Dementia Care in Big Flats, NY: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Big Flats, NY: the local picture

253

residents 85 or older (4.5% of all residents)

1,435

residents 65 or older (25% of Big Flats)

25%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Chemung County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Big Flats has about 253 residents aged 85 or older among 1,435 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 (33% in Chemung County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

42% of older Big Flats 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.

Big Flats compared with Chemung County and New York

Census figure	Big Flats	Chemung County	New York
Residents 85 or older	4.5%	2.5%	2.2%
Residents 65 or older	25%	20%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	25%	33%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	35%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.7%	9.5%	13%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	10%	4.7%	31%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$58,472	$47,458	—

Older residents in towns around Big Flats

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Horseheads, NY	4.1 mi	1,639	453
Elmira Heights, NY	5.0 mi	705	80
Horseheads North, NY	5.8 mi	414	45
West Elmira, NY	6.2 mi	1,071	47
Elmira, NY	7.0 mi	4,114	431
Corning, NY	7.6 mi	1,858	159

Nursing homes near Big Flats

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Elcor Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Horseheads, NY	2.9 mi	2 of 5	305	(607) 739-3654
Bethany Nursing Home & Health Related Facility Inc	Horseheads, NY	4.2 mi	4 of 5	122	(607) 378-6547
Corning Center For Rehabilitation And Healthcare	Corning, NY	7.2 mi	4 of 5	120	(607) 654-2400
St. Joseph's Hospital - Skilled Nursing Facility	Elmira, NY	7.6 mi	2 of 5	85	(607) 733-6541
Chemung County Health Center - Nursing Facility	Elmira, NY	7.7 mi	5 of 5	200	(607) 737-2001
Absolut Center For Nursing And Rehabilitation At T	Painted Post, NY	11 mi	4 of 5	120	(607) 936-4108

Hospices serving Big Flats

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Carefirst / Southern Tier Hospice And Palliative	Painted Post, NY	11 mi	(607) 962-3100
Homecare & Hospice	Allegany, NY	—	(716) 372-5735

Straight-line miles from the center of Big Flats. 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 Big Flats

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,873 monthly median income of Big Flats households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member.

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 Big Flats: common questions

What nursing homes are near Big Flats?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Elcor Nursing And Rehabilitation Center in Horseheads (2.9 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Bethany Nursing Home & Health Related Facility Inc in Horseheads (4.2 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Corning Center For Rehabilitation And Healthcare in Corning (7.2 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Big Flats?

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,873 monthly median income of Big Flats households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 Big Flats

More senior care near Big Flats

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Big Flats

More for Big Flats 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 Big Flats, NY