights: single-family homes along canyon edges and rolling streets, where a backyard can end at a slope and a walk around the block may include real hills

• Carmel Valley: planned neighborhoods with many two-story homes, townhomes and condos, where the bedrooms are frequently upstairs and the garage opens straight into the house

• Near Torrey Pines and the San Dieguito Lagoon: homes close to open space and trails, which can be calming for a daily walk but harder to supervise if someone heads out alone

At the free assessment we tour the home with you: the stairs, the entry doors, the garage, the pool or patio, and the route to the bedroom and bathroom. Then we shape a care plan around your loved one's real day. Our caregivers help keep favorite habits going, whether that is a morning walk near the beach, lunch in the village, an afternoon in the garden or a quiet hour reading at home, for as long as those habits stay safe and enjoyable.

Long shifts: 8 to 24 hours a day

Dementia changes over time, and families often find that a short visit no longer covers the hard parts of the day. A common path in Del Mar and Carmel Valley is to begin with 4-hour visits a few times a week and add hours as needs grow. We schedule:

• Full-day shifts of 8 to 12 hours, so one caregiver can carry the day from breakfast through dinner, personal care and activities

• Overnight shifts, so someone is awake in the home if your loved one gets up at night, feels disoriented or needs help getting to the bathroom

• 24-hour care, with caregivers scheduled in shifts around the clock so the home is never without help

Heritage provides 24-hour care through scheduled shifts. See how our 24-hour and overnight care works.

A steady daily routine

A familiar rhythm to the day can ease confusion and worry for someone living with dementia. Our caregivers help with:

• Personal care: bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting and getting around the house safely, including on the stairs

• Meals and hydration: cooking familiar dishes, sitting down to eat together and offering drinks through the day

• Medication reminders: prompts at the right times (non-medical; our caregivers do not administer medication)

• Engagement: favorite music, family photos, cards, puzzles, folding laundry, tending plants and conversation suited to what your loved one can enjoy

• Light housekeeping and laundry, to keep the home tidy, quiet and easy to move through

• Transportation and errands, including rides to appointments, the grocery store and familiar places

We build each care plan around your loved one's background, routines and what puts them at ease, and we match caregivers with their personality. Learn more about our Alzheimer's and dementia care.

Help with wandering and sundowning

For many families, the most stressful parts of dementia are wandering and sundowning, when agitation and confusion tend to rise late in the day.

• Wandering: with the beach, the bluffs, canyon slopes and busy roads like Camino del Mar and Carmel Valley Road nearby, a loved one leaving the house alone is a real worry. Our caregivers stay alert to restlessness or attempts to leave, and gently redirect with a walk together, a snack or a familiar task. At the assessment we can also discuss simple home changes families often make, such as door chimes, gate latches, stair gates and brighter outdoor lighting.

• Sundowning: our caregivers keep late afternoons and evenings calm, with softer lights, less noise, a predictable evening routine and reassurance instead of correction. Overnight and 24-hour shifts mean someone is there during the hours families find hardest.

Staying home or moving to memory care?

Many Del Mar and Carmel Valley families tour memory care communities before calling us. For some people a facility is the right answer. Others do better at home, in their own bed, with their own routines and one-on-one time with a caregiver who knows them well. At the assessment we'll give you a straightforward view of what home care can and can't do for your loved one.

After a hospital stay

A lot of families reach us when a parent is getting ready to leave the hospital, often Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas or another hospital in the area. The hospital team and your loved one's doctors take care of the medical side. Our caregivers take care of daily life: settling in at home, meals, bathing and dressing, reminders and company during the day and overnight.

Del Mar and Carmel Valley resources for families

Local groups can make this easier. A few that families here turn to:

• Del Mar Community Connections, the nonprofit that serves as the City of Del Mar's senior services provider, with activities, an Aging Resources Advocate service and free volunteer rides for eligible older adults in the 92014 area

• Alzheimer's caregivers support group hosted by Del Mar Community Connections with the Alzheimer's Association, meeting twice a month at the Del Mar Community Building on 9th Street

• Carmel Valley Recreation Center on Townsgate Drive, one of the City of San Diego recreation centers listed in its AgeWell Services guide for adults 60 and older

• Alzheimer's San Diego, a nonprofit offering free support groups for family caregivers, including virtual groups you can join from home

Support for you and a caregiver for your loved one go hand in hand: a group or program helps the family, and care at home helps the person living with dementia.

Respite for family caregivers in Del Mar and Carmel Valley

Many spouses and grown children are handling dementia care largely by themselves. Respite care gives you planned time off, whether a few hours, a whole day or several nights, while one of our caregivers keeps your loved one's routine steady at home. Families in Del Mar and Carmel Valley use senior respite care to keep working, get some rest, travel, attend a support group or simply sleep through the night. Respite visits have the same 4-hour minimum and can be booked once or on a recurring schedule.

Veterans and their families

Some Del Mar and Carmel Valley families are caring for a veteran or a veteran's surviving spouse. Heritage Senior Care is contracted with the VA for Homemaker and respite care. The VA decides eligibility and costs. Learn more about in-home care for veterans.

Long-term care insurance

A long-term care insurance policy may help pay for care at home. Every policy is different, so we offer a long-term care insurance policy review and walk through your parent's policy with you before care starts.

Simple, flexible terms

• 4-hour visit minimum: time for meaningful help, not a hurried check-in

• No long-term contracts: add hours, cut back or pause care as needs change

• Free in-home assessment: we meet you and your loved one at home before care starts

One family-owned office, caregivers across North County

Gayle Mayben founded Heritage Senior Care in 1983 with her daughter Roni, and Heritage Senior Care, Inc. remains family-owned today. We are a licensed California Home Care Organization (HCO #374700058). Scheduling for every client is handled from one office at 2111 Palomar Airport Road in Carlsbad. Our caregivers are Heritage employees who live and work throughout North County San Diego.

Before caring for clients, each of our caregivers completes a lifetime background check with Live Scan fingerprinting through the FBI and the California Department of Justice.

Our care is non-medical. We do not provide nursing, therapy or medical treatment. If your loved one already has a home health or hospice team, our caregivers can work alongside them. For general senior home care in the area, visit our Del Mar home care page.

Questions to ask before you hire dementia care in Del Mar or Carmel Valley

Do you provide in-home dementia care in Del Mar, Del Mar Heights and Carmel Valley?

Yes. Heritage Senior Care provides non-medical in-home care for people living with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia in Del Mar village, Del Mar Heights and Carmel Valley. Care is scheduled from our office in Carlsbad, and our caregivers come to your home.

Are your caregivers your own employees?

Yes. Our caregivers are W-2 employees of Heritage Senior Care, Inc. We hire, train, schedule and supervise them ourselves.

How are your caregivers screened?

Before caring for clients, each of our caregivers completes a lifetime background check with Live Scan fingerprinting through the FBI and the California Department of Justice. Heritage Senior Care is a licensed California Home Care Organization (HCO #374700058).

Can a person with dementia receive 24-hour care at home instead of moving to memory care?

In many cases, yes. We schedule full-day shifts of 8 to 12 hours, overnight shifts and 24-hour care, with caregivers scheduled in shifts around the clock so someone is always in the home. Whether home is the right fit depends on your loved one's needs.

Do you offer respite care for family caregivers in Del Mar and Carmel Valley?

Yes. Our caregivers can cover a few hours, a full day or several nights so you can rest, work or travel while your loved one's routine continues at home. Respite visits have the same 4-hour minimum.

Do your caregivers give medications or provide nursing care?

No. Our caregivers give medication reminders. They do not administer medication or provide medical or nursing care. They can work alongside a home health or hospice team.

What is the minimum visit, and do I have to sign a contract?

Visits are a minimum of 4 hours, and there are no long-term contracts. You can add hours, cut back or pause care as needs change.

Can long-term care insurance help pay for dementia care at home?

It may. Coverage depends on the policy. We can review your parent's long-term care insurance policy with you before care begins.

What happens during the free assessment?

We meet you and your loved one at home, look through the house together, and talk about daily routines, safety concerns and how many hours of help you need. Then we put together a care plan. Call (760) 720-7740, available 24/7, or request a free assessment. You can also send us a note.

Dementia care for your Del Mar or Carmel Valley family, from a family that has been doing this since 1983. Free assessment · (760) 720-7740 (24/7) · Office Mon–Fri 9 am–4 pm · 2111 Palomar Airport Rd Ste 120, Carlsbad, CA 92011